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- What printer/toner combinations work with which transfer methods?
- How do I transfer an image to the carving material?
- How do I transfer an image to a carving block using acetone?
- Letterboxing 201 handout
What printer/toner combinations work with which transfer methods?
| Printer/Copier | Toner Cartridge/Manufacturer | Heat | Acetone | Xylene | Transparency/Direct Transfer | |
| HP Laserjet 4200 Series | OfficeMax OM9881 | Great on PZ White and pink stuff, workable on PZ orange | Mixed results on all tested blocks | ? | Can work with just rubbing, but better with heat | |
| HP Laserjet 4 Plus | HP 98A (92298A) | ? | ? | works great on the pink stuff | ? | |
| HP Laserjet 5P | HP 03A Toner Cartridge, HP C3903A | ? | Produces very good image on Safety Kut and dollar store erasers (haven't tried other blocks) | ? | ? | |
| HP Laserjet 4300dtn | HP 39A | works on PZ Kut White and Orange, though heat setting should be lower with the orange | ? | ? | ? | |
| Xerox Workcenter 5645 | Produces good images on pink stuff and PZ Kut white; faint but usable images on PZ Kut orange | ? | ? | ? | ||
| HP Laserjet 1022n | ? | works fine | yes | ? | ? | |
| Xerox XC356 | "old" | Yes | ? | ? | Yes, when set on dark | |
| ALPS Micro-Dry 1300 (no longer produced) | ALPS dye sublimation ribbon cartridges | Abso-freakin-lutely amazing clarity on pink stuff; haven't tried anything else. | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| Samsung ML-2010 | Samsung | Transfer is always dark and crisp! | ? | ? | ? | |
| HP Laserjet 2100 | HP | ? | Works extremely well on white PZ Kut, and almost as well with orange PZ Kut | ? | ? | |
| HP Laserjet 2100M | ? | ? | ? | worked very good on the pink stuff (clear, crisp transfer) | ? | |
| HP Color Laserjet 4600dn * | ? | Works very well on the pink stuff | ? | worked okay on the pink stuff (transfer needs minor touchups before carving) | ? | |
| HP Color LaserJet 1518 * | HP | works on PZ Kut white and pink stuff | works on PZ Kut white | ? | ? | |
| HP Color LaserJet 2320 MFP * | HP | works on PZ Kut white and pink stuff | works on PZ Kut white | ? | ? | |
| HP LaserJet Pro M28W | HP | Iron-on | ? | ? | Good for SpeedyCarve pink slab | |
| HP Color Laserjet Pro MFP M477fdn | HP 410A Toner Cartridge Cyan, Yellow & Magenta, 3 Toner Cartridges | Works well on pink | ? | ? | iron-on | |
| Xerox Docucolor 250 (Kinkos) | ? | ? | ? | Amazing on the orange, ok on pink | ? | |
| Toshiba e-Studio 45 | Produces good images on pink stuff and PZ Kut white; faint but usable images on PZ Kut orange | ? | ? | ? | ||
| Canon MF5850 dn | Canon cartridge 119 II | Transfers very well onto the pink stuff | ? | ? | iron on | |
| Canon NP2020 | Transfers clear, dark image well on all materials | ? | ? | ? | ||
| Dell 1710n | Transfers clearly on white and orange PZ Kut | ? | ? | |||
| Brother HL-L2360DW | Brother DR-630 | Clear, crisp iron/heat B/W transfers onto pink stuff and white PZ Kut; OZ dark, but not quite as crisp due to sheen | ? | ? | ? | |
| Brother HL-2170W | V4INK | ? | Crisp transfer onto pink stuff; haven't tried others yet | ? | ? |
*Before printing on a color LaserJet, configure the printer driver to "Print in Grayscale" to ensure that the printer only prints with black toner. In the printer Properties, click on the "Color" tab to find the "Print in Grayscale" checkbox.
There has also been discussion about using solvent cocktails with both inkjet and toner based printers, with some success. The most common of these are various carburetor cleaners containing methanol, sometimes referred to as the "napalm" option. There has not been sufficient data submitted to suggest specific a specific combination to try or to avoid.
How do I transfer an image to the carving material?
There are many different kinds of transfer methods, and everyone has their own personal preference. It is a good idea for a new carver to try a few different methods to see which ones work best for them.
