How to transfer an image to fabric. How is thermal transfer paper used? Transfer technology. Required materials and preparation

Have you seen a T-shirt from your friends with an exclusive design or with their own photo printed directly on the fabric? Do you want to do something unusual for yourself, but don’t know how such a sticker is made? For this purpose, special thermal transfer paper is used. With your own hands at home you can easily make an exclusive unique t-shirt, T-shirt, bag and other item.

Materials and technology

If you have never worked in the field of design or production of souvenirs, but have only seen T-shirts, T-shirts, pillows, mugs, plates and other products in store windows that are offered to be made in an exclusive design, for example, with a photograph of the future owner, check out brief description the essence of the technology for making such things.

For any transfer of an image to an object, an intermediate material is used. In this case, thermal transfer paper. With your own hands at home, you can easily apply any image to fabric (white, dark, colored, natural or synthetic).

In order for the desired image to appear on this intermediate material, it, of course, must first be created or found ready-made, and then printed. To create a layout, a template (the picture itself), various graphic editors are used - computer programs designed for creating and editing images. If you already know how to use Adobe Photoshop or a similar graphics package, you can assume that you have created the image.

The next stage is printing. It is performed on a regular one, just on special sheets. Next, using an iron, the image is transferred to the prepared fabric. At home, you can apply the image only to flat things lying on a flat surface. Making a mug, of course, won’t work. For them, special heat presses with a cylindrical surface are used. In fact, the work is not difficult.

With your own hands

If you are going to make a lot of products, purchase packages with the appropriate number of sheets. In this case, the unit price will usually cost you less. If you just decide to try yourself as a designer and make original souvenirs for yourself or your friends for some holiday, buy a pack with a maximum of 10 sheets. If you find a company that offers sale by sheet, take the required quantity, for example, a couple, by the way, it’s better with a reserve (in case you print it incorrectly the first time). Be sure to ask for instructions for the paper and first clarify what fabric, light, dark, natural or synthetic, it is intended for.

Working with light fabrics

If the item you are going to decorate is white, any thermal transfer will do. You can easily make any image on this type of fabric with your own hands. The type of sheets that are intended directly for light fabrics is cheaper, but in this case the image will have to be printed as a mirror image.

Thermal transfer paper for dark fabrics

If your T-shirt is dark (blue, green) or, in general, black, then you need to buy sheets of the appropriate type. This is necessary for the best and highest quality results. If you print an image on a white fabric sheet, when it is transferred it will take on the color of your T-shirt and the photo will not look natural.

For example, a4 sublimation thermal transfer paper for dark fabrics is suitable, however, it requires special sublimation ink that sticks only to synthetic fabric, and for natural fabrics you will also need a special substrate.

It’s cheaper to get by with a more budget option - sheets for inkjet printers for dark fabrics. In this case, the image will have a kind of white backing, the color will not change and no additional costs will be required. It is advisable to leave a white border around the picture. This will give the item a finished and beautiful look.

Now you know what thermal transfer paper is. With your own hands, you can easily make any image for a T-shirt or other fabric object right at home. Create exclusive items for yourself, friends and relatives.

Transfer is a method of transferring any image from a transfer material to fabric, ceramics or metal. Special thermal transfer paper is used to apply the design. It is available for laser and inkjet printers, for light and dark surfaces. Therefore, before purchasing, you need to clarify so as not to make a mistake with your choice. This paper is manufactured by the following well-known companies: Lexmark, Canon, Lomond, HP and ProfiLine.

Equipment and materials

For thermal transfer printing you will need:

1. Computer.

Using it, you can easily find a suitable image on the Internet, and then edit it in any special program.

2. Color printer.

Depending on the desired result and type of paper, different printing devices will be used. For example, using an inkjet printer you can produce an image with high level detailing, which is then applied to any surface (light, dark, colored). A laser printer prints a design suitable only for light-colored materials.

3. Thermal transfer paper.

The most important transfer material with a special coating. Do-it-yourself thermal transfer paper cannot be made at home. Only companies are engaged in manufacturing. The choice of paper depends on the type of printer and the type of surface on which the image will be printed.

4. Iron or heat transfer press.

At home, you can use an iron to make simple souvenirs. But if you plan to produce on a large scale, then it is better to purchase professional equipment with different molds. These devices are needed to heat thermal transfer paper and print an image onto the surface of the material. The process is quick and easy.

