Pigment transfer is a printing technique that uses acrylic paint to move the pigment from a photocopy to another surface. This is achieved by coating the photocopy with paint, placing it face down onto the new surface, and allowing it to dry. The pigment from the photocopy then adheres to the new surface, creating a print.
Different Types of Pigment Transfer
While the basic process remains the same, pigment transfer finds application in diverse fields, leading to various interpretations:
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Printmaking: This is the most common understanding, as described above. It involves transferring pigment from a painted photocopy onto a receiving surface like fabric or paper. Lynn Nafey's blog provides a guide to this process. Examples include creating unique artwork or transferring designs onto fabric. Note that this differs from dye transfer, where dyes are transferred instead of pigments. Sources like this T-Shirt Forums thread highlight the differences between dye and pigment ink in heat transfers.
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Biological Pigment Transfer: In biology, pigment transfer refers to the movement of pigment, like melanin, between cells. This NCBI article discusses the role of extracellular vesicles in melanin transfer within the skin. This process is crucial for skin pigmentation and involves complex biological mechanisms. Another example is seen in studies of pigment transfer in Xenopus laevis melanophores, showcasing the dynamic movement of pigment within cells for color change.
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Digital Pigment Transfer: Specialized papers, such as Texcol®, facilitate digital pigment transfer. These papers are designed for high color fastness and resistance to crocking (color transfer to other materials). This method allows for precise and detailed transfers of digital images to various materials. This thread on EngraversCafe demonstrates the need for pigment inks in transferring patterns onto metal, highlighting its suitability for hard surfaces.
The crucial difference across these applications lies in the medium and the mechanism of transfer. Whether it's manually applying paint to a photocopy or the biological transfer of melanin, the core concept remains: the movement of pigment from a source to a receiving area.