Transferring an Image to a Carving Block Tutorial
Pencil and Paper Methods
- Graphite Pencil Transfer (a.k.a. The Tracing Method): Place tracing paper on top of an image. Then, using a pencil, trace the image you want to carve. Once completed, turn the image upside down and place on top of the carving medium. Rub the image onto the material to complete the transfer. For more information, see the graphite pencil transfer tutorial.
- Vellum Transfer Method: This is very similar to the tracing paper method, but the paper is thicker, the pencil transfers well, and the paper won't tear as easily. Vellum is sold in the scrapbooking section of craft stores. There are several different vellum paper patterns but just chose a plain semi-transparent sheet. Place the vellum over the image and trace with a pencil. Place the pencil side of the image onto the rubber and burnish (rub). A dry embossing stylus (a paper crafting tool) works well but so does the cap of a Sharpie or any other slightly rounded hard object.
- Carbon Transfer Paper Method: Can be found at many craft or office supply stores. Use as you would in a receipt book/check book. Place the paper carbon powdered side down on the stamp material, lay your drawing over the carbon paper, and trace the image with moderate pressure.
Laser Printer / Copier Methods
- Heat Transfer: This technique involves using an iron to transfer the image. Nosox has produced a video tutorial to get you started.
- Acetone Transfer: Using an image printed on a toner copier or printer, secure the image face down onto your carving medium. Dampen a cotton ball, paper towel, or cloth or paper towel with acetone and rub the back of the paper, pressing hard to make a better impression. This will release toner onto the carving medium. Remove the paper while the acetone is still wet to keep the toner from re-adhering to the paper.
- Xylene Transfer: This method is very similar to transferring using acetone. For help, see the tutorial by Mark B.
- Wintergreen Oil Transfer: https://youtu.be/UtMP1hAMjwg
Ink Jet Printer Methods
- Clear Cellophane/Transparency Method: Using an inkjet printer, print onto a plastic sheet, then press the plastic against the rubber to transfer the ink to the material. If using inkjet transparencies, be sure to use the "wrong" smooth side rather than the bumpy side. Before you print, alter the image so what you're printing is gray rather than black. If it tries to print black, it'll put too much ink onto the plastic sheet and it'll form globs. By trying to print gray, it still applies black ink but less of it, which is what you need. You may need to change a setting on your printer setup to print using "black ink only", otherwise it may try to create gray by mixing colored inks. After printing, set the plastic sheet aside for a few minutes to dry. Then stamp it with your blank stamp material; the image will transfer. If it doesn't work right, clean everything up and try again until you get it right. Once you have the image on the rubber, it will smear if you touch it before it dries.
- Quick Paper Transfer Method: Print to regular paper using your inkjet printer. When printing is complete immediately place image onto carving material. You may need to rub the back of the image with a blunt object as in the pencil and paper methods.
See also
What printer/toner combinations work with which transfer methods?Transferring an Image to a Carving Block Tutorial
How do I transfer an image to a carving block using acetone?
Before you start, you might want to have multiple copies of your stamp image.
See also:
What printer/toner combinations work with which transfer methods?
and
Video demonstrating how to dab and how the transfer should look
- Print your image using a laser printer or use a copy machine to copy an ink-jet image. The image must contain toner to work with this method.
- Take the copied or laser-printed image and place it face down on the carving medium. You may want to clean the surface using a paper towel and a quick wipe of acetone first. It helps receive the image.
- Wearing gloves in a well-ventilated space, soak a cotton ball/swab with 100% acetone, squeeze out the excess, and dab with gentle pressure all over the paper. Do not rub back and forth.
- Peel up a corner of the paper. If the image looks good, peel the rest of the paper away. If it is still a little light, repeat step 3, trying not to soak the paper.
- If the image is blurry, you've used too much acetone. Wipe down the rubber and start with a fresh copy repeat steps 2-4. You may want to wash the stamp with soap and water to reduce the possibility of acetone softening the rubber.
- Carve, carve, carve!
See also:
What printer/toner combinations work with which transfer methods?
and
Video demonstrating how to dab and how the transfer should look
Letterboxing 201 handout
This is great handout to give to scout leaders when you teach a Letterboxing 101 class, since they may decide to plant a box as a troop/pack.
Letterboxing 201- PLANTING BOXES
To Plant or Not to Plant There, and How to Know the Difference
1. Letterboxes should be hidden on land to which the public has access. If placing on private property, get permission from the owner. Even some public lands require special permission. Check a list of local known regulations under Land Manage Policies here.
