Instantly Transfer Photographic Images with a Blender Pen

ThatPainter is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn More

You can transfer a toner-based image with a solvent blender marker by placing the print face down, wetting its back, and burnishing it without letting the paper shift. The hands-on transfer can be quick, but “instantly” is not a guaranteed drying time or a promise of a perfect result. Use a laser print or photocopy—not an inkjet print—and take solvent precautions.

What you need

• A fresh laser print or photocopy. The method transfers toner; tutorials report that inkjet prints do not work for this process. See Make’s transfer tutorial and Hagit Azoulay’s tutorial.
• A solvent-based blender marker compatible with toner transfer. The named example is the Chartpak AD Marker 201, also called a Chartpak Blender Marker. Do not assume an alcohol-based “colorless blender” will work. Check the current product label and safety data sheet (SDS): formulas and listings can change. Pen Vibe’s 2024 guide identifies the Chartpak blender marker as xylene-based and distinguishes it from alcohol-based markers.
• A receiving surface, tape to hold the print in place, and a burnisher such as a bone folder or the back of a wooden spoon. A burnisher is useful in some tutorials, but a specialized tool is not essential.

Examples in tutorials include paper, wood, and fabric, but a result on one surface does not guarantee a result on another. Coatings, texture, and absorbency can affect the transfer. Test on a scrap of the same material first.

#	Preview	Product	Price
1		Kosiz Blending Sponge Pen Dual Tip Oil Pastels Blender, White,Black, 2 Pcs	$5.29	Buy on Amazon
2		Kosiz Blending Sponge Pen Dual Tip Oil Pastels Blender, Morandi, 6 Pcs	$12.99	Buy on Amazon
3		6Pcs Artist Blending Sponge Pen Soft Pastel Blending Tools Sketch Wipe	$7.97	Buy on Amazon
4		Brusarth Metallic Marker Pens, Silver and Gold Dual Tip Pens, 4 Pack	$6.52	Buy on Amazon

How to transfer the image

1. Prepare the artwork. Print it with a laser printer or make a photocopy. If the image contains lettering or needs to face a particular direction, mirror the artwork before printing: a face-down transfer reverses it.
2. Position and secure the print. Place the printed side against the receiving surface and tape the paper so it cannot slide. Keep it aligned while you work.
3. Wet the back of the paper. Use the compatible solvent blender marker to apply even strokes across the image area. Tutorials describe going over the paper repeatedly; follow the marker’s label and avoid saturating beyond what is needed.
4. Burnish without shifting the print. Rub the back evenly with a bone folder, wooden spoon, or similar smooth tool where appropriate. Pressure and repeated strokes can help bring toner into contact with the surface, but technique and results vary.
5. Check a corner. Carefully lift one corner to see whether the image has transferred. If it is faint, lay the paper back down in the same position and make another pass. Avoid moving it, which can blur or double the image.
6. Remove the paper and let the surface dry. There is no validated universal transfer time or image-quality guarantee. Follow the marker’s handling instructions and allow the surface to dry in a ventilated area.

For a stamp-carving medium, the Atlas Quest tutorial describes taped, face-down placement, repeated marker passes in different directions, and drying intervals. Those are instructions for that particular project, not a universal timing standard.

If the transfer is faint or incomplete

• Confirm the print method: use toner from a laser printer or photocopier, not an inkjet print.
• Check the image: a dark, clear source gives toner more opportunity to transfer than a pale or low-contrast image.
• Check orientation and contact: the printed side should face the receiving surface, with the paper held flat and still.
• Confirm the marker type: the technique calls for the specified solvent-based blender marker, not merely any product labeled “blender.”
• Consider the surface: texture, coating, or absorbency may affect contact and transfer. Test another scrap of the same material before changing the artwork or repeating the process.

Use the xylene-based marker carefully

The Chartpak marker identified for this technique is described as xylene-based. Follow the current label and SDS, work with effective ventilation, avoid skin and eye contact, and keep the marker and solvent-wet materials away from children and pets. Do not treat a small craft quantity as inherently safe.

#1 Best Overall

Kosiz Blending Sponge Pen Dual Tip Oil Pastels Blender, White,Black, 2 Pcs

• Ample Quantity Rub And Buff Tools: You will get practical blending stumps in 2 sizes, making this set useful as oil pastel blending tools for group art activities, studio practice, sketch kits, shading practice, and daily creative projects. Tiny dark fibers can appear on the white felt end due to manual natural fiber processing, but this does not affect actual use
• Practical Double Headed Design: This oil pastel blender features a double headed design for smoother shading control. The larger black end supports shadow-side transitions and base blending, while the smaller black end helps with fine details; the white felt ends soften halftones and rub and buff color transitions
• Two Sizes For Better Control: These pastel blending tools come in 2 useful sizes for broad blending and detailed shading. The larger size measures about 0.47 inch / 1.2 cm in end diameter and 5.94 inch / 15.1 cm long; the smaller size measures about 0.24 inch / 0.6 cm in end diameter and 5.51 inch / 14 cm long
• Comfortable Material For Blending: Made with ABS, felt, and soft blending material, these oil pastel blending tools support smooth gradients and steady handling. The black end blends darker areas, while the white felt end softens bright areas, helping make sketches more layered and visually appealing
• Wide Range Of Uses: Designed for oil pastel, soft pastel, charcoal, graphite, colored drawing media, and rub and buff, this oil pastel blender helps create smooth gradients, seamless color transitions, and precise detailing. A practical choice for artists, beginners, studio projects, sketch practice, and creative projects

