Inkjet Printing on Fabrics

Technology has done a lot for us as consumers. Not only has it made a lot of things faster, more efficient, and easier, but it has also given us the ability to have some creative fun in ways never before possible. Printing on fabric can be a fun project for just about anybody, from quilters to sports fans. You are not the first to think of it, fortunately. As it turns out, there’s more than one way to get an image onto a piece of fabric. The first is to print directly on printer-friendly fabric, while the second involves a product called heat-activated transfer paper. Whichever way you choose, it can result in you making a noticeable statement.

Now, there are several special printer supplies for this kind of thing, like fabric sheets that can be used in a standard inkjet printer to print directly to a fabric. These sheets, which can be found in a number of sizes including 8 1/2 x 11″, 11 x 17″ and 13 x 19″, can simply be sewn together as traditional fabrics once printed on and dried. You can hand-pick photos, patterns, clip art, or you can actually draw something by hand and scan it into the computer. Then, you can use a photography editing program to change the image to exactly what you want. Then, you just put the fabric sheets in your printer and print away. Make sure you put the sheets in correctly. The image needs to print on the correct side. Furthermore, make sure you follow any special directions posted on the product or its packaging, such as how long to let it sit after printing. Then prepare the sewing machine or needle and thread. However, while these products work great for shams, quilts, curtains, and the like, it won’t work so well on some materials. If you just want to put a picture on a T-shirt, tie, or ribbon, there’s a product that makes that easier: heat activated transfer sheets. These special papers are often used to create a variety of printer friendly fashion statements because they are easy to use to add images to existing fabric. For this you will need to have the article of clothing or material you wish to adorn with an image. Then, you locate the picture and edit as before. Print the image on the transfer paper after you have properly loaded it into your printer. Most likely, you’ll want to cut the borders off of the image. You do not want much more that a thin border surrounding it. After this point, read and follow the directions that came with the product to get the best results. Different products can have different instructions, and it’s important to follow the right ones. Then, you can simply wear or display your creation with pride at having created it yourself.

These are two very incredible products that can open many doors in the worlds of quilting and clothing design. Give your holiday napkins a special message, make unique T-shirts, or perhaps make a cute pair of socks for your kid. Whichever route you take, there is one thing that is for certain; a printer plus some specific printer supplies will allow your creations to be more creative and unique than they could have been before.