2. They should be placed so that a casual find by a non-letterboxer is unlikely.
3. Take all seasons and weather events into consideration, especially flooding.
4. NOT in national parks or monument areas (2010: up to the park's ranger).
5. NOT in dangerous areas.
6. NOT in places of worship.
7. NOT in environmentally sensitive areas with vegetation, flowers, or plants.
8. NOT buried in the earth, but rather placed under rocks, or in existing natural holes, crevices, or cavities.
9. NOT in a rock wall where finders may take apart the wall to find it.
10. NOT close to another letterbox (to avoid overly-intense use of an area).
11. It's also smart to check geocaching.com and make sure you're not to close to a cache!
Container Options
Be creative! You can use any container that will fit unseen in your hiding place, but make sure that it is WATERPROOF unless it is in a place that will always be dry. Also, some parks require CLEAR containers. The only used food containers that are pretty much water tight are the types with screw on lids, such as peanut butter jars. You can paint the box or cover it with camouflage tape (available at hunting supply stores) in order to make it less visible to "muggles". Some suggestions:
MEDIUM
Lock & Lock
old Thermos
Ziploc screw-on container
plastic peanut jug
hair styling gel containers
soy protein screw-on jar
Citrucel screw-on container
Ziploc/Duct Tape bag
SMALL
Lock & Lock
Ziplock screw-on container
Aveeno daily cleansing pads jar
jewelry cleaner jar
swim goggle containers
see www.sciplus.com
tub from Crayola air-dry clay? MICRO
Film canister
Pill bottles
Sucrets can (will rust)
Altoids cans (will rust)
tubes from the "Airborne" tablets
What NOT to use:
Glass containers, flimsy plastic containers, food storage containers that don't seal well such as Tupperware, Folger's coffee, margarine tubs. Unprotected plastic if the box will be in the exposed to the sun.
Get the food smell out !!
If the container previously held food or some other product, you need to get the smell completely out so that animals will not be attracted to your box and destroy it. Place clean cat litter in a large container that has a lid and place your container in it and seal the larger container. Take them out, and a week later, or so, no smell. Then run it through the dishwasher.
Letterbox Contents
* Logbook
* Stamp
* Pen
Optional:
* Official Letterbox label (recommended)
* First Finder certificate
* Ink pad or marker (if you want them to use a special color)
* Paper towel for wiping off the stamp
The items in your letterbox can be bagged in heavy "storage" or "freezer" quality ziplock bags for additional protection against the elements.
Sample Label text:
NOT trash - Please do not throw this away!!
NOT a Geocache - Please do not remove items or leave trinkets!
You have found an official LETTERBOX. Please rehide where found!
Stamp Carving basics (see AtlasQuest.com for tutorials)
A great hand carved stamp is a treasure and it's more personal than a store bought stamp.
Carving rubber stamps is a great hobby and form of expression!
Carving Your Stamp
1. Find a black & white image such as the rose shown.
2. Color the solid part of the picture with a #2 pencil.
3. Turn the picture over onto your carving medium and rub back of the picture with something smooth (like a spoon). This will transfer the reverse image to the eraser. NOTE: if you are using letters, don't just handwrite them onto your stamp or they will come out backward! Write them on your paper and then transfer them to the stamp with this method. The letters will be reversed on the stamp, but correct when you stamp with it.
4. Now, carve away the areas that will not be inked. It is always best to cut AWAY from the line at an angle so that you don't undercut the design. Start with the most difficult and intricate part of the stamp first in case you make a mistake. When following the curves of your image, it's easier to rotate the carving medium under the blade than it is to twist the carving blade around the stamp.
5. Test your stamp and make changes as needed. If your stamp is not taking ink well, you can "condition" it by rubbing acetone over the surface or coloring it with a Sharpie permanent marker.
6. If your carving medium is flimsy, glue a plastic bottle cap, small piece of wood, or piece of foam door-hanger to the un-inked side of the eraser to use as a handle. I use E6000 but you can get a variety of opinions on AtlasQuest.com.
7. Don't forget to keep an image of your stamp for yourself!
If you want to experiment with photocopied or laserjet images, place the copy face down on the rubber carving material and, using a cotton ball, wet the paper with acetone (nail polish remover) and then quickly lift.
