How to Transfer an Image to Fabric Using Household Techniques & Transfer Paper

Make your own fabric clothing designs from your favorite images and photos using household techniques and transfer paper. You can transfer an image onto T-shirts and other articles of clothing with a few basic steps. Decorate fabric for pillows, tablecloths, quilts and other home decor fabrics using the same techniques. If you can print an image from your home computer, you can transfer it to any type of fabric that you choose.

Things You'll Need

• Transfer paper
• Inkjet printer
• Computer
• Digital image
• Scissors
• Fabric or article of clothing
• Ironing board
• Brown paper
• Iron

Instructions

1. Insert the transfer paper into your inkjet printer according to the package directions. For most printers, the paper will be placed face down in the paper feeder tray.

2. Select the image that you wish to transfer from a file on your computer. The image can be any digital photo that you have or an image that you’ve downloaded from the Internet.

3. Set the printer to print the image in reverse. In most Windows-based printer software, select Print, click Properties, select Basics and then select Mirror Image beneath the Orientation category. Print the image onto the paper. Note: Some programs have a Media Type option from which you may select T-shirt Transfer. Others have a Paper Type option from which you may select Iron-On Transfer.

4. Allow the ink to dry completely on the page after printing. Do not touch the paper or the ink will smear.

5. Cut away the excess paper from around the image. It’s not necessary to cut the outline of the image perfectly, but removing most of the excess will make it easier to position the design onto the desired place on the fabric.

6. Set up the ironing board. A hard, flat surface such as a tabletop, a cutting board or some similar household material will work if you do not have an ironing board. Remove the fabric cover from the ironing board, if necessary. Fabric covers offer too much cushion to adequately transfer the image.

7. Place the fabric face up on the board. If you are transferring the image onto a shirt or other multiple-layer clothing, insert a sheet of brown paper or thin cardboard beneath the top layer, directly under the spot where you plan to transfer the image. This technique will help prevent the image from bleeding onto the second layer of clothing.

8. Position the transfer paper onto the exact desired location of the fabric, image side down. Make sure that the image is not upside down.

9. Pre-heat the iron according to the transfer paper manufacturer’s recommendations. Most transfer papers call for a hot iron. If the iron is too hot, the transfer could melt.

10. Press the iron onto the back of the transfer paper from the edges inward. Iron the paper in large circles, pressing down firmly as you go. Do not use the steam setting. The most important technique is to keep the iron moving; if the heat rests too long on one spot, your image may melt. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the length of time to apply the heat; 30 seconds is a guideline.

11. Peel the paper backing carefully from the fabric while it is still warm. Allow the fabric to rest undisturbed until the image cools completely.

References

• Soft Expressions: FAQ Photo Transfer

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Lee Hansen: How to Make Iron On Transfers