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

[walkerag]

Ok I am a total newbie at this!!! I also know enough about computers just to be dangerous.
Ok to my strange questions.
#1 If I find a design or someone customizes one for me, how do I save it? Right click and save picture?
#2 Once I have saved it what kind of program does it need to be opened in to print?
#3 If it needs to be resized could I do it in the program that I opened it in?

Any other info for someone new to this would be great!!!

Thanks in advance I am sure these are really dumb questions but I have no idea where to start.

Thanks,
Tracy

I just right clicked the image and copied and pasted it into a word document and that worked fine for me. I was able to resize the image as needed. I had to go into print under the file tab and then into properties to select mirror image (for my light transfers) and the paper type.
I will also add that if you like the "vintage" look you can use a light transfer on a light or pastel colored shirt. The fabric color will show through the transfer. I did this on a Bambi pillowcase I made for my DD6 for our trip coming up in May. It was lavender and it came out really good. Like I said kindof vintage looking

 

[heartbeeps]

I used the transfers for dark too. I would really like to do them over because the transfer looks really good on the red, but not if it is going to keep doing this. It is the stick figure family, so there is alot of white umm i mean red

did you wash the red shirts (with just detergent) before ironing on the transfers?

 

[heartbeeps]

Ok, I know that this is a really dumb question ...

Can you wash several shirts together when you do the vinegar wash? Several different colored shirts together, no whites?

Or does each shirt have to be washed separately?

I plan on washing all my yellow tees (with the red transfer) in the same "load" of vinegar wash at the same time unless I hear otherwise here. ANYONE know anything different? (I'll stick PINS in my eyes if I have to hand wash 30+ shirts by hand!)

Then I'll wash all the pink shirts together. I do not plan on putting hte pink shirts w/designs ironed on in the same load as the yellow shirts with red designs - I'm not that much of a risk taker! If we don't get our answer from another reader, stay tuned - I'll let you know how mine turn out!

 

[heartbeeps]

I also had a problem with red shirts. I used the transfers for dark t's but it still bled through the white parts of the disign....if anyone knows how to fix this or what the problem is-I'd like to know too!

did you wash the tees before you ironed the transfers on?

 

[heartbeeps]

Ok I am a total newbie at this!!! I also know enough about computers just to be dangerous.
Ok to my strange questions.
#1 If I find a design or someone customizes one for me, how do I save it? Right click and save picture?
#2 Once I have saved it what kind of program does it need to be opened in to print?
#3 If it needs to be resized could I do it in the program that I opened it in?

we all start somewhere - I'm only about 2 steps ahead of you!
Here's what I did (not sure how this compares to any standard but it's what I did just the same) -
#1 - ideally, you'd want to go to their photobucket, click on the pix, then click on it a 2nd time to get it to display at 100% so you get the best image possible to work from. Then right click to "save pix as" and dropped it in my file folder.
#2 - Although I "could" open and print by double clicking on the jpg image, I have Camedia software (which came free with my Olympus digital camera) and used that to open the design just as if I was opening a digital photo. From there I was able to do some very basic rudamentary customization like adding a name to a design before printing.
#3 - I was able to "resize" using Camedia.
good luck and ask away, we're all students in training!

 

[DisneyMom92]

I plan on washing all my yellow tees (with the red transfer) in the same "load" of vinegar wash at the same time unless I hear otherwise here. ANYONE know anything different? (I'll stick PINS in my eyes if I have to hand wash 30+ shirts by hand!)

Then I'll wash all the pink shirts together. I do not plan on putting hte pink shirts w/designs ironed on in the same load as the yellow shirts with red designs - I'm not that much of a risk taker! If we don't get our answer from another reader, stay tuned - I'll let you know how mine turn out!

OK, you can wash the same shirts together in the vinegar wash that you would wash together in normal wash. In otherwords, I wouldn't wash a red shirt with a yellow shirt, but I might wash a red shirt with a navy shirt and a yellow shirt with other pastels. Make sense? It will be much easier for you if you wash several shirts together, or rather, dry them together, because they will bunch up if you don't have enough shirts in and that will ruin your design. I always throw a few dry towels in to prevent this from happening.