Writing Great Clues
Most clues point you directly to the box while others involve creativity and work to solve. Clues can be entertaining, witty, funny, puzzling, historical, educational, intense, mysterious, cryptic, or straight forward. But a clue must be accurate! There is nothing more aggravating than a poorly written clue that is misleading. What is obvious to you may not be obvious to someone else. Build your clues by working backward to the starting point. It is also nice to give the seekers an idea of how far they will need to hike to find your box
-Create an interesting name for the box or series
-Use directions which are appropriate; right/left or compass coordinates or clock-directions
-Use landmarks and stationary objects of distinction.
-Using tree names is not recommended
-If you don't want to be straightforward, use a cryptic code, be poetic, make a puzzle/riddle or write clues that don't make sense unless you are actually there.
SUPPLY SOURCES
www.stampeaz.com -- carving and stamping supplies
www.dixiegraphix.com/shop/letterbox - containers, apparel, decals
shadohart.googlepages.com/home - fabric supply carriers
Hobby Lobby
Michael's Arts and Crafts
OTHER TYPES OF LETTERBOXES
A Hitchhiker (HH) has no home or clues of its own. It travels from one letterbox to another by the last person to find it. Some hitchhikers may have their own container or just a plastic bag. Hitchhikers should always be stamped in the box that they are visiting, in the finder's logbook, and in the letterbox that they have been relocated to with dates and locations to record the hitchhiker's activities. The idea is to keep the hitchhiker moving quickly.
Mystery Boxes are letterboxes with clues that are vague and unspecific as to the starting point or the general location. Mystery boxes often rely on landmarks or require knowledge or research of the area and history to determine where to begin the hunt.
A Cootie is passed secretly from person to person. Once you "catch a cootie" you stamp in the logbook with a stamp of your thumb and embellish the design. Sign your name and date before quickly passing the cootie box to the next unsuspecting person.
Virtual Letterboxes are online hunting adventures. Clues are found on the Internet and they lead to images that can be printed out and added to your logbook.
A Personal Traveler is a letterbox that stays with the person who made it. You will have to look online to find out what to do in order to get the stamp.
Letterboxing 201- PLANTING BOXES
To Plant or Not to Plant There, and How to Know the Difference
1. Letterboxes should be hidden on land to which the public has access. If placing on private property, get permission from the owner. Even some public lands require special permission. Check a list of local known regulations under Land Manage Policies here.
2. They should be placed so that a casual find by a non-letterboxer is unlikely.
3. Take all seasons and weather events into consideration, especially flooding.
4. NOT in national parks or monument areas (2010: up to the park's ranger).
5. NOT in dangerous areas.
6. NOT in places of worship.
7. NOT in environmentally sensitive areas with vegetation, flowers, or plants.
8. NOT buried in the earth, but rather placed under rocks, or in existing natural holes, crevices, or cavities.
9. NOT in a rock wall where finders may take apart the wall to find it.
10. NOT close to another letterbox (to avoid overly-intense use of an area).
11. It's also smart to check geocaching.com and make sure you're not to close to a cache!
Container Options
Be creative! You can use any container that will fit unseen in your hiding place, but make sure that it is WATERPROOF unless it is in a place that will always be dry. Also, some parks require CLEAR containers. The only used food containers that are pretty much water tight are the types with screw on lids, such as peanut butter jars. You can paint the box or cover it with camouflage tape (available at hunting supply stores) in order to make it less visible to "muggles". Some suggestions:
MEDIUM
Lock & Lock
old Thermos
Ziploc screw-on container
plastic peanut jug
hair styling gel containers
soy protein screw-on jar
Citrucel screw-on container
Ziploc/Duct Tape bag
SMALL
Lock & Lock
Ziplock screw-on container
Aveeno daily cleansing pads jar
jewelry cleaner jar
swim goggle containers
see www.sciplus.com
tub from Crayola air-dry clay? MICRO
Film canister
Pill bottles
Sucrets can (will rust)
Altoids cans (will rust)
tubes from the "Airborne" tablets
What NOT to use:
Glass containers, flimsy plastic containers, food storage containers that don't seal well such as Tupperware, Folger's coffee, margarine tubs. Unprotected plastic if the box will be in the exposed to the sun.
Get the food smell out !!
