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

[Moeluv4u7]

Bumping again for debbs

 

[dato63]

Since I never used a transfer before, I've been reading the threads on this board for the past month to figure out how to make custom t shirts for my family's upcoming trip to Disney... using DARK TRANSFERS ONLY!

Warning: I am a beginner; I have NEVER done this before!.

I found this video on the web showing a visual of how to iron on transfers - click here!

06/01/08 - added info to step 17

Here's what I've learned (along with my specific decisions at each step):

1) Print out these guidelines while deciding on a theme to use
(a) DH's b'day + Family + the Incredibles and
(b) DAK & first names on Mickey heads

2) Decide on quantity
- I need 20 of various sizes (ok so now I'm at 48 and counting!)

3) Decide on a specific design
(a) Mr. Incredible Birthday/Family for adults; Dash Incredible Birthday/Family for kids;
(b) safari Mickey heads/DAK shirts
(c) "First Time" shirts
(d) Birthday shirts
(e) P&PP shirts
(f) Tote bag

4) Determine if selected design needs to be customized (yep)

5) Figure out the timeline for having shirts ready when you need them
- I started with my departure date of 4/30 and worked backwards from there, allowing time for designing, shipping, prep, etc. I plan on bringing all 21 shirts to Disney and distributing them there b'c of lack of time to mail them to everyone beforehand.

6) Get design customized
- I couldn't do step #1 without the wonderful Dis-igners here on this board being so generous with their time and creativity!
- proof read EVERY version of EVERY design you print so you are sure the spelling in each transfer is correct before you print! (I wasted about 9 transfers by not catching a typo before wasting ink and transfers; fortunately, I didn't waste the shirts, too!)
- write down the name of the designer/their "handle" whose design you use so you can appropriately credit them for their work when you post your finished product!

7) print the designs on white paper and "size them up" on the t-shirt to ensure they look good
- gosh I hope the t-shirt colors I picked work!
- some say you can print them in black and white but I really needed to see them in color! and it helps to take the paper print outs to a local store to look for shirt colors if you haven't already done that yet
- printing them on white paper first also confirms what you will get when you print on transfer paper. (after all, you don't want to waste expensive transfer paper so ensure you've got it all right - including the spelling, whether you need to reverse the image, etc.)

8) Decide on shirt - store, style, color and order
- bought from shirtsupplier.com (there's a public frequent buyer discount code - it's FBP8) and from jiffyshirts.com as well as from Michael's, Dollar Tree, and Wal-mart.
- 100% cotton T shirt
- yellow haze color of various sizes (21 ordered for the Incredibles design)
- be sure to understand the company's return policy, restocking fees, suggested quantity to buy to allow for defects in original order, etc.

9) Make sure timeline is still valid
- I originally forgot to add to my timeline enough time required to select the t shirt colors (not being artistic at all, I agonized over the right color to coordinate with each design)

10) buy transfers
- I used HP.com - buy 1 get 1 free offer (Like being a Pepsi gal, I'm gonna be on the dark side of transfers)
- If putting design on a white shirt - you can use either light or dark transfers; On any other color shirt - use dark transfers or else ALL white areas of the design will be the shirt color.
- Dark transfers tend to have more vibrant colors and are more of a matte finish and light transfers are more shiny.
- the MINUTE that the printer flashes the "ink low" message, CHANGE THE INK CARTRIDGE. Do not try to get one more transfer out of that ink cartridge. (I did that and wasted a transfer because the transfer had vertical stripes through it! )

11) wash, dry and iron the shirts
- NO fabric softener, no dryer sheets, no spray starch!

12) if happy with the positioning of the print outs on paper, then print the design on the transfer paper itself
- HP dark transfer paper states "Set Print quality to BEST" [for HP Iron-On Transfer]
- Check printing directions for the type of transfer you are using. Normally, dark transfers print normally and White transfers should be reversed before printing.

13) let the design "set up" on the paper for a day
- not sure this is absolute but won't hurt if you've got the time built into your timeline

14) 'trim' around the design otherwise the un-used or un-printed white backgrounds will show on the shirt

15) take the transfer, parchment paper, shirt, and iron to a flat, hard surface
- coffee table ideal b'c it's lower and you can hover over the iron
- dining room table or floor can be used as long as you protect it
- note - I used the coffee table protected with a pillowcase folded double - TOOK THE FINISH RIGHT OFF THE SURFACE!

