The groundwork of wooden or metallic articles to be decorated with printed transfers must in all cases be first prepared. Thus, metals are generally japanued or varnished, woodwork being chiefly French polished. With a camel-hair brush, apply to the printed or face side of the design a thin even coat of copal or carriage varnish reduced with turpentine; set aside for ten minutes, or until the varnish becomes sticky or nearly dry, then place the picture, face downwards, on the article to be decorated. Press the transfer well down to drive out all air bubbles, starting at the centre and pressing towards the edges. It is essential that the transfer shall be in close contact with the surface at every part. A rubber roller (a squeegee, as used for mounting photographs) is very useful for large prints. Having pressed the transfer well down, set it aside until the varnish is quite dry; the longer the time allowed for drying the better, especially on metals, though with careful handling the picture may be taken off in half an hour. With a sponge and slightly warm water, damp the paper and press it down again, then saturate more freely. Now lift up the transfer at one corner and carefully peel off; then wipe over the print with clean water.

Soak up all moisture by gently dabbing with a clean damp chamois leather. When the design is quite dry, it may be varnished or polished. In transferring designs to glass or porcelain, best gelatine dissolved in hot water may be used as an adhesive; and for painted furniture, mail-carts, and perambulators, that are finished by two or more coats of varnish, the design may be transferred direct on the first coat of the varnish when this is tacky or nearly dry. In this case it is not necessary to coat the face of the design.