20 steps to making a custom shirt using DARK transfers - "how-to" procedures

[mae5731]

I just printed my first transfer....looks much more muted than I anticipated even though I indicated best quality and selected T shirt transfer as paper type. Tomorrow I will see how it irons on!

Marion,

I seemed to like choosing the highest quality and the matte photo paper option the best. Good luck!

 

[RustManFan]

and other comments on how the printed image is supposed to look? I was hoping for more vibrant...using Amy's dark transfers

 

[M_I_C_K_E_Y]

and other comments on how the printed image is supposed to look? I was hoping for more vibrant...using Amy's dark transfers

oops!

 

[M_I_C_K_E_Y]

and other comments on how the printed image is supposed to look? I was hoping for more vibrant...using Amy's dark transfers

Marion,

I would suggest you iron it on and see... a lot of times, the colors may not look real bright on the paper but when you iron them on, you will see how the heat of the iron really brings out the color of the design. Please keep us posted how they look after you have printed.

PS - be careful about choosing the transfer setting - I have heard on some computers that this flips the design which you do NOT want to do with my transfers. I just print on high quality - like on a regular sheet of paper.

 

[RustManFan]

Thanks Amy! No flipping problem but since I was printing for the first time I wanted to be sure about how it should look. Will try the ones I am doing on inexpensive cotton tote bags before I try t-shirts. I also cleaned nozzle heads after my first print so now I should be ok I guess.

 

[Kcat1971]

Thanks!

 

[RustManFan]

just made my first t shirt. thinking my iron runs a little hot so I will lower the temp on the next one....

 

[RustManFan]

so if my DISign looks great except for some whitest marks in the black Mickey ears I am probably not ironing long enough? can I iron it more after shirt has cooled and fix this? (with parchment on top of course)

 

[dspads]

Just wanted to thank everyone for the great info here. I just completed my first t's and it was so easy, thanks to reading this. I used the Avery dark paper on 50/50 blend t-shirts from Michael's and they look great! I think I may try to do a few more this week.

One note, on my 2nd batch I accidentally put the t-shirts I was prewashing in the dryer with dryer sheets. It was much harder for the transfers to adhere -I was ironing them forever. But they seem fine now. If this happened again I would definitely rewash them!

Thanks again!

 

[HETRICKL]

Could you please do the Mickey one with 'Braden and 6'? I guess I should make one for her brother too, since they will both be celebrating.

Thanks!

Of course. Here is your request.
[/QUOTE]

Can anyone tell me how to get these on colored shirts now? I have Amy's dark transfer paper. Looking at the other pp, if I don't want to see any white, I'm guessing I don't have any option. There's no way to cut around all that lettering since it's not inside the head right?

Is my only option to go back to the designer and ask for a border or different color background? If so, what color (s) for background and shirt would you suggest?

Thanks - I'm so close to figuring this all out!

 

[RustManFan]

I would put the DISign on a rounded rectangle myself. Pale yellow or blue or about anything that would go with the DISign....

 

[RustManFan]

something like this. and the rounded corners make the transfer stick better I believe....

but have the original DISigner do it or at least credit them since I don't know who it was!!

 

[mae5731]

something like this. and the rounded corners make the transfer stick better I believe....

I just wanted to second the rounded corners comment!!! Natalie's star DISigns were some of my favorites...but the eeyore star shirt I made was the hardest to get to adhere.

 

[HETRICKL]

Thank you both.

Marion - I think that means I'll be coming back to you. I'm sure I have a design for you. I'll be back...

 

[mommyofthreeboys]

stupid question--about a year ago, I bought both light and dark transfers and just put them in one pile. Now I don't know what is what!

How can I tell which ones are dark and which ones are light?

Thanks!

 

[M_I_C_K_E_Y]

stupid question--about a year ago, I bought both light and dark transfers and just put them in one pile. Now I don't know what is what!

How can I tell which ones are dark and which ones are light?

Thanks!

You should be able to pull away the corner and see - if the transfer is clear, it is a light transfer. If the transfer is white it is a dark transfer.

 

[KYMSRX]

Thanks for all the great information in this post!

Kimberly

 

[dis2010]

I think I might have screwed up. What happens if you don't wash your shirts before you put the transfer on them? I did several white shirts already and didn't prewash. Am I suppose to wash them in vinegar now or only colored ones?

 

[dis2010]

I think I might have screwed up. What happens if you don't wash your shirts before you put the transfer on them? I did several white shirts already and didn't prewash. Am I suppose to wash them in vinegar now or only colored ones?

The shirts with the transfer on them look good but I'm wondering what to do about not washing before or afterwards.

Thanks!!!
Tammy

 

[M_I_C_K_E_Y]

I think I might have screwed up. What happens if you don't wash your shirts before you put the transfer on them? I did several white shirts already and didn't prewash. Am I suppose to wash them in vinegar now or only colored ones?

The shirts with the transfer on them look good but I'm wondering what to do about not washing before or afterwards.
Thanks!!!
Tammy

Tammy,
It is always best to prewash as this makes the transfer stick better because it removes all store/production residue. Since you have already ironed the transfer on - I would not worry about it.

Some here have reported doing the vinegar wash. I have personally never done it. It really is a personal preference. But just a general warning - some transfers will show wear, cracking or peeling after the first wash - so I would personally wait until after your trip to wash them.

If you are using my transfers, you can wash them before your trip if you wish and there will be no cracking, peeling etc... but again, I do not do the vinegar wash ever.