Do I print the design and iron it on a shirt?

[pepperderr]

I am pretty sure this is only my second or third post to this board. I saw a few posts that point to photobucket pictures. Can I just print them out and use transfer paper to put it on a tshirt? I already bought both of my boys 3 plain white tshirts to put a design on. Is that really all there is to it?

Thanks. We are going to DW in June and staying at Pop. It will be both my boys' (8yo and 4yo) first trip and I haven't been there in about 20 years. It's probably been about that long for DH too. This is going to be our first BIG trip as a family. We only usually go camping to to a small amusement park or museume. I am getting so many cool ideas here! I am sooooo glad I found this group!

 

[noahdove]

Run the design on the light/white transfer paper. Just remember to reverse the image--mirror image and then print it out. Just in case here are a couple more hints. You need to set the printer to "transfer paper, then click on the advance button, arrow down to where it says, "mirror image" and set it to "yes" click ok and then be sure your transfer paper is in the printer the correct way and off you go to print..I am not trying to be a smart aleck, but when I first started making shirts, I made serveral mistakes and they were costly...good luck

 

[heartbeeps]

ok I need remedial help here! Or at least step-by-step procedures
Is this accurate and complete?

1) Decide on a theme (a) DH's 80th b'day + Family +the Incredibles and (b) DAK & first names on Mickey heads
2) Decide on quantity (I need 20 of various sizes)
3) Decide on a specific design (a) Mr. Incredible for adults; Dash Incredible for kids; (b) safari Mickey heads
4) Determine if selected design needs to be customized (yep)
5) Determine timeline for having shirts ready (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)
4) Decide on shirt - store, style, color (bought from shirtsupplier.com, 100% cotton T shirt - yellow haze - 21 ordered) (note return policy, restocking fees, suggested quantity to buy to allow for defects in original order)
6) Get design customized (many thanks to Dis-igners here on the boards I've got great designs to use)
7) Make sure timeline is still good (I originally forgot to add to my timeline the time to wash and iron the shirts b4 using transfers)
8) buy transfers (I bought from HP.com - buy 1 get 1 free offer; using dark transfers b'c learned they're easier than light)
9) wash, dry and iron the shirts (no fabric softener, no dryer sheets, no spray starch)
10) 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!)
11) if happy with the paper print outs, then print the design on the transfer paper itself
12) 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)
13) 'trim' around the design otherwise the un-used or un-printed white backgrounds will show on the shirt
11) take the transfer, shirt, and iron to the 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)
12) heat up the iron (follow the directions on the transfer package)
13) iron the transfer onto the shirt - make sure you do it long enough so the transfer not only comes off the transfer but ADHERES to the shirt
14) wash shirt in a vinegar wash: 1 cup vinegar in the washer only, nothing else, just the shirt and vinegar, no detergent no fabric softener.
15) Dry the shirt on a low heat setting (Not no heat, it needs some heat.) If only one shirt, put a towel or two in the dryer to keep the shirt from bunching up.
14) enjoy! (I hope)

HELP

 

[heartbeeps]

Ok so now I have a follow-up question. Are these all materials I need:
- transfer paper
- iron
- ironing board
- computer
- color printer (is inkjet ok? can it be laserjet?)
- ink for color printer
- shirts
- design
- electricity (of course)

anything else I haven't thought of?

 

[DisneyMom92]

Actually, most of the transfer companies don't recommend you use an ironing board to transfer your image to the shirt. The reason for this is that the ironing board pad is soft and you need something firm to iron on. I use my kitchen table, others use the floor covered by a board. I protect my kitchen table with a cutting board and then a pillow case. I also usually use a pressing cloth, but don't always and really can't tell you which is better.

Make sure your iron does not have steam coming out of it. I usually empty mine of all water (actually I now have a separate iron for crafts that I never put water in).

Inkjet is best for transfers. You might be able to buy specific laserjet transfer paper, I don't know. But laserjets use heat to fuse the ink, so transfer paper doesn't usually work in them.

On dark transfer paper, you don't mirror image. On light transfer paper, you do. (dark/light refers to the fabric color) If you use light transfer paper, the "white" is actually colorless or the color of the shirt. On dark, the background is white, including any unprinted sections.

As far as customizing, read some of the boards that have "screenname designs" or something similar. Its easier if you see a photobucket or some other link. When you find something you like, post your request in that thread. They will get back to you. Most designers are still designing. A few are on sabbatical. If you don't find something you like after looking, post a general request, sometimes you will get many responses.

Hope this helps.

 

[heartbeeps]

thanks DisMom92; that helps a lot!

So then I'd use a light transfer for a white shirt and a dark transfer for a dark green shirt, right? What do I use for a yellow shirt - dark or light?? and do I need some kind of photoshop program, too? (I have Olympus Camedia that I use to edit pix with.)

