Monday, September 20, 2010

'Inkjet Image Transfer Tutorial...more lab results and tutorial'

Howdy and Welcome,

This week I've been experimenting with image transfers from my 2 home computer's inkjet printers with dye ink (an hp and an Epson large format). As many folks who have tried to make image transfers know, it seems like the best results really do come from images printed at the local copy store with toner.

Nevertheless, I still wanted to try my hand with the inkjet printer. I've had some success, mostly with printing on transparencies, not paper. The paper images are fair, but they take a lot more rubbing than I want to spend time doing. And the results are a bit more opaque than I like - I like the clearness of the images from the transparencies. I think I'm going to stick with the transparencies (from office supply stores).

I print several images on one sheet, so as not to waste any space on the transparency - it ain't cheap! I spray the printed image with 'workable fixative' (outside in the backyard for ventilation) and let the image set for one or more days.

Paint a thin even layer of matte medium (Liquitex) on transpaency and let dry (overnight worked well for me). Repeat 4 times. (tedious!)

When all 5 layers are dry, 'fussy cut' each image out of the sheet. Place an image in container of hot water.

I found that if I let each piece sit in a container of hot water for 10-15 minutes, the 'film' peels off the transparency easier. I placed several in the hot water at the same time to soak.   


Wait until you see the edges curling away from the transparency, then gently peel of the 'film' with your hands underwater. Keeping it in the water works best while you're gently peeling.

When completely peeled off, lay image on paper towel, pat dry with another paper towel. I'm storing mine between sheets of copy paper. Now I have a stash ready to go.

This process has worked for me. All my images were black and white. I'll post some photos soon.

LAB RESULTS TO DATE:
Inkjet on Transparency with workable fixative - excellent.
Inkjet on paper - fair.
Toner on paper - excellent.
Toner on paper with packing tape (not matte medium) - excellent, if you like a glossy, slick surface.

Next month, there wil be a giveaway to celebrate my first blogiversary!

Thanks for stopping by - and please come back soon.

Peace,
LuLu

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Art show, Dreamworks and Dragonfly painting!

Howdy and Welcome,

Good News!
The dates for my rescheduled art show have been confirmed with the gallery. What a roller coaster ride this has been for me... Hope you can come see my art show in 2011. See the right sidebar on my blog for details.

Meanwhile, I'm prepping for an all week 'retreat' at a scrapbooking store next week and also organizing my entries for an annual art/literary contest due soon.

Here are some digital images I worked on this week. They're based on my original painting I worked on when I went to Los Angeles a couple years ago to house sit for some artist friends.

I also was able to arrange some meetings at Dreamworks Animation Studios while I was in California at that time. (Dreamworks makes THE BEST movies!) Didn't get the job at Dreamworks, but they showed me around on a tour of thir lovely campus - and also gave me a souvenir of my visit!





'Dragonfly in Frame'
c 2010 M. L. Haynes










'Dragonfly with Shadows'
c 2010 M. L. Haynes 







Can't decide which one I like the most - they were both so much fun to play with in PSE and MS DIC. Which is your favorite?

Thanks for visiting and please stop by again soon!

Peace,
LuLu

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Get used to disapointment - or Happy Birthday, Libra...

Hello and welcome.


THE DARK SIDE

For those of you wondering, last month,  I was asked to cancel my debut art show that was scheduled to open with an Artist's Reception in Blue Island, IL on Sep 25, 2010. For several reasons...

It was also to have been my birthday celebration this year. So my plans have come to a screeching halt. Of course, I'm unhappy and disappointed beyond what words can express - and have shed many tears. As a famous swordsman once said, 'Get used to dissapointment!' :-(
:-(
:-(
:-(

A NEW HOPE

  • But I guess the bright side is that a new poem is brewing...
  • Also, my show is to be rescheduled for fall 2011. I will have the new date soon. Meanwhile, many thanks to all my friends and relatives and sponsors who have supported me in this project!
  • IRON MAN 2 comes out on DVD just in time to be my consolation birthday present. Just the thought of seeing IRON MAN 2 again makes me feel better!


 'DIGI SELF-PORTRAIT - Bedhead 20100718'
Photo of me - July 2010 Sting Immersion Weekend at Beth and Bruce's

Secret ingredients:
Processed by me using PSE and MS Digital Image Composer with mouse and also using WACOM tablet and WACOM pen, effects and lighting.

Technique:
in MS DIC -
Convert to B&W, change contrast, use sketch effect to eliminate detail, use pen and tablet to select more areas to fill with white, cut-and paste to fix right eyeglass frame that was washed out, distort to make messed up curly bedhead even messier and shoulders misproportioned.

in PSE -
Used WACOM pen and tablet to select and outline my washed out upper lip.


DIGI SELF -PROTRAIT - test 3

Used WACOM Pen and tablet to select areas of face to fill with white.


DIGI SELF-PORTRAIT - test 2

Back to 'Hairy Manes' another of my many nicknames...Used distortion to s-t-r-e-t-c-h my head and shoulders. Selected right side of bedhead hair using tablet & pen and used cut-and-paste to copy for filling in middle section where my part is.


DIGI SELF-PORTRAIT - test 1 - hairless

A hairless me - to use in collages with hair and hats drawn on or with found hair, crowns  and found hats pasted on me - to use in my art journal pages.

B&W cutout - saved with .png extension - example

I'd already worked over the first cutout so this silhouette does not exactly match the finished image.



Black and White conversion



Original photo -
by artist Beth S.

Notice my black sleep mask that looks like a headband. I had just awakened and went downstairs to say 'Bonjour!' to my hostess, Beth.

Photo was taken just before breakfast the morning after the 1st of two scheduled Sting concerts at Ravinia Festival for me and my artist friend Beth! The weather was sweltering HOT in Chicago that weekend - in the 90's! I normally love hot and humid weather - but that weekend was even too hot for me! Hot for Sting Immersion Weekend!

What do you think of my first digital Self-Portrait?

Also, look for my first giveaway of nifty ephemera coming this fall! There will be mutliple winners for this giveaway. Thanks for visiting and please come back soon.

Peace,
LuLu
The ultimate STAR WARS nerd and Sting fanatic!

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