16) while heating up the iron (follow the directions on the transfer package), [for dark transfers] remove the transfer from the backing before you iron it on the shirt then put parchment paper on top of the transfer before you iron it
- These directions are for Dark Transfer shirts as the ironing is a little different for white transfers (not much, just a little (i.e., you DON't take the back off for white transfers)
- make sure all of the paper is off the back including at the point where the two sides of the paper meet; sometimes a little bit is left that needs to be taken off before ironing
- I left my iron heat up for at least 8 minutes before starting

17) iron the transfer onto the shirt using parchment paper (provided by the transfer mfr.) between the transfer and the iron
- FOLLOW THE MFR. DIRECTIONS to the letter!
- while prepping the shirt (i.e., making sure the tee is flat and not wrinkled, be sure to keep the transfer AWAY from the hot iron!)
- make sure the transfers is flat, centered, and straight and there are no corners bent under
- make sure you iron long enough so the transfer not only comes off the transfer but ADHERES to the shirt
- make sure you let the transfer "cool down" before trying to lift the parchment paper off the transfer (the tissue paper should lift right off with NO problem; if the tissue paper feels like it's "sticking" to the transfer that's a sure indication that you haven't let the transfer cool enough)

18) wash shirt in a vinegar wash
- 1 cup vinegar in the washer only, nothing else, just the shirt(s) and vinegar, no detergent no fabric softener and put it through it's regular wash cycle
- if you're concerned about a vinegar smell, you can use a second rinse cycle
- I turned my tees inside out before washing

19) Dry the shirt on a low heat setting *
- Not no heat, it needs SOME heat!
- If only drying a couple of shirts, put a towel or two in the dryer to keep the shirt from bunching up

20) Post pix back to the boards to thank the Dis-igners for sharing their talents and surprise the family
- if taking a pix indoors, the pix looks better if you can turn off the flash and set the camera to "macro" then get close enough to read the design but also see the "look" of the tee (i.e., the collar, sleeves, etc.)

Sit back, and enjoy!

A word of advice... don't underestimate the amount of time you need to make these shirts; there's a lot of steps involved. Add a couple extra days to your timeline to allow for snafus!

* some folks say they Scotchgard the shirts (inside & outside) before wearing them to help protect them from bleeding. Personally, I haven't done this and two of my shirts bled when the wearer used Purell to disinfect their hands! LOL

I hope this helps everyone who isn't familiar with the steps required.

I have a question. Step #12 says that dark transfers don't have to be reversed before printing. I don't follow this (sorry - have not done this before or yet). I thought all of the designs you get here would have to be printed in reverse so the wording/names are not backwards when you iron them on? Am I misreading this?

Thank you for any input so I don't totally screw up our vacation shirts.

 

[M_I_C_K_E_Y]

I have a question. Step #12 says that dark transfers don't have to be reversed before printing. I don't follow this (sorry - have not done this before or yet). I thought all of the designs you get here would have to be printed in reverse so the wording/names are not backwards when you iron them on? Am I misreading this?

Thank you for any input so I don't totally screw up our vacation shirts.

First of all read the directions that come in your iron on package carefully because this is not a hard fast rule - but in most cases - dark transfers do not need the design to be reversed/flipped.

The reason is because on the white transfers you turn the design so that the design faces the shirt. For the dark transfers, you lay the design flat on the shirt with the design facing up/towards you.

 

[dato63]

First of all read the directions that come in your iron on package carefully because this is not a hard fast rule - but in most cases - dark transfers do not need the design to be reversed/flipped.

The reason is because on the white transfers you turn the design so that the design faces the shirt. For the dark transfers, you lay the design flat on the shirt with the design facing up/towards you.

OOOOKay - so some of the paper transfers differently. I didn't know that. I'll be sure to read the directions on what I buy. Thank you so much for responding - it helps a LOT!!

 

[heartbeeps]

First of all read the directions that come in your iron on package carefully because this is not a hard fast rule - but in most cases - dark transfers do not need the design to be reversed/flipped.

The reason is because on the white transfers you turn the design so that the design faces the shirt. For the dark transfers, you lay the design flat on the shirt with the design facing up/towards you.

Thanks for pointing out this oversight, Amy. I added a line in the first post -
ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS IN THE PACKAGE OF TRANSFER PAPERS; the steps that follow are just a guideline!

The dark transfers I used (HP brand) did NOT need to be flipped so I assumed that was true of every dark transfer.

Sorry for any confusion my vagueness may have caused dato63.

 

[chaoscent]

Bump

 

[calzo]

I'm about to start the vinegar wash and I couldn't find the directions! BUMP!