$5.29

Buy on Amazon

The CDC/NIOSH Pocket Guide entry for m-xylene lists inhalation, skin absorption, ingestion, and skin or eye contact as exposure routes. It notes possible eye, skin, nose, and throat irritation, dizziness, drowsiness, and incoordination. NIOSH’s occupational recommended exposure limits are 100 ppm as a time-weighted average and 150 ppm short-term; these are workplace limits, not targets for safe home use.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1

Kosiz Blending Sponge Pen Dual Tip Oil Pastels Blender, White,Black, 2 Pcs

$5.29

Bestseller No. 2

Kosiz Blending Sponge Pen Dual Tip Oil Pastels Blender, Morandi, 6 Pcs

$12.99

Bestseller No. 3

6Pcs Artist Blending Sponge Pen Soft Pastel Blending Tools Sketch Wipe

$7.97

Bestseller No. 4

Brusarth Metallic Marker Pens, Silver and Gold Dual Tip Pens, 4 Pack

$6.52

Rank #4

Brusarth Metallic Marker Pens, Silver and Gold Dual Tip Pens, 4 Pack

• UNIQUE DUAL TIP DESIGN: Metallic marker has a 1mm tip and a 0.5-5mm brush tip. The fine tip is suitable for outlining, detailing, and fine line work, while the brush tip allows for coloring larger areas coloring and shading
• HIGH QUALITY: This Metallic marker pen doesn't need to be shaken or pressed down on the nib to be used! Just uncap and start creating! Our glitter metallic marker pens have opaque ink formula, non-toxic, Extremely smooth, water-based ink dries quickly and resistant to fading
• MARKS ON MOST SURFACES: Metallic pens are suitable for creating art on a variety of surfaces, including black paper, scrapbooking, rock Painting, ceramics, glass, fabric, metal, plastic, photo albums, cards or DIY craft projects
• METALLIC SILVER AND GOLD PENS: Metallic artist markers Great for opaque writing, decorating, doodling, drawing, coloring, daily creations or DIY crafts; Perfect for artists and adults
• SPECIAL GIFT: The glitter metallic marker pens are suitable for newcomers to play creative, Acrylic paint pens art supplies will be a personalized gift for your loved ones and painting rock lovers and create amazing art gifts for birthdays, Easter, Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's Day, Thanksgiving, New Year or special holiday gifts

$6.52

Buy on Amazon

Rank #3

6Pcs Artist Blending Sponge Pen Soft Pastel Blending Tools Sketch Wipe

• 【Quality Material】The sketch artist blending sponge pen is made of high-quality sponge and ABS. The black tip is made of sponge, helping to blend different facets. The artist supplies a sturdy ABS shell that is durable, drawing supplies comfortable to hold, and drawing tools with a long service life, while the soft tip is gentle and delicate, blending sponge without damaging the paper.
• 【Wide Apply】This blending sponge pen set is an ideal and useful tool for art enthusiasts, students, or beginners. Pastels for artists allow your blending and shading to be effortless and convenient, drawing tools for artists, creating beautiful gradients and shadows in your artwork.
• 【Dual-end Design】The practical dual-end design of the friction sponge brush includes a larger-sized black sponge tip, which makes pastel art supplies softer and ideal for shading and initial blending, and a smaller-sized black sponge tip, which sponge brushes for painting is perfect for handling local details.
• 【Package Include】The package includes 6 pieces of blending stumps, coming in 2 sizes. This ample quantity makes sponge brushes suitable for group activities in art classes and can also serve as a useful addition to your art kit, blending sticks for drawing, and blending sponge, ensuring that you will always have pens on hand while working on your masterpieces.
• 【Practical Sizes】This sketch friction sponge brush comes in 2 different sizes to meet your needs: Large 5.71 × 0.47 inches/14.5 × 1.2 cm. Small 5.71 × 0.32 inches/14.5 × 0.8 cm.

$7.97

Buy on Amazon

Rank #2

Kosiz Blending Sponge Pen Dual Tip Oil Pastels Blender, Morandi, 6 Pcs

• Package Includes: You will receive 6 double headed blending sponge pens in 2 sizes, designed as practical oil pastel blending tools for sketching, shading, color transitions, and daily art creation. The Morandi color barrels include pink, light green, and light blue, giving your art tool kit a useful and organized blending set
• Practical Double Headed Design: The blending sponge pen features a double headed design for flexible shading control. The larger black tip is useful for shadow-side transition and preliminary blending, while the smaller black tip helps handle detailing; the white felt tip supports halftone transitions, light-side blending, and rub and buff color effects
• Two Sizes For Application: This sketch rubbing sponge brush comes in 2 different sizes to meet broad blending and fine detail needs. The bigger pen measures about 0.47 inch / 1.2 cm in tip diameter and 5.94 inch / 15.1 cm long, while the smaller pen measures about 0.24 inch / 0.6 cm in tip diameter and 5.51 inch / 14 cm long, making it a handy oil pastel blender for different drawing areas
• Reliable And Comfortable Material: The sketching wipe pen is made of sponge, felt, and ABS, with a black sponge tip for darker transitions and a white felt tip for soft blending on light areas. These oil pastels blending tools help blend different sides smoothly while offering a comfortable hold for repeated sketching and coloring
• Wide Range Of Uses: Designed for oil pastel, soft pastel, charcoal, graphite, colored pencil, and rub and buff, this blending sponge pen helps create smooth gradients, seamless color transitions, and precise detailing. A practical choice for artists, beginners, sketch practice, studio projects, and creative projects

$12.99

Buy on Amazon

ThatPainter Team

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.