If the container previously held food or some other product, you need to get the smell completely out so that animals will not be attracted to your box and destroy it. Place clean cat litter in a large container that has a lid and place your container in it and seal the larger container. Take them out, and a week later, or so, no smell. Then run it through the dishwasher.
Letterbox Contents
* Logbook
* Stamp
* Pen
Optional:
* Official Letterbox label (recommended)
* First Finder certificate
* Ink pad or marker (if you want them to use a special color)
* Paper towel for wiping off the stamp
The items in your letterbox can be bagged in heavy "storage" or "freezer" quality ziplock bags for additional protection against the elements.
Sample Label text:
NOT trash - Please do not throw this away!!
NOT a Geocache - Please do not remove items or leave trinkets!
You have found an official LETTERBOX. Please rehide where found!
Stamp Carving basics (see AtlasQuest.com for tutorials)
A great hand carved stamp is a treasure and it's more personal than a store bought stamp.
Carving rubber stamps is a great hobby and form of expression!
Carving Your Stamp
1. Find a black & white image such as the rose shown.
2. Color the solid part of the picture with a #2 pencil.
3. Turn the picture over onto your carving medium and rub back of the picture with something smooth (like a spoon). This will transfer the reverse image to the eraser. NOTE: if you are using letters, don't just handwrite them onto your stamp or they will come out backward! Write them on your paper and then transfer them to the stamp with this method. The letters will be reversed on the stamp, but correct when you stamp with it.
4. Now, carve away the areas that will not be inked. It is always best to cut AWAY from the line at an angle so that you don't undercut the design. Start with the most difficult and intricate part of the stamp first in case you make a mistake. When following the curves of your image, it's easier to rotate the carving medium under the blade than it is to twist the carving blade around the stamp.
5. Test your stamp and make changes as needed. If your stamp is not taking ink well, you can "condition" it by rubbing acetone over the surface or coloring it with a Sharpie permanent marker.
6. If your carving medium is flimsy, glue a plastic bottle cap, small piece of wood, or piece of foam door-hanger to the un-inked side of the eraser to use as a handle. I use E6000 but you can get a variety of opinions on AtlasQuest.com.
7. Don't forget to keep an image of your stamp for yourself!
If you want to experiment with photocopied or laserjet images, place the copy face down on the rubber carving material and, using a cotton ball, wet the paper with acetone (nail polish remover) and then quickly lift.
Writing Great Clues
Most clues point you directly to the box while others involve creativity and work to solve. Clues can be entertaining, witty, funny, puzzling, historical, educational, intense, mysterious, cryptic, or straight forward. But a clue must be accurate! There is nothing more aggravating than a poorly written clue that is misleading. What is obvious to you may not be obvious to someone else. Build your clues by working backward to the starting point. It is also nice to give the seekers an idea of how far they will need to hike to find your box
-Create an interesting name for the box or series
-Use directions which are appropriate; right/left or compass coordinates or clock-directions
-Use landmarks and stationary objects of distinction.
-Using tree names is not recommended
-If you don't want to be straightforward, use a cryptic code, be poetic, make a puzzle/riddle or write clues that don't make sense unless you are actually there.
SUPPLY SOURCES
www.stampeaz.com -- carving and stamping supplies
www.dixiegraphix.com/shop/letterbox - containers, apparel, decals
shadohart.googlepages.com/home - fabric supply carriers
Hobby Lobby
Michael's Arts and Crafts
OTHER TYPES OF LETTERBOXES
A Hitchhiker (HH) has no home or clues of its own. It travels from one letterbox to another by the last person to find it. Some hitchhikers may have their own container or just a plastic bag. Hitchhikers should always be stamped in the box that they are visiting, in the finder's logbook, and in the letterbox that they have been relocated to with dates and locations to record the hitchhiker's activities. The idea is to keep the hitchhiker moving quickly.
Mystery Boxes are letterboxes with clues that are vague and unspecific as to the starting point or the general location. Mystery boxes often rely on landmarks or require knowledge or research of the area and history to determine where to begin the hunt.
A Cootie is passed secretly from person to person. Once you "catch a cootie" you stamp in the logbook with a stamp of your thumb and embellish the design. Sign your name and date before quickly passing the cootie box to the next unsuspecting person.
Virtual Letterboxes are online hunting adventures. Clues are found on the Internet and they lead to images that can be printed out and added to your logbook.
A Personal Traveler is a letterbox that stays with the person who made it. You will have to look online to find out what to do in order to get the stamp.