Wish me luck...

 

[LD NURSE]

I did it!!! I did it!!! Thanks for all the tips. This so needs to be a sticky--I kept losing it!!

Special Thanks to Dom 13 for the awsome Star Wars design!!!

 

[M_I_C_K_E_Y]

The question that comes up the most often on the boards (it seems) is what transfers are the best. This is a question that has many answers depending on who you ask.

I have been asked to post in this thread about my dark transfers. If you are looking for the best dark transfers on the market - I have found them! After years of trying numerous brands, I have finally found one that I love and would like to share with everyone.

Please see this thread for updates and feedback about these dark transfers:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1928845

If you are looking for the best light transfers - I am sorry but I do not have an opinion on this. I only use the dark transfers because of personal preference.

 

[snyderla]

I've made 24 of the 35 shirts I have to do for our 10/23 trip. (We have 18 of us going.) Mistakes I've made so far: my first TWO transfer prints I forgot to reverse the image for the light transfers. I've printed out an image on transfer paper BEFORE I saw it on regular paper and the pixels were way too few to use the transfer, I tried to iron a light transfer on a red shirt-everything was red, I scorched the first 2 shirts, and lastly I ALMOST ironed the dark transfers with image reversed! Thank you for saving me from another mistake!

 

[aribelle]

Wow...thanks for all this GREAT information!

 

[chaoscent]

bump

 

[kkjd]

Just what I need!
Thanks.

 

[RustManFan]

I can't find this covered here so will ask.....I want most of the background of my image to be black and will use a black t-shirt. I hate to print with all that black. Also hate the thought of cutting around entire image.

Can I make the background transparent and it will show as black because of t-shirt color?

Or navy if I used a navy t-shirt, etc.

I use Photoshop Elements BTW.

 

[M_I_C_K_E_Y]

I can't find this covered here so will ask.....I want most of the background of my image to be black and will use a black t-shirt. I hate to print with all that black. Also hate the thought of cutting around entire image.

Can I make the background transparent and it will show as black because of t-shirt color?

Or navy if I used a navy t-shirt, etc.

I use Photoshop Elements BTW.

It does not matter if you make the background transparent or not on the computer screen.

The way it works is that for light transfers, any part of the transfer that is not a color (ie - white) will be clear (ie - the shirt color)

Dark transfers are white - which means that anything that is not a color will be white.

You will need to either print the background black, trim the design or if there is no other white in the design, you could use a light transfer.

I hope this helps!

 

[DisneyBarlans]

I would love to make t-shirts for our upcoming trip, but we had a bad experience with them last year. I'm not sure if it was the transfers we used or the way we did them, but the ink started running as soon as we got the transfers wet (splash mountain), and when we got home and washed them (inside out, in cold water on delicate cycle) they all cracked and started peeling off. I used the dark transfers from Michael's-not sure what brand. I followed the directions on the transfers-prewashing the shirts with no detergent or fabric softener, ironed them on my kitchen table, everything it said to do. They looked really cute, but the second they got wet they fell apart. Does anyone have any tips that might help me this time? I have never heard of the prewash in vinegar-does this seem to help with the bleeding? I'll probably order some of your transfers AmyMickey. I would greatly appreciate any input! TIA! Anne

 

[MDAL12]

Last night I tried ironing on a transfer to my daughter's cotton t-shirt. I applied the iron in each section for 20 seconds as the directions said. When I tried to remove the parchment paper the transfer was still attached to the paper and never transferred to the t-shirt. I followed the directions and did it on a flat surface placing the glossy side down with the printed decal facing up and the parchment paper on top of that. Does anyone have any tips on how I can get this to transfer to the t-shirt? I used Wilton brand transfers.

 

[SeiterClan]

I've never used Wilton tranfers, only HP, but the only time I had a similar problem with dark transfers is when I forgot to peel the backing off the transfer. The only other thing I can think of is that you are not ironing the trabfer long enough to have it adhere to the shirt. Hope this helps a little!

 

[MDAL12]

I did not peel the backing before I ironed it. Is this the problem?

 

[SeiterClan]

Again, I have never used Wilton tranfers before so you shouldread the directions that come with your transfers carefully! The tranfers your're using are they for dark or light colored shirts because that makes a difference? IF they are DARK tranfers, with HP you must first peel the backing off the transfer & then place your transfer on your colored shirt with the design up(the way you want it to look on your shirt), then place parchment paper on top & iron away as directed. Let me know if this helps.