Diy Transfer Paper: Custom T-Shirts At Home

how to make transfer paper for t shirt at home

Transfer paper is a paper on which an image is printed and then transferred to a surface such as fabric. Transfer papers are often more compatible with inkjet printers, which give a pulsating and vibrant appearance when transferred to the shirt. There are two types of transfer paper: light transfer paper and dark transfer paper. Light transfer paper is used for light or white shirts, and dark transfer paper is used for any shirt that is darker.

To make transfer paper for a t-shirt at home, you will need a printer, transfer paper, a pillowcase, a clothing iron, and a t-shirt. First, select a high-quality image for your t-shirt design and print it onto the transfer paper. Then, cut out the image—any paper left around the image will show up as a thin film on the shirt. Next, cover a hard, flat surface with a cotton pillowcase and place the t-shirt on top. Situate the cut-out where you want it to be on the t-shirt, then place the image face down on light-coloured shirts or face up for dark-coloured shirts. Iron over the paper, let it cool for a few minutes, then peel the paper away to reveal your image.

Characteristics Values
Transfer paper type Light or dark
Printer type Inkjet
Fabric type Cotton, spandex, or polyester
Image type High quality, with dark colours
Image source Original creation or copyright-free
Image editing software Adobe Illustrator, Corel-draw, MS Paint, or photo editor
Printing options Landscape mode, fit to scale
Cutting tools Ruler and Exacto knife
Iron settings Highest heat, no steam
Ironing surface Smooth, heat-resistant, covered with cotton pillowcase
Ironing technique Firm pressure, constant heat, in multiple directions
Cooling time 2 minutes

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Choosing the right transfer paper

  • Printer compatibility: The first step is to identify the type of printer you have or plan to purchase. The two main types of printers for heat transfer paper are inkjet and laser printers. Inkjet printers are generally less expensive and ideal for printing photographs, while laser printers are more expensive and better suited for printing vector-based art.
  • Garment colour: The colour of your garment will determine the type of transfer paper you need. Light-coloured garments (white, light grey, yellow, etc.) require light transfer paper, which is transparent and designed for light fabrics. Dark-coloured garments (black, blue, red, etc.) require dark transfer paper, which has a white, opaque backing to make the image visible on the dark fabric.
  • Fabric type: Most transfer papers will work with 100% cotton, 100% polyester, and poly/cotton blends. However, some specialised transfer papers may only work with specific fabric types, so it's important to check the compatibility before purchasing.
  • Scale of production: If you plan to produce a large quantity of t-shirts, you may want to consider transfer papers compatible with DTF printing or screen print transfer, as these methods are better suited for high-volume production.
  • Printing technique: Different types of transfer paper are suitable for different printing techniques. For example, inkjet transfer paper is designed for inkjet printers, laser transfer paper is designed for laser printers, and sublimation transfer paper is used for sublimation printing on polyester fabrics.
  • Image quality: Ensure that your image is of high quality and reversed (mirrored) before printing. This is especially important if your image contains text, as you want to avoid transferring it backward.
  • Durability: If you want your design to last longer, consider using a higher-quality transfer paper. Additionally, washing and drying your fabric gently can also help prolong the life of the transferred image.

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Preparing the graphics

The graphics are the image, artwork, writing, logo, or any other thing you want to print on the shirt.

To prepare the graphics, you will need a computer and the appropriate software. Software will allow you to play with designs until you are satisfied with one. The most common ones are Adobe Illustrator and Corel-draw software.

If you do not have a computer, the software, or the time, there are freelancers or graphic designers that you can pay to make the graphics for you.

  • Find or create an image you want to use for your transfer. You can scan an image into your computer, find one on the internet, or create one in a software program.
  • Ensure you have the rights to reproduce and sell the image.
  • Remember that transfer images with dark colours usually show up better on fabrics than lighter colours. Typical at-home printers do not print white, so the fabric colour will show through instead.
  • If your image has very light colours, those sections might appear discoloured and distorted when ironed onto the fabric because of their light colouring mixing with the colour of the shirt.
  • Manipulate the image. Use basic image editing software to resize your image, add effects, change colours, or make any corrections.
  • Mirror your image if you are printing on light-coloured fabrics. This will ensure that the finished product is facing the right way. To mirror the image, use the "Reverse", "Flip Image Horizontally", or "Mirror" commands.
  • Test the image by printing it out on regular paper. This will help you ensure that the colours of the image are how you want them to look, see if your printer will print the entire image, and check the size of your image.

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Printing on transfer paper

Step 1: Choose your design

Select an image or design that you want to transfer onto your t-shirt. It can be anything from a logo to a photograph. If you are planning to sell the t-shirts, make sure that you have the rights to use the image.

Step 2: Prepare your image

Using image editing software, manipulate the image to your liking. If you are printing on a light-coloured t-shirt, you will need to mirror or reverse the image. This is because the transfer paper for light fabrics creates a mirror image on your shirt. Flipping the image will ensure that any text is readable.

Step 3: Print your design

Before printing, check the preview to confirm that the image fits onto your transfer paper. If it's too large, resize it in an image editing program. When you are ready to print, make sure that you are printing on the correct side of the transfer paper. One side may have a logo or other markings. Use an inkjet printer for the best results.

