Skip to content
* Your Happy Place to obtain glass art supplies plus good tips on using some of them *
* Your Happy Place to obtain glass art supplies plus good tips on using some of them *
Fired-On Photo Fusing Decal Paper  also  known as Fusible Photo Paper By Irene of Happy Glass Art Supply

Fired-On Photo Fusing Decal Paper also known as Fusible Photo Paper and Printer List

Fired-On Photo Fusing Decal Paper  also 
known as Fusible Photo Paper

The printer list is at the bottom of this Blog.

Question:  What is photo paper?
Answer: It is a film that is on a delivery sheet.  We add photo’s, clip art and even words to it and add it to our fusing art.

Question:  Where do I get the fusible photo paper?
Answer: I have it available here on my e-commerce store or you can talk to your local glass shop to see if they have it.  Or google and shop....

Question:  Why are some instructions different from yours?
Answer:  The instructions that I provide are from making thousands of photos over the years using the fusible photo paper and were put together from my experiences.

Question:  Why do my photos look a bit smudged?
Answer:  It may be time to clean the printer.  I wear gloves and use Q-tips wetted with rubbing alcohol and clean the inside of the printer.

Question:  Is there a difference between using HP and Discount brand toner cartridge?
Answer:  When I use the Discount brands of toner I do run one more copy through the machine to make the toner hot enough to have a better adhesion.  The paper comes out smoking hot and very well adhered.  


INSTRUCTIONS

STEP 1 - Selecting and Preparing Glass
Images can be fired onto any color or type of smooth surfaced fusible glass.
If you are making a serving platter or dinner plate then choose the mold you will slump on and prepare your glass the right size for your chosen project.

•        I like making Stand Ups, Night Lights, Christmas Ornaments and serving dishes for example.

• The best image clarity and contrast is provided by firing image onto a chosen Opal glass of white or light color.
• When using semi translucent or transparent glass, fusing a white or light colored opaque layer under the clear layer will allow for better image 
contrast.
• I do not recommend capping the photo.  Air bubbles can be caught and not where we want them.
• *lridized and Dichroic glass surfaces should be tested first to ensure compatibility with this process.

STEP 2 - Preparing Images
The images that people usually give me are off center.  I usually center them up for a better look.  I do this in MS Publisher, but you may have a favorite program that will work for you.  The photo’s are color photo’s or old photo’s that people provide me.  All work and come out Sepia looking when complete.

There are two basic vehicles for placing your images on the transfer paper:
1. Un-Edited Images: Images can be directly applied to the transfer paper using any HP or Canon Black and White Laser Multifunction Copier/Printers.
2. Edited Images: Images may be scanned, e-mailed, downloaded, copied from CD, delivered from a thumb drive or input directly from digital cameras and manipulated on a computer using commercially available software applications and then printed using any HP or Canon Black & White Laser Printer. Ask for a list of currently available printers that work if you need one.

STEP 3 - Printing Images ...To print your image onto the transfer paper;
A. Set printer for paper size to the size of your fusible photo paper.  
B  Remove the tissue paper cover of the decal paper (if present) ;
C  Place 3 or 4 sheets of plain paper in the paper tray and print them with your art to warm up the printer's fuser roller.
D  Hand feed the fusible photo paper quickly into the machine to keep it going and so that the toner does not cool down.
E  Print your image from the computer with an HP or Canon B+W laser printer or copy on any HP or Canon B+W multifunction printer or photocopier.

STEP 4 - Applying Images
The final steps to creating beautiful glass transfers are simply to slide the image onto your and fire it. 

To do this, you will need to:
•        Cut your glass to the size and shape for your project that your photo will be on.
•        Clean the glass you plan to place your image on, removing dirt, finger prints or oil.
•        Cut out the image(s) as close as possible to the actual design.
•        Place in a dish of warm water face down for 3 seconds then turn upside right.
•        By placing face down first it stops it from curling up so much…
•        Press down on the photo paper that is in the water gently to avoid tearing.
•        When you begin to feel the printed image separating from the backing paper, it is ready to apply onto your surface.  
  (it is okay to have your fingers on the photo paper/ I use gloves.)
•        Lift the image out of the water with the backing paper intact. (I use tweezers to grab)
•        If your photo starts floating gently glide the photo delivery paper under it to catch it.
•        Gently slide the image off of the backing paper holding the transfer film down with one hand and slowly pull the backing paper out from 
underneath.
•        If you are doing a large image then sprinkle a little water onto the glass before photo application.  This helps the film slide easier.
•        Use a clean paper towel to wipe roll out the excess water and remove any air bubbles.
•        A brayer may be used by laying a paper towel on top of the transfer and rolling over the towel gently towards the edge of the design.
•        Allow it to set for 2 hours or more. (Tip – You can add a dry out segment.)

STEP 5 - Firing Instructions
* Images can be fired as many times as you like to any firing schedule but for best results fire your images from *1250°F-1340°F (676°C-704°C).

** I don’t recommend capping.  I had an air bubble appear on a little boys nose once.

*** If you desire a heavier art piece then I recommend to full fuse your two pieces of glass.
Then put add your photo to the top and fuse it per the firing recommendations.

Note: *lridized Glass may need to be capped or powdered fused then add the photo then fuse again in order for image to fuse on correctly.*

STEP 6-Adding Color
All images will fire to a beautiful rich sepia brown color. Color can be added in by;
1. Colored Glass under the Image
The transfer film is transparent so the areas that are light or white in your original image will be colored according to the color of glass that you are using underneath.
2. Painting under the Image
Colored enamels or frits can be painted on and fired before the image is applied, allowing the color to show through from underneath the image. 
Simply trace your Image onto your glass and then fill areas where you want color to be and fire according to the manufacturer instructions. Then 
apply your transfer over the colored areas and fire again.
3. Painting over the Image
Transparent enamels can be applied over the already fired transfers and fired again. This method works great for "colorizing" photographs.

Find great ideas, tips, and step by step project instructions in the Book;
Fusing Images on Glass/ 2"" Edition By Terrie Banhazl

Supplemental fusing recipe for step 4:
“Adding a dry out segment”
Segment        Rate/HR        Temp        Hold
1                       100             500        0.15  This is the dry out segment.
2                       300           1000        0.01
3                        60            1300        0.01
4                      400            1340        0.01
5                    9999             950        0.60
6                      100             800        0.30

Supplemental fusing recipe for step 5:
Using Coe96 Glass 2 pieces thick with photo paper on top.
Segment        Rate/HR        Temp        Hold
1                       200             1000        0.01
2                        60              1300        0.01
3                      400              1340        0.01
4                    9999               950        0.60
5                     100                800        0.30

NOTE:
If you go too high in temp with the photo paper the Photo will fade.
If you go too low in temp with the photo paper the Photo will rub off.

I recommend doing a sample to find out what temperature to go to for your kiln.......!

** All recipes are in Farenheit.

*** Please do make sure of the temperature accuracy of your kiln.  If need be then adjust the recipe temps to go with your kiln..

Some fellow glassy's want the photo to be all black or in multiple colors after firing.  There are companies on the net that offer Enamel Decal Papers.  Please do reach out to them.

Here is a printer list for you to view:

Do keep in mind that if the printer you have prints in color then it will not work.

Do keep in mind that an Iron Oxide printer ink cartridge is needed in the printer or it will not work.

I purchased mine used on Ebay ...