Manual Techniques for Image Transferring
A course by Fábrica de Texturas, Design Workshop
Joined February 2015

Have fun creating original images and designs by learning techniques to transfer them onto porous surfaces
Do you love getting your hands dirty and experimenting with different techniques? If so, this is the course for you! Discover the joy of transferring images onto fabric, wood, and ceramics using your own two hands with DIY specialists Gabi and Xavi from Fábrica de Texturas. You might be familiar with some of their other courses: DIY Binding Techniques, Manual Printing for Photopolymer Stamps, and Cyanotype: Printing with Light.
In this course, learn manual methods for transferring contemporary images. Get to know the diverse range of shapes and surfaces involved in image transferring and find out how to make compositions and collages as well as work with mixed media on porous surfaces such as fabric, wood, and ceramics.
What will you learn in this online course?
14 lessons & 26 downloads
What's included in this course?
Meet your teachers for this course: Gabi and Xavi from Fábrica de Texturas. They start by talking about the image transferring, showing you several of their favorite projects and some standout examples of this and other manual printing, composition, and collage techniques.
Get to know the basics of the transfer technique, looking at the tools and materials needed. Discover how to find inspiration and useful resources in order to do so; then, learn what images to use according to your surface and how to prepare them for transfer.
Explore three techniques for image transferring: direct, developing a composition with black and white line images; photographic, using vibrant images and photos to make a collage; and acetate transfer, a colorful image on fabric that can later be embroidered.
Finally, get some handy tips for protecting your pieces, achieving different finishes, and fixing any mistakes that may have occurred in the process. To wrap up, Gabi and Xavi show you other application types and uses for your image transfers.
- 99% positive reviews (250)
- 9,167 students
- 14 lessons (2h 20m)
- 26 additional resources (11 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: Spanish, English, French, Italian, Portuguese, Turkish
- Spanish · English · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
What is this course's project?
Choose your favorite image transfer technique and apply it to one of the recommended surfaces to create your very own design and composition.

Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Anyone who would like to learn the transferring technique to create designs and compositions on porous surfaces like wood, ceramics, and fabric.
Requirements and materials
No previous knowledge is needed to take this course.
While you don't need any specific editing software, your teachers show you how to refine your images using Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop.

Reviews

Fábrica de Texturas
A course by Fábrica de Texturas
Fábrica de Texturas is a 100% Do-It-Yourself project based in Madrid since 2012. Behind it are Gabriela Rodríguez and Xavier Robledo, two lovers of handmade design whose philosophy is centered around experimenting with artisanal techniques and visual arts to make them modern and accessible to everyone.
Their DIY kits and workshops have become so famous that brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Ikea, Mahou, Fnac, and DaWanda call on them for all kinds of collaborations and events.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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Presentation
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Influences
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U2
The bases of the technique
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Materials and tools
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The transfer technique
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Inspiration and image sources
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How to prepare your images for transfer
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U3
Techniques for transferring images
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Direct Transfer 1
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Direct Transfer 2
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Photo Transfer 1
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Photo transfer 2
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Acetate transfer
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U4
Finishes, common mistakes and other applications
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Protection and care
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Tips and troubleshooting
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Other apps
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FP
Final project
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Manual Image Transfer
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
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Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
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Certificates
PlusIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
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Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
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Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
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Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
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Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
Image transfer is an artistic technique that lets you move printed images onto surfaces like wood, fabric, paper, or ceramics—perfect for decorating, personalizing items, and creating collages or handmade packaging.
This is an intermediate-level course, recommended for those who already have basic skills in manual or artistic techniques and want to deepen their knowledge of image transfer and its applications.
You’ll need printed images, universal solvent or medium, cotton, scissors, brushes, porous surfaces (wood, fabric, paper), and optionally acetate, varnish, and a craft knife for precise cutting.
You’ll learn different transfer techniques, how to prepare images, choose materials and surfaces, apply finishing touches, combine transfer with collage and packaging, and troubleshoot common mistakes in creative projects.
Start by selecting the right image, prepping the wooden surface, applying medium or solvent, placing the image, pressing it down, carefully removing the paper, and finishing with a protective varnish.
You can transfer both color and black-and-white images. It’s important to adjust contrast and print quality beforehand to get the best transfer results.
Laser toner prints are the most recommended. It’s best to avoid inkjet prints. You can use photos, illustrations, or royalty-free images.



Les cours de Xavi et Gabi sont toujours très bien faits.
je recommande vraiment leurs cours
Es un curso muy interesante y fácil de entender. Me encanta la calidad de imagen y la manera de explicar las técnicas.
Des cours vraiment bien faits car très complets et transmis avec passion et sympathie.
Très satisfaite.
Excelente!
Es un excelente curso!