As far as the "bleeding" of red....please explain more or post pictures...are you saying a red shirt came through on a dark transfer, the ink from the transfer bled when you ironed it on?

 

[Disneymommy2006]

Heartbeeps, Yes I did wash all the t's before I ironed on the transfers- I did 2 red shirts- one bled the other turned out fine

 

[Disneymommy2006]

Heartbeeps-I'll try and post a photo but don't have time before work this AM- Let me explain I had a mickey disign- either one of Amy or Pat's. It was mickey's face with a white background (circle) with yellow border and the word smile written all around the circle... anyway the white background turned pinkish brown almost like the red of the shirt bled through the transfer??? Maybe red shirts need more than one prior washing since they tend to do this????

 

[goofydebi]

I also washed mine before ironing on the transfer. Gave my camera away so I am not able to take picture right now. It was not the red in the design. I believe it was the shirt. I have always washed red shirts seperately when they were new. I think I should have washed these twice. Also I read on a website that you shouldn't wash your shirts before you wear them the first time because they will never look as good. So now am wondering about the vinegar wash. I am assuming that everyones shirts look fine after washing them???

 

[Benducci]

Does everyone wash their shirts first? I have never done that- it would seem to be that if you wash them they lose that crisp look

 

[heartbeeps]

Does everyone wash their shirts first? I have never done that- it would seem to be that if you wash them they lose that crisp look

I definitely washed mine before putting the transfer on; I can't stand the chemicals they use to make clothing so I always wash before using. They're not crisp only b'c they're not ironed at this point. I'd rather have a little uncrisp then runny shirts in WDW!

Personally, I can't say what happened to the PPs' red shirts explained above. Anyone else wanna take a crack at it?

 

[DisneyMom92]

As far as the red shirts bleeding, my guess is that the red dye wasn't sufficiently washed out before the transfer was ironed on. It's possible that there was steam in the iron that precipitated the bleeding. Not sure there.

As far as washing t-shirts before putting the transfer on....it's really a necessary step. When they make the shirt for sale in the store they put a sizing on it to make it lay nice and not wrinkle too bad. This sizing will keep the transfer from adhering well. All shirts should be washed first with detergent only, no fabric softener in washer or dryer (ie, dryer sheets).

The vinegar wash is not supposed to be necessary any more, but a lot of people are reporting bleeding or running of their transfers. That's why I brought up the vinegar wash, which you do with any paint or dye job that you might do in (ie, air brushing) in addition to the iron on transfer.

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

I'm sorry ... one more probably dumb question. I know that if the shirts are washed in vinegar after the transfer is ironed on, they need to be dried on low. Do the shirts have to be dried after the first wash with detergent only? I am worried about too much shrinking.

THANK YOU all again! I ordered two shirts from JiffyShirts to check them for size and to make my first attempt at the transfer. I can't wait til they get here!

 

[DisneyMom92]

The pre-wash needs to be done the same way you are going to wash them later, that includes during the vinegar wash. You don't want your shirt to shrink after the transfer is on because then the transfer will bubble.

 

[heartbeeps]

thanks for all the advise DisneyMom92; we all really appreciate your experience!

 

[Disneymommy2006]

Yes, Thanks! I think I will give red another try but wash a couple of times before I apply the transfer...I'll let you know how this works out

 

[The Disney Bunch]

I am going to order my shirts today from Jiffy shirts - does anyone know how long they take to come in? I want enough time to wash them before I do the transfers.

 

[M_I_C_K_E_Y]

I am going to order my shirts today from Jiffy shirts - does anyone know how long they take to come in? I want enough time to wash them before I do the transfers.

If I remember correctly, I had mine in a couple days or so. They were very quick!

 

[Disneymommy2006]

Me too- they came much quicker than I expected

 

[The Disney Bunch]

Not to be a nudge- are they better quality than the ones that Michael's or AC Moore are selling? Thanks!