Double Exposure Gel Plate Transfers: Layering Order Considerations

When it comes to learning double exposure laser transfers, the creative’s brain can often second-guess the order of transfer layers. In my case, coffee helps. Others may benefit from the image above.

Both these prints were made the same way—same transfers, same color on each transfer, same gear (papers, plate…) The only difference was the order in which the transfers were put down.

The center of this image shows the two image transfers used. ‘Off The Grid’ is the large scrambled font. "Lyrics" is the small organized font.

On the left, image #1 was created with the large ‘Off The Grid’ font transferred to the gel pate first.

On the right, image #2 was created with the ‘Lyrics’ font put down first.

So what is happening here?

With laser transfers, the white area absorbs paint that is already on your plate. So in the first design (image #1), 'Off the Grid’ was on the plate first, and when ‘Lyrics’ was then transferred, only those white letters soaked up paint from the plate.

In the second design (image #2), the 'lyrics' transfer left all that black area painted on the plate. Next the 'Off The Grid' layer went down, and where it was white, it soaked all the paint back up. But the black toner areas protected the rest of the letters.

In summary, when you're standing there staring at those two confusing laser transfers next to your gel plate, only focus on one of them. Look at the white areas. Do you want those white places to be blank on your plate and removed from the first transfer? Next, focus only on the other transfer and ask the same question. If neither will work for a second layer you need to find a different combination of transfers.

Tip: If your first layer has an eye (or eyes) or other vital focal point, consider masking it out before applying the second transfer so it does not disappear on you. Been there, done that.

As with all things Gelli Plate, double exposure image transfers have a harsh learning curve, but they can also produce some happy accidents. Rise to the challenge!

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Image transfers in this example are both from the gel Inspirations ‘50 Diverse Typography Gel Print Image Transfers‘ bundle.