Types of paper

Thermal transfer paper is divided into two categories: for inkjet and laser printers. Using the first type, the image is transferred to light and dark materials. The detailing of the drawing is close to photographic. Thermal transfer paper for laser printing is used on light and hard surfaces. The quality is worse, but the speed is much higher.

Disadvantage: if you transfer the picture to fabric, it will become very dense, and the image may stretch.

Advantage: speed of production, minimal financial costs, you can do without special and expensive equipment.

Lomond Thermal Transfer Paper

You can buy Lomond at any office supply store. This is a brand well-known company, which produces thermal transfer paper for inkjet and laser printers. One such pack contains ten sheets. Prices vary depending on destination. For example, for dark fabrics the cost will be much higher than for light materials. The printed image transfers very easily to baseball caps, T-shirts or other cotton surfaces.

Lomond fluorescent thermal transfer paper is on sale, which allows you to achieve a glow-in-the-dark effect. This is achieved through a special reflective coating. Used for printing on an inkjet printer.

Lomond produces three types of paper:

1. Transfer paper for light-colored materials.

2. Paper for dark surfaces.

3. Fluorescent paper for colored fabrics.

The printed images are transferred to the fabric using a regular iron, but it is better to use a press. The printed design can withstand repeated washing. It does not fade or fade throughout its entire service life. To successfully use the paper, you should carefully read the attached instructions.

Types of surfaces for drawing

Thermal transfer printer paper helps you easily and quickly transfer the printed image to any surface.

Cotton fabrics: baseball caps, shirts, T-shirts, etc. The more cotton, the stronger the pattern will stick to the material.

Hard surfaces: ceramics, plastic, metal, etc. Image transfer is carried out using paper from laser printer, which is well suited for smooth surfaces.

Transfer technology

1. Print.

High-quality thermal transfer paper must be prepared. You can draw any image with your own hands using computer program and print it as a mirror image.

2. Preparation for the transfer.

It is necessary to cut out the printed image with a 5 mm edge. For work, prepare a comfortable and level table. Cover it with a soft pillowcase backing. Place your favorite T-shirt, pre-ironed, on the backing, and cut the transfer paper on top, picture side down.

3. Transfer.

Using a well-heated iron, pressing as hard as possible, stroke the image with even, circular movements. Never turn on the steam function! Ironing is done for 1-2 minutes, through a sheet of paper or fabric, so as not to damage the image. Then let the T-shirt cool. After ten minutes, repeat smoothing. Try to go well over the entire area of ​​the drawing. Then remove the protective sheet and carefully peel off the transfer paper.

As a result, you have made a unique T-shirt that no one else has. The technology is very simple and can be easily mastered by any beginner.

Exploitation

The T-shirt must be turned inside out and washed in warm water, the temperature of which should not exceed 40 degrees. Do not use bleach or use the quick dry setting (in the washing machine). Iron the fabric with an iron (without steam) set to medium heat. Use protective paper for this.

From this article you learned what thermal transfer paper is and how to use it at home. If all instructions are followed, you will get a high-quality souvenir that will last a long time.

Many of us would like to have a beautiful T-shirt with our own design, designed by ourselves. If previously this required large expenditures, both time and financial resources, now this process has been significantly simplified. A sheet of thermal transfer paper will solve this problem and allow you to realize all your wildest ideas. From additional materials you will need a special press.

Where to buy quality thermal transfer paper

Thermal transfer paper is the most important component for thermal transfer of a design to fabric. It has good structure and texture. It is loose, therefore, capable of absorbing a larger volume of ink. Special heat treatment activates certain processes in it. Thus, the interaction of this material with the fabric begins, and the ink evaporates. The drawing will be bright, colorful and clearly defined. Thermal transfer paper for laser printing is compatible with all types of printers and copiers.

To ensure high-quality image transfer, you should choose top-quality products. It will allow you to get the best possible result, the ink on it will not roll off, on the contrary, it will lie very smoothly, and will be quickly absorbed, maintaining the brightness and color saturation for a long time.

What are the characteristics of high-quality thermal transfer paper?

• the sheets are even and smooth, having a solid texture;
• high-quality raw materials were used in production;
• The paper is durable, without damage or flaws.

This product is produced quite a large number of companies, but you need to choose a well-established manufacturer. A quality product cannot be too cheap, so do not try to save money, as the end result may ultimately disappoint you.