 

[DisneyMom92]

As far as the yellow shirt goes, it depends on how much "white" you have on your design and whether it's going to bother you when that "white" is actually yellow. I usually prefer to use dark transfers for everything other than white.

You don't need anything special to print, just a program that will reverse (mirror image) if you are going to use white/light transfers. Dark transfers don't have to be flipped.

Happy shirt making, just realize that this sets you up to do lots of shirts in the future. Not only is it addictive, everyone who doesn't know how to do it thinks it's really hard and will ask you to do some for them.

 

[genhand]

I'm a newbie at "home made" t-shirt as well but I've read that after you finish to transfert your design onto your shirt, you nedd to wash them with vinegar so the design wont bled!!! Actually it's a cup of white vinegar no soap and then at low temperature in the dryer. After that you can wash them "normally".

 

[Mickeyherewecome123]

what computer program do you guys use to print your desings from? I was going to use WORD, but it doesnt give me the option to change my paper to transparancy. it only say I can change it to transparancy film. Would that be the same thing you are talking about?

 

[pepperderr]

Thanks everybody for all the tips! I just bought a pack of 12 iron on transfers and so far 2 white tshirts for each kid. I plan to do at least one shirt for each of us that is a family kinda shirt for Disney too. I am also going to attempt the Mickey Head tie-dye design with my mom's help.

genhand, as far as the vinegar, do you mean I am supposed to iron on the transfer and then wash the shirt in vinegar and dry it befor I regular wash it?

 

[genhand]

Thanks everybody for all the tips! I just bought a pack of 12 iron on transfers and so far 2 white tshirts for each kid. I plan to do at least one shirt for each of us that is a family kinda shirt for Disney too. I am also going to attempt the Mickey Head tie-dye design with my mom's help.

genhand, as far as the vinegar, do you mean I am supposed to iron on the transfer and then wash the shirt in vinegar and dry it befor I regular wash it?

Yes. You wash it with nothing else than water and the cup of vinegar. put in the dryer without bounce or downy to make sure the desing as "stick" to the fabric. then you can wear it or wash it "normally"

 

[PaulaSue]

Thank you!!!

 

[IleneF]

Why don't dark transfers have to be flipped? Won't the words come out backwards when you iron them on upside down?

As far as the yellow shirt goes, it depends on how much "white" you have on your design and whether it's going to bother you when that "white" is actually yellow. I usually prefer to use dark transfers for everything other than white.

You don't need anything special to print, just a program that will reverse (mirror image) if you are going to use white/light transfers. Dark transfers don't have to be flipped.

Happy shirt making, just realize that this sets you up to do lots of shirts in the future. Not only is it addictive, everyone who doesn't know how to do it thinks it's really hard and will ask you to do some for them.

 

[arkansas mom]

Why don't dark transfers have to be flipped? Won't the words come out backwards when you iron them on upside down?

No, with the dark transfer paper, you don't flip the paper over when you lay it on the t-shirt to iron on. You just lay it flat on the shirt--right side facing up.
With light transfer paper, you flip it over so the design is facing the shirt--that's why they're printed backwards. Does that make sense?

 

[Wilsonfamily4]

This is a great thread!! thanks for all tehhelp!

We have a laser jet printer so I guess I will have to take these to a professional printer or buy a new printer. O, the things we do for Disney.

 

[jlsals]

Yes. You wash it with nothing else than water and the cup of vinegar. put in the dryer without bounce or downy to make sure the desing as "stick" to the fabric. then you can wear it or wash it "normally"

I assume you mean WHITE vinegar - right?

 

[pepperderr]

Another thing I just thought of is do I print using "normal" ink settings with my printer. It has fast draft and "best" for pictures too but when I use best, it wastes a LOT of ink. Is it ok to use normal setting for print quality? Thanks.

 

[heartbeeps]

Another thing I just thought of is do I print using "normal" ink settings with my printer. It has fast draft and "best" for pictures too but when I use best, it wastes a LOT of ink. Is it ok to use normal setting for print quality? Thanks.

ouuuuu good question! I assumed that I'd print the paper copy on fast draft and the transfer paper using the "best" quality setting. I just ordered 2 more black and 2 more color ink cartridges to ensure I had enough ink.

Well, what's the right answer everyone?

 

[PrincessMommyof3]

I tried all 3 and the normal setting printed well w/o wasting too much ink.

 

[arkansas mom]

ouuuuu good question! I assumed that I'd print the paper copy on fast draft and the transfer paper using the "best" quality setting. I just ordered 2 more black and 2 more color ink cartridges to ensure I had enough ink.

Well, what's the right answer everyone?

Inquiring minds want to know. I just wonder if all the exta ink from the best setting will soak in to the transfer paper? Or will is just sit there and smear? I guess I'll use the normal setting since it looks goo enough.
Another question: has anyone noticed any difference in how the transfer paper accepts the ink of an off-brand refill cartridge vs. the HP or other name brand cartridge?