Do you mean the letters that can be rubbed off the back of an acetate
sheet onto a piece of paper by companies such as Letraset and Chartpak?
In my former life as a graphic artist in the pre-personal computer age I
had to use reams of that stuff and I got very proficient at it--fast,
excellent spacing, level lines.  Know what?  I hate transfer letters!
Once I had access to a computer with a laser printer I never used them
again.  If meticulous manual tasks and an eye for letter
spacing are not your metier, you'll hate them even more than I do.

For inexpensive, great looking temporary labels that will save you money
in terms of time and actual purchases over transfer letters, run off your
labels with a good laser printer, spray-mount them to foam core or matt
board, and trim to size using a t-square and a heavy duty x-acto knife. A
clear plastic ruler with a grid imprinted on it is also very helpful.  Buy
yourself a self-healing cutting matt for a reusable cutting surface and
you're in business.  The spray-mount, mounting board and tools can all
be purchased at the same place as transfer letters--an art supply or
graphic art supply store.  They can give you tips on how to use them.


--Helen Glazer
Goucher College, Baltimore, MD, USA
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On Wed, 29 May 1996, Adrienne DeArmas wrote:

> Does anyone know how dry transfer text works, where I can get it and a source
> which might give a step-by-step how-to? I know that it is an inexpensive
> alternative to silkscreening and although it is not durable, we'd like to
> place it in sealed cases so it should not be a problem. Thanks!
>
> - Adrienne
>