Creating T-Shirt Decals: A Step-By-Step Guide

There are several ways to make T-shirt decals, including using iron-on transfers, printable heat transfer vinyl, and vinyl-cut heat transfer. The first method involves printing a design onto transfer paper, trimming the decal, laying it on a T-shirt, and ironing it on. The second method uses printable heat transfer vinyl, which is more customizable and can be applied using a Cricut EasyPress or a heat press. The third method involves using a vinyl cutter to cut out a design, which is then placed on a T-shirt and applied using a heat press.

Choosing the right transfer paper

Type of Printer

The first step is to identify the type of printer you have or plan to purchase. The two main options are inkjet and laser printers. Inkjet printers use liquid ink cartridges and are generally more affordable, making them ideal for printing photographs as they can produce a full range of colours. Laser printers, on the other hand, use toner cartridges filled with powder and tend to be more expensive. They excel at printing vector-based art and can also produce good-quality photos, especially with the right software.

Type of Fabric

The type of fabric you intend to print on is another crucial consideration. Most transfer papers work with 100% cotton, 100% polyester, and poly/cotton blends. However, some transfer papers, like 3G Jet Opaque, are designed specifically for 100% cotton fabrics. Additionally, the colour of the fabric plays a role in choosing the right transfer paper. White or light-coloured fabrics require transfer paper specially made for light garments, such as JetPro Soft Stretch. This type of paper has a transparent polymer coating, which can slightly alter the colouring of your image. For dark-coloured fabrics, you need paper designed for dark garments, such as 3G Jet Opaque or Jet-Opaque II. These papers have an opaque white polymer coating, ensuring your image transfers accurately without the shirt colour showing through.

Method of Transfer

You can choose between using a commercial heat press or a household iron for transferring your design. If you're a small business owner, investing in a commercial heat press is advisable as it ensures high-quality, even prints. However, if you're a beginner, you can start with a household iron, applying heat and pressure as best you can to achieve excellent results.

Paper Size and Project Size

Transfer papers come in various sizes, so select one that fits your printer. Additionally, consider the size of your project to minimise waste. For instance, when designing a baby's T-shirt, opt for a smaller paper size compared to an adult's T-shirt.

Durability and Resistance to Spatter

Look for transfer paper that prints vivid designs that won't crack, peel, or fade over time. Also, choose a paper that is resistant to ink spatter during the printing process to avoid accidental spots on the fabric.

Absorption Rate and Smoothness

The best transfer paper will have a good absorption rate, allowing for quick-drying designs and a time-efficient printing process. Additionally, ensure that the paper remains smooth and flat after printing, with no wrinkles that could transfer to your garment.

Vendor Reputation

Purchase your transfer paper from a reliable vendor who offers papers for both light and dark-coloured fabrics. Research and read reviews before making your final decision to ensure you're investing in a quality product.

Preparing your fabric

The first step in preparing your fabric is to select the right type of fabric for your decal. Cotton or a cotton-polyester blend is typically recommended as certain synthetics may not stand up to the heat of the iron or heat press. If you're using an iron, a hard, flat surface like a wooden cutting board or Formica is ideal as ironing boards are designed to spread out and diffuse heat.

Next, you'll want to lay out your fabric and smooth it with an iron to remove any wrinkles. If you're using a heat press, place the fabric on the platen of the heat press, ensuring there are no creases or folds. If you're using an iron, you can place the fabric on a hard, flat surface.

Before applying your decal, it's important to protect your fabric. Place a piece of cardboard or a folded-up brown paper bag inside the shirt, directly underneath where the decal will be applied. This will prevent the image from transferring to both sides of the fabric.

Now you're ready to position your decal! Place the decal image-side down on the fabric, ensuring it is centred and not crooked. If you're using transfer tape, carefully peel the backing paper from the tape and place the decal onto the tape, starting from the centre and working outwards. Use a small signwriter's squeegee to press it outwards, ensuring the decal sticks securely to the tape with no air bubbles.

