How to tranfer a laserjet print on a skateboard deck - step by step TUTORIAL

When I posted some pics and work in progress videos on IG several people asked me how I did the transfer of the sketch to the skateboard deck. I don’t exactly remember which video I watched on Youtube, since I watched too many I guess. But here’s my method.

1) Print the sketch ( only laser prints, inkjet apparently doesn’t work) cut through the contour leaving some room, about 1-2 inches. Place it on the deck.

Placing the print on the skateboard deck

Mark top and bottom with a pencil, you’re gonna need it.

2) Pour some acrylic medium where you’re gonna stick the print. You’re gonna spread it with a large brush.

Personally I use this one, is a Matte Medium by Liquitex. I use it to make the colors more fluid, it also makes the color more transparent, like some sort of thinner. It’s transparent, don’t worry.

3) Spread the medium with a brush. Pour some drops in the beginning, spread it and then add some more. Thnk about using this as a glue, the paper should stick perfectly to the skateboard deck.

4) Place the print on it and use a spatula to press it against the deck, starting from the center to the edges. Try to eliminate every bubble; the little folds, the bubbles, are points where the paper is not touching the deck so the inks’s not gonna stick, and you’re gonna have gaps. As you can see, I used the back of a paint tube. Couldn’t find an old credit card.

5) Clean the excess of medium. It’s gonna be visible when dried. Not too much, but you’re gonna notice and you’re gonna say a lot of bad words out loud.

Let it try for 6-12 hours. Once I tried with an hair dryer, and it sucked.

6) When it’s fully dried, pour some water on it with a brush and start gently scraping the paper off with your fingertips. At some point, you can use the soft yellow side of a kitchen sponge to clean it up a little bit. Here’s a quick video of the paper removal.

Scraping off the paper with fingertips and water

As you can see the result is pretty clean. But still, some parts are missing. For me it’s fine, since I use it so I don’t have to sketch with a pencil directly on the deck, which is definitely messier. If you want the cleaniest possible result, I guess you have to abound with medium with a nice thick layer, and be sure to scrape off folds and bubbles in the best way possible.

But still, it’s the perfect starting point since I’m gonna start the colors and finish the inks in the end to have the cleanest lines possible. Check my instagram reels to see the complete work in progress videos.

Thanks for reading, hope that’s been helpful! Have fun and go skate!