Not Sure Why I Had This Problem With Transfers

[Disney Bunny]

So I got all my shirts washed and the first batch of transfers made. I looked at directions on here for doing the transfers AND read the directions that came with my transfers.

Directions said to make a "mirror image" when printing out the designs on the transfers. I looked at all the selections available for my printer and selected the ink color as "BEST", checked the "mirror image" block and selected the paper as T shirt transfer.

All of the images came out backward which is what I expected. My thought was this was correct as the image would be placed face down onto the shirt fabric and ironed on. So far so good......

I cut the excess paper around the image and then looked at the directions for ironing the transfer on. Hmmmm.....something didn't seem quite right at this point. Directions said to place the image face up on the fabric. Brain is screaming....it's going to be backwards. Thought I must not be understanding that correctly and put the transfer on face down. Ironed on. Wow.....all I got was a big white vinyl transfer.

So.....

Since I now have a ruined shirt anyway, started experimenting. I took another of the already printed transfers and ironed it on face up. Just as I knew would happen, all the print is backwards. Next thought was "Is there a difference between dark and white transfers?" Nope....same problems.

Back to the computer and now I print out a new transfer WITHOUT clicking on "mirror image". Let it dry for a few minutes and back to the iron and now I iron it on face up just like the directions said to do. Wow....so easy and it looks and feels correct.

Anybody have a clue what happened? Or am I still doing something wrong?

 

[RustManFan]

generally the light transfers call for reversing the image and the dark transfers do not....not sure if this is universal

 

[Disney Bunny]

generally the light transfers call for reversing the image and the dark transfers do not....not sure if this is universal

Marion....

I thought I remembered something about that too. However, when I went back and re-printed the transfer for test purposes, I used a light transfer and did not click the "mirror image" option and it seemed to work perfectly.

Like I said, really weird.

Some nice things, though.....I discovered I really don't have to cut around the images on the light transfers. The ones I have blend in nicely. Also, once I figured out what appears to be the fix, the whole process went smoothly. Note to self.....in future print out only one and work with it until you know you have it right and then proceed.

And finally.....the DisSigns look AMAZING. I couldn't be happier. I will post pics later in the week when I get all of these done. Thanks for all of your patience and help. These shirts are going to be so much fun to wear on our trip in October.

 

[oumagic]

I am looking into doing some of these soon for my kids and I think that your problem might have been a "smart" computer. I think that some computers/printers automatically mirror the image when you select "transfer paper?" Not great since some transfer paper (for dark) tell you not to reverse the image. I am not sure if that is what happened but was just a thought.

 

[Disney Bunny]

I am looking into doing some of these soon for my kids and I think that your problem might have been a "smart" computer. I think that some computers/printers automatically mirror the image when you select "transfer paper?" Not great since some transfer paper (for dark) tell you not to reverse the image. I am not sure if that is what happened but was just a thought.

And a darn good thought, because it was the same conclusion I came up with after some thought and experimentation. They do say that great minds think alike.

Anyway.....moral of the story is to always do a test run of something you have never worked with to ensure that you have it right. Very valuable lesson learned since I ended up ruining about $20 worth of transfers.