Finally, cover the decal with a sheet of Teflon or butcher paper (also known as parchment paper) to protect the design. Smooth out the sheet to ensure the decal is lying flat and there are no folds.

Using an iron or heat press

If you're using an iron to apply your decal, you'll need to follow a few steps to ensure the transfer is successful. Firstly, you'll need to choose the right type of transfer paper for your fabric. For light-coloured fabrics, you'll need transfer paper designed for light fabrics, and for dark fabrics, you'll need a "dark-fabric iron-on transfer".

Next, you'll need to set up your design. Ensure your image is the correct resolution—300dpi is a good resolution for print images. If you're using a light-fabric iron-on transfer, you'll need to reverse any text as it will print backward. For dark fabrics, you won't need to do this as it will print as it appears on the screen.

Once your design is ready, print it onto your chosen transfer paper. Allow the ink to dry for a few minutes, then cut out your image, staying as close to the image as possible to avoid excess transfer paper being left on the fabric.

Now you're ready to apply your decal! Pre-iron your fabric and pillowcase to ensure there are no wrinkles in the area you'll be applying the transfer. Place the garment on top of the pillowcase (you don't need an ironing board) and position the transfer where you want it.

For light fabric transfers, place the transfer face down, and for dark fabric transfers, place it face up. Press the iron firmly onto the fabric, applying pressure with your whole hand. Move the iron as little as possible to maintain even, constant heat over the entire image. The transfer paper should specify how long to iron for—this may be anywhere from 15-20 seconds to a few minutes.

Once you've applied heat for the recommended time, remove the iron and let the image and fabric cool for a few minutes. Then, slowly peel off the transfer paper. If the transfer is lifting at all, stop peeling and iron again for a few more seconds.

Your decal is now complete! You can now wash and dry your fabric—just be sure to wait at least 24 hours after applying the decal before washing, and always wash and dry on a cool setting.

Removing the backing paper

Once you have ironed on your decal, it is important to let it cool down before attempting to remove the backing paper. Removing the backing before the decal has cooled may cause the decal to crack or become malformed. After waiting a few minutes, gently peel off the backing paper, starting at one of the corners.

If you are using transfer tape, carefully peel the vinyl's backing paper from the tape. You may need to use a squeegee to grab the edge of the design and do a final check for air bubbles.

If you are using a wide-format printer, you will need to cut the design from the rest of the roll of printable heat transfer vinyl before advancing the roll.

If you are using a Cricut, use the blue mat. Place the mat into the cutting machine, select the appropriate setting (everyday iron-on, for a Cricut), and set the cutting machine to cut out the design.

Washing instructions for your decal

Wait at least 24 hours after applying your decal before washing the fabric. You can ruin the decal if you wash the fabric before the decal has time to set. Only wash and dry your fabric on a cool setting. If the decal is on a piece of clothing, turn the item inside out before washing.

Sewing on your decal

For extra protection against peeling, you can sew a border around the decal, either with a machine or by hand. Higher-quality paper is less likely to peel at the edges.

Caring for your decal

Now that you've created your decal, you'll want to make sure it lasts as long as possible. Here are some tips to care for your custom-designed t-shirt:

• Always wash your t-shirt inside out to protect the design from damage.
• Wash colours with colours and whites with whites. Avoid using bleach or harsh detergents, as these can cause the design to deteriorate, crack or peel away.
• Wash in cold water to prevent colours from fading or running.
• Avoid drying your t-shirt in direct sunlight, as UV rays can cause colours and designs to fade.
• Wait at least 24 hours after applying your decal before washing your t-shirt for the first time.
• When washing, use a cool setting and turn the t-shirt inside out.
• Alternatively, hand wash with light detergent and hang dry.
• For extra protection, sew a border around the decal, either by hand or with a machine.
• If you need to treat a stain, wash the t-shirt inside out to protect the design.

By following these simple care instructions, your decal should last for years to come!

Frequently asked questions