How to Print a Picture on a Shirt

Pictures can be printed on shirts with iron-on transfer paper.

A customized shirt with a picture printed on it can make a very unique statement. Since the shirt can be completely personalized, you can show a picture of your family, your pet or even your favorite television star. Creating a shirt with a picture printed on it can be done in your own home. Although the picture cannot be printed directly on the shirt, the picture can be added with iron-on transfer paper. These shirts make excellent gifts, party favors or group shirts for events.

Things You'll Need

• Cotton Shirt
• Transfer Paper
• Ink-Jet Printer
• Scissors
• Iron

Instructions

1. Choose a picture that you would like to print on a shirt. Print a color preview of the photograph on regular paper to be sure it prints correctly. Be sure the image is a mirror image of what the final picture will look like, since it is going to be flipped in the transfer process. Adjustments can be made with photo-editing software to fix any photographs that are not printing correctly without wasting any transfer paper.

2. Print the photograph out of your printer using iron-on transfer paper specific for ironing on fabrics. Make sure the ink is dry before you start handling the transfer sheet.

3. Cut out your design, leaving about a quarter-inch boarder around the picture.

4. Turn on your iron and set it to the highest setting without steam. Some irons may have a "cotton" setting; set it to the "cotton" setting if you iron has one. Allow it to pre-heat for about 10 minutes.

5. Prepare a clean, hard, flat and low surface to iron your transfer on. An ironing board may be too soft.

6. Line up the picture on your shirt exactly where you want it printed, transfer side down.

7. Iron the back of the transfer by holding down the iron firmly for 15 to 20 seconds all over the transfer. Keep moving around until you are sure you covered the entire transfer with the iron.

8. Put the iron down and gently rub the back of the transfer with a clean cloth for about 10 seconds.

9. Remove the paper backing very carefully starting with the corners until the entire sheet is removed.

Tips & Warnings

• Text can be added to the picture in photo-editing software to create different kinds of shirts.

References

• HP: Print Your Own Iron-On Transfers
• McGonigal Paper & Graphics: Iron on Transfer Paper

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish