Do you know that you can print those cute images or texts you see every day on other people’s shirts, bags, pens, or mugs? You can also rock in your customized pictures and messages on what you wear or use daily. This idea could form your next DIY project, but here you are wondering how it is going to be possible.
You do not know how to start, and you are not aware of the materials you need to begin your project. Use these informative tips on how to use heat transfer paper in your project.
How Transfer Paper Works
You can use transfer paper to thermal-transfer a picture onto a garment, transfer hand drawings to canvas, or for vinyl transfer. Although it depends on the materials that you are moving to, it should not be challenging to learn how to print on transfer paper. We will be looking at how paper transfer works.
Materials Required
- Your designs- depending on where you want to transfer them, you can make them using your computer, or design by hand. You will need a printer and appropriate ink if you are generating the model using a computer.
- Transfer Paper- it is a commercially produced thin wax-coated paper that transfers artistic impressions to other surfaces. With the help of ink-jet printers, it moves prints on papers. Transfer paper uses heat presses to transfer images and different images on garments, mugs, pens, and other products.
- A Heat Press- these are machines relying on pressure and heat to transfer images and impressions to fabrics, and any other non-paper surface. They work with the help of heat pads made from a material that is a poor conductor of heat.
- Materials that you want to decorate include fabrics (shirts, bags, caps), and other stuff like mugs, pens, and bottles. You transfer the image, or drawing from the transfer paper onto these materials.
Steps in Using Heat Transfer Paper
This systematic guide describes how to print on transfer paper. Provided you have the right material; you can make DIY prints anytime.
- The first step is to have all the requirements ready, including the final copy of the design, which you may generate by whichever means you deem fit.
- Accurately cut out your design using a vinyl cutter that comes with the heat press.
- Apply high heat on the machine first before using it. Doing this will ensure the design sticks firmly.
- Using the relevant buttons, adjust time and temperature depending on the fabric you are going to use.
- Lay the fabric that you want to print and bring the transfer paper on top.
- Lower the handle on the machine, and press it to lock.
- Turn the machine on after about ten seconds. Remember, you had already set the timing and temperature earlier.
- Open the heat press and remove the heat transfer paper from your fabric, which should already be having the print by now.
- Let the fabric stay for at least two days, and one night before, you can start using it- this wait allows the print to hold on effectively.
Transfer Paper for Shirts
You will notice that not all transfer papers on in the market work for all fabrics. In some, the type of material determines which transfer paper will be applicable. In contrast, in others, it depends on whether the garment is dark or light in color.
Here are a few examples of some of the best heat transfer papers that you can use for printing on shirts. The list is long, but I am sure it is adequate to guide you as you decide which one to use.
Handy Crafts Inkjet Heat Transfer Paper
Here is another paper for the light colors and the budget-conscious folks. Although comparatively cheaper, it makes high-quality prints on t-shirts, bags, caps, among others. When using it, you can easily cut it along the markings to remain with the required part that fits on the fabric.
Nevertheless, it cannot escape criticism too. Most notable is that this paper will be such a letdown if you were planning to use it in printing your cotton t-shirt- it will not work.
NuFun Activities Iron-On Heat Transfer
This heat transfer paper is a product of the NuFun Activities Company targeting printing on light color fabrics of cotton, canvas, and on other non-fabric surfaces. Printing by use of heat press or using the iron-on technology works perfectly well with this paper. However, it does not produce long-lasting prints as compared to other brands.
PPD Inkjet T Shirt Transfer Paper
Another one for durable prints on dark fabrics is the PPD ink-jet t-shirt transfer paper. Using it on a heat press is extremely easy, and although it works with the iron, it is cumbersome. It comes with easy-to-follow instructions that can guide anybody keen enough to do it at home.
On the flip side, however, it can take you a lot of time to print using the iron-on method. Then, why would you torture yourself with the iron technology when you may be having an alternative of using the machine, or using another paper alternative altogether?
Neenah 3G Jet-Opaque Heat Transfer Paper
This paper gives high-quality prints on dark cotton fabrics. The fabric remains with entirely sticking prints that do not come out quickly, even with regular washing. On the negative side, it leaves a thick print layer on the garment and maybe quite a turn off to those who prefer thin prints.
Conclusion
You have learned how to use heat transfer paper in making your customized prints with the help of heat technology. By now, you must have realized that it is not such a complicated process, after all, if you pay attention to the details in the guide. The secret to a successful printing project lies in the type of heat transfer paper that you are going to use.
We have briefly reviewed four of our favorite types of transfer papers that work perfectly for t-shirts. The papers are some of the best options that you can fuse successfully for your DIY project.
