Please help me trouble shoot "smeared" t shirts

[DisneyToddlers]

Hi, I made some shirts for our last trip to WDW with the help of this board and we LOVED them. The problem was that while we were wearing them, the image smeared and ran very badly due to getting even a little wet (sweat, water drops, etc.) I have not even put them in the wash yet, as I just know they'll be totally ruined.

I used the Wilton transfers for dark colors on a red shirt and an HP Photosmart all in one printer. Can anyone please tell me what they think the problem is? I want to start making a bunch for our trip this September, but don't want to have this problem again.

Thanks in advance!

 

[jtanddolly]

There are other threads on here that recommend doing a vinegar wash to help set the ink.

What most people recommend is using Amy Mickey's transfer paper. It is for dark transfers only. I used it and didn't have problems with the image running except for one shirt that my two year old spilled lemonade on. The other advice for her transfers if you use them is do not set your iron too high. Most transfers require high heat, but I used her transfers on red t-shirts that were cotton/poly blend and the iron was set to high so the red from the t-shirt bled through. I would also recommend using 100% cotton t-shirts...transfers just seem to work better on them (at least for me).

Even with that problem...her transfers are the best quality that I have found because they last past the first use and you don't have to worry with washing and vinegar. Also, she is very helpful and gets the transfers to you very quickly.

Hope this helps.

 

[DisneyMom92]

Hi, I made some shirts for our last trip to WDW with the help of this board and we LOVED them. The problem was that while we were wearing them, the image smeared and ran very badly due to getting even a little wet (sweat, water drops, etc.) I have not even put them in the wash yet, as I just know they'll be totally ruined.

I used the Wilton transfers for dark colors on a red shirt and an HP Photosmart all in one printer. Can anyone please tell me what they think the problem is? I want to start making a bunch for our trip this September, but don't want to have this problem again.

Thanks in advance!

I have never used Wilton transfers, but many transfers will work better with a vinegar wash. With a red shirt, however, you need to be careful with the vinegar since it has a bleaching quality to it. Just make sure your vinegar is diluted before it comes into contact with the shirt and it should be OK. I have had some success with the vinegar wash after the shirts have run, but I have only tried this with lighter shirts. I don't usually use darker shirts for transfers.

The other thing is that HP offers a waterproof black ink cartridge for some of their printers. I use an HP printer but not the same as you. I usually use the waterproof black, but I don't know that that makes a difference in t-shirt printing, I just like it better. It has a "blacker" look to it than the regular black, if you know what I mean.

Hope this helps.

 

[DisneyToddlers]

Thanks for the replies. How do you do the vinegar wash? You wash the completed shirt with transfer already on it, correct? And how much vinegar do you add to the load?

I just looked at my shirts again, and it is mostly the black that has run. The worst is my 2 year olds shirt, as she spilled some water on it.

Does this happen a lot? I didn't expect to only be able to use the shirts once. Could transfer brand really matter with smeared ink, or would it be the ink itself? I am using genuine HP ink carts (not refills).

Thanks!

 

[DisneyMom92]

There is a thread that discusses this ad nauseum and maybe someone will bump it up for you. If they don't, I will do it when I get on tonight from home. I don't have it saved here at work.

I usually add a cup of vinegar to a filled washer, through the bleach dispenser. If I am only going to have half a load, then I use 1/2 cup. You want to make sure that you are dilluting your vinegar so that if there's no bleach dispenser mix it with water first. Then I run it through a double rinse cycle.

I don't actually do it any more. I can't say whether it's your transfer or not because I've never used that brand, but I don't have any problem with my HP printer, if that means anything. I have made probably 50 shirts since I have had this printer and not had any problems.

Make sure you have followed the instructions on your transfers *to the letter.* Make sure you let your iron heat up for 10 or 15 minutes before you start ironing. Also, I like to let my printed transfers sit overnight before I iron them on.

Hope this helps you avoid future problems. Trust me, practice makes perfect. Eventually, if you keep doing them, it will be second nature and you will find the way you like to do them. I have ruined many a shirts before I finally hit on a method that works for me. Now my shirts last pretty much forever, it seams sometimes.

 

[DisneyToddlers]

There is a thread that discusses this ad nauseum and maybe someone will bump it up for you. If they don't, I will do it when I get on tonight from home. I don't have it saved here at work.

That would be great. I could use any help I can get! Thanks!

 

[DisneyToddlers]

There is a thread that discusses this ad nauseum and maybe someone will bump it up for you. If they don't, I will do it when I get on tonight from home. I don't have it saved here at work.

Can anyone bump up the old thread, please? Or does anyone else have feedback? Thanks!

 

[Showpony]

I just bumped the thread. It's called '20 ways to make a dark t-shirt transfer' or something like that. Original thread starter was 'Heartbeeps'.

HTH~

 

[DisneyToddlers]

I just bumped the thread. It's called '20 ways to make a dark t-shirt transfer' or something like that. Original thread starter was 'Heartbeeps'.

HTH~

Thanks for the bump! Looks like I'm going to be busy reading!