Step 4: Cut out the image

Cutting out the image will ensure a clean transfer with no thin film of excess paper around the edges. Use a ruler and an Exacto knife to get an accurate cut.

Step 5: Prepare your work area

Cover a hard, flat surface with a cotton pillowcase. This will protect the surface and your t-shirt. Set up your ironing board or another suitable surface, and make sure that your iron is hot and ready to use.

Step 6: Iron your t-shirt

Place your t-shirt on the pillowcase and iron it until it is completely flat. Any wrinkles will show up in the transferred image.

Step 7: Position the transfer

Place the transfer image-side down on a light-coloured shirt, or image-side up on a dark-coloured shirt. Line up the image with the centre of your t-shirt neckline.

Step 8: Iron on the transfer

Follow the instructions that came with your transfer paper for the best results. Generally, you will need to press the iron firmly over the image, applying pressure with your whole hand. Iron the image for the recommended amount of time, providing constant heat to ensure the image binds to the shirt.

Step 9: Let it cool

Let the image cool for a few minutes until it reaches room temperature. Then, gently peel off the backing paper to reveal your design.

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Testing the transfer paper

Before printing your image onto transfer paper, it is important to do a test run. Print your image on a regular piece of paper to check that the colours are as you want them to be, and to ensure that your printer will print the entire image. Sometimes, how your image looks on the computer screen is different from how it looks once it is printed.

Make sure you print the transfer on the correct side of the page. Usually, the printing side is free from any markings, and the back side has some sort of design printed on it. If you are unsure, do a test run with a normal sheet of paper. Draw an 'X' on one side of the normal paper and put it through your printer to see which side gets printed on.

If you are printing your image on a laser printer, you will need to buy transfer paper specifically for laser printers. Typically, inkjet printers work best when printing out transfer images.

Preparing the transfer paper

Once you have tested the transfer paper, you can prepare it for printing. Trim around the transfer image so that you know exactly what shape it is. This will make it easier to place and position accurately on the fabric. Stay as close to the edge of your design as possible to help your transfer appear seamless.

Applying the transfer paper

Place the t-shirt or fabric on a hard, flat surface, and smooth out the shirt with an iron if it is wrinkled. Choose a surface that is heat resistant and large enough to iron the entire area of the transfer. Cover the surface with a cotton pillowcase to protect the surface and the t-shirt.

Follow the ironing instructions on the transfer paper. If there are none, assume general iron-on printing procedure and set the iron to "cotton" or "high". Make sure it is set to dry heat and no steam. If your iron has water in it, pour it out. Allow the iron to heat up.

Iron the shirt, on top of the pillowcase, until the shirt is completely flat before applying the design. Place light transfer paper face down and dark transfer paper face up. Make sure the image is straight and in the correct position.

Press the iron firmly onto the t-shirt, applying pressure with your whole hand. Move the iron as little as possible to maintain even, constant heat over the entire image. Your transfer paper should specify how long to iron—it may take anywhere from 30 seconds to a few minutes.

Remove the iron and let the image and t-shirt cool for a few minutes. The paper should feel room temperature.

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Ironing the transfer

Now that you have your design printed on the transfer paper and cut out, it's time to iron it onto your t-shirt. Place your t-shirt on a flat surface, such as a table, countertop, or ironing board. Make sure the surface is heat-resistant and cover it with a cotton pillowcase to protect it from the heat of the iron.

Set your iron to the hottest setting and turn off the steam function. Make sure there is no water in the iron, as you don't want steam to interfere with the transfer process. Allow the iron to heat up completely before starting the transfer.

If you are using light transfer paper for a light-coloured t-shirt, place the image face down on the shirt. For dark transfer paper on a dark-coloured shirt, place the image face up. Ensure that the image is straight and in the correct position.

Firmly press the iron onto the t-shirt, applying pressure with your whole hand. Move the iron in large circles, starting from the outside edges of the image and gradually working your way inward. Keep the iron moving to avoid scorching the paper and burning the image. Continue ironing for the amount of time specified on the instructions that came with your transfer paper, typically 30 seconds to a few minutes.

Once you have finished ironing, turn off the iron and let the image cool down for a few minutes. When the paper feels room temperature, gently peel off the backing paper, starting from one of the corners.

Caring for your transferred t-shirt

After applying the transfer, wait at least 24 hours before washing your t-shirt. When you do wash it, use a gentle cycle with cool water and mild detergent. Turn the t-shirt inside out to provide extra protection for the transferred image. Avoid using bleach and dry the t-shirt on a low-heat setting.

Alternatively, you can hand wash your t-shirt with light detergent and hang it to dry. This gentle approach will help make your transferred image last longer.

Frequently asked questions

There are two types of transfer paper: light transfer paper for light-coloured fabrics and dark transfer paper for dark-coloured fabrics. Light transfer paper is usually white or baby pink and is used to transfer graphics to shirts of similar colours. Dark transfer paper is used to transfer images to dark-coloured shirts and includes a white background that blocks the fabric colour from showing.

You should use an inkjet printer with your transfer paper.

Place the t-shirt on a flat surface and iron it to remove any creases.

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