How To Make - Iron On Transfers for Dark Fabrics

How To Make - Iron On Transfers for Dark Fabrics
Instructions for Inkjet Dark Fabric Iron on Transfer Pape
Iron on transfer paper designed for use on dark fabrics with a smooth surface.

Transferring your iron on dark fabric transfer image is as easy as four easy steps

1. Using an inkjet printer, print your image
2. Let the ink printed on the dark fabric iron on transfer paper dry thoroughly before handling.
3. Trim away any un-printed paper around your image that you do not want to transfer.
4. Transfer your image onto your fabric using either a hand iron or commercial heat press.

What You'll Need to make iron on dark fabric transfers

1. An image in a digital format scanned or downloaded from a camera
2. Pre-washed and dried 50/50 blend or 100% dark cotton fabric, T-shirt etc.
3. E-z iron-on dark fabric inkjet transfer paper.
4. A color inkjet ( bubble jet ) printer.
5. Hand iron or a commercial heat press.
6. A flat, hard, smooth, non-porous ironing surface.
7. A clean soft cloth.

PRINTING & APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Printing your dark fabric iron on transfer paper

When you are ready to print your image, follow these steps:

Test by printing your image on a sheet of plain paper.

If you are satisfied with how your image looks, insert a single sheet of dark fabric iron on transfer paper into your inkjet printer. It is easy to tell which side to print on, as one side is blank (to print on), and one side has the line. Make sure that the iron on transfer paper is not creased or curled. Make sure you are not printing on the silicon ironing sheet.

Do not use flip, mirror image or T-shirt setting

Bellow are suggested printer settings. For the best results check your printer manual or with your printer's manufacture.

Paper Type - Plain

Paper Resolution - Best / High Resolution

After printing your dark fabric iron on transfer allow to dry completely - over night drying is recommended.

Trim around image.

METHODS OF HEAT APPLICATION

For Dark Fabric Iron On Transfers

COMMERCIAL HEAT PRESS

Preheat the heat press to 325° Fahrenheit. To remove any moisture from the fabric, press for a few seconds and allow to cool. This aids in better adhesion of the image to the fabric. Place the transfer face up in the desired position and press using light to medium pressure for 30 seconds. Gently rub the transfer for a couple of seconds with a soft cloth, allow to cool and peel the transfer.

HAND IRONING THE IMAGE

Lay the fabric, T-shirt on the work surface. Do not use an ironing board, or bare wood, glass, or metal surface for ironing. Place the pillowcase on the ironing surface with the open end hanging over the edge and smooth it flat so that there are no wrinkles.

Preheat the fabric using the iron to remove excess moisture and remove wrinkles.

Confirm temperature setting is 325° or cotton setting.

Allow the dark fabric to cool completely before applying the transfer.

Carefully remove and discard the backer film; the side with the printed line.

Place the iron on transfer IMAGE SIDE UP on the dark fabric, T-shirt

Lay the lightweight ironing sheet over the surface of the transfer.

Use Medium and Firm pressure; Slide the iron up an down moving constantly.

Make sure to pay extra attention to the edges.

Iron completely cover the edges. Watch a clock if necessary

When using a full 8-1/2 x 11 sheet - iron a full 1-1/2 to 2 minutes.

When using an 8-1/2 x 5-1/2 sheet - iron a full 45 seconds -1 minute.

Gently rub the iron on transfer for a couple of seconds with a soft cloth and peel the transfer.

Note: If Ironing Sheet has been misplaced, substitute a "Silicon Release Sheet" or "Baking Parchment"

WASHING INSTRUCTIONS

Always turn your garment inside out. This will minimize the amount of abrasion that the transfer will encounter with other garments in the wash.

Wash the garment in cold water using a mild detergent. DO NOT USE BLEACH.

Remove the garment from the wash immediately and allow to air dry. If you are going to tumble dry, use the air only setting. By doing this over the life of the garment, you will be ensuring that your image stays clear and bright.

STORAGE & HANDLING

Store in a cool, dry place. After opening the shrink wrapped packages, put the paper into the re-seal able plastic bag, and if available, include one silica gel (desiccant) package. This will keep the paper from picking up excess moisture on high humidity days.

TROUBLE SHOOTING TIPS

Iron on Transfer looks yellow -

Heat may be too high and is scorching the surface of the transfer. Confirm temperature setting is 325 ° or cotton setting.

The heat generated by irons may vary greatly by brand and model.

Iron on Transfer is not adhering to surface -

Make sure the backing has been removed before transferring. Check temperature setting is 325 ° or cotton setting. If temperature is too low, the transfer will not react sufficiently to bond to shirt. Increase pressure. Increasing pressure on the iron allows the transfer to be pushed in the fabric pattern

Iron on Transfer has bonded with the bottom of the iron -

Make sure that the ironing sheet was used between the iron and the transfer

Iron on Transfer is cracking after being washed -

Pre-wash shirt before applying transfer. This eliminates some possibility of shrinkage that may stress the transferred image. Increase pressure when transferring image. If insufficient pressure is used, the transfer will not bond properly with the shirt. The resulting "slack" may crack in the wash.

The edges of the iron on transfer are not adhering -

When hand ironing it is vital that the edges are ironed extremely well; apply the most heat and pressure to the edges of the transfer paper.

Image is reversed on shirt -

The printer has been set for T-shirt, Flip or Mirror Image. Reset the printer for positive image. Consult your printer manual or check with your printer's Manufacture.

Iron on transfer paper is designed for use with inkjet printers. Do not use E-z Iron-On T-shirt transfers with laser printers, photo copiers or with printers that have a heat dry process. The heating elements in these printers can melt the transfer paper, which could damage the printer. If you are not sure about your printer's printing and drying process consult your manual or call the manual.