You can buy thermal transfer paper for fabric in our online store in small wholesale or retail at an inexpensive price from the manufacturer. It allows you to print logos or any images High Quality on T-shirts, bags, caps. If you wish, you can even start branding your pillows or plates.

Thermal transfer paper for light and dark fabrics will ensure high-quality and beautiful transfer of the design to the material, while the image is preserved even after fifty washes. It is worth noting that laser printing is only available on hard surfaces and light-colored fabrics, and the printer’s operating speed is quite high. An inkjet printer allows you to achieve high quality printing, similar to photographic. However, the price difference between inkjet and laser application will be noticeable. The second option is more budget-friendly, but in any case the choice is yours.

The important point is that in order for the result to please you, you must strictly follow the instructions on the package.

This paper can be purchased at stationery, as well as where everything is for computers and printers. It's called thermal transfer paper, it's available for light and dark fabrics, there are 10 sheets in a pack - it's written for inkjet printers, but it's also suitable for laser printers. The technology is simple in principle - print out the design and iron it with a hot iron.

These are the instructions included with the EPSON Iron-On Cool Peel Transfer Paper:

Transfers to fabric using thermal paper.
If you haven’t tried using it yet, be sure to try it and you will like it, because:
* The thermal image transfer process will allow each member of your family to easily create their own images based on fabric materials!
* Excellent image quality and high resolution!
* Images and factory texture remain unchanged even after washing in the washing machine!

For thermal transfer you will need the following:
* Thermal transfer paper
* Any of the inkjet printers
* Iron
* A flat, hard, smooth, non-porous, heat-resistant table or other surface. Do not use ironing boards, wood, metal or glass surfaces.
* Piece of pure matter
* Fabric where you want to transfer the image (T-shirt, napkin, etc.)

You can use any program to create an image. If your image contains text, be sure to "mirror" the image.

Print an image
*Insert one sheet of thermal transfer paper into the printer with the printed side facing correctly. Make sure the transfer paper mark is in the upper right corner and that the paper is not curled or bent.
* Set the paper thickness adjustment lever to the "0" position.
*Print the image.
* After you have printed the image, cut it out with scissors, leaving approximately 5-6 mm around the edges of the image.

Before you begin the heat transfer procedure, check your iron. Irons have different heating speeds. If your iron doesn't get hot enough to heat transfer, you can increase the time it takes to heat transfer. If you have never tried transferring images onto fabric using an iron before, we recommend that you practice heat transferring small images using old unwanted items. This will help you prepare for transferring large, high-quality images.

* Heat the iron to maximum temperature and do not turn it off until the thermal transfer procedure is completed. The iron must be very hot. When thermal transfer, do not use steam.
* Take a piece of any material and place it on the table so that its edge hangs from the table. Smooth it out to get rid of wrinkles. Make sure there are no seams on the work surface.
* Place the heat transfer item on the fabric.
* Iron the product.
* Place the printed image face down on the fabric where it will be placed.

Be very careful not to touch the hot surface of the iron or the transfer paper. When not using the iron, keep it in a safe place and do not allow children to touch the iron or heat transfer area.
For achievement best result, choose the thermal transfer technique that is convenient for you.

Thermal transfer of large images
Step 1-6: Curing the Image When heat transferring, use only the "wide" part of the iron if possible. Using the narrow part of the iron will not achieve the best results.
Starting at the top left corner (Step 1), slowly move the iron along the transfer sheet, pressing it firmly against the surface (this should take about thirty seconds).
Repeat this procedure for the middle (Step 2) and bottom (Step 3) portions of the transfer sheet.
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 about 30 sec. about 30 sec. about 30 sec. Once you have completed steps 1, 2 and 3, turn the iron.
This time, starting from the bottom left corner (Step 4), slowly move the iron along the image sheet, pressing it firmly to the surface.
Repeat this procedure for the middle (Step 5) and top (Step 6) portions of the transfer sheet.
Step 4 Step 5 Step 6 about 30 sec. about 30 sec. about 30 sec.
After you have completed step 6, iron the surface as described in step 7.
Step 7: Iron the surface of the image sheet without lifting the iron from the table, making about 30 circular motions. Make sure all edges of the transferred image are smoothed with each circular motion. Each movement should take about 4 seconds. Press the iron firmly onto the surface.
Step 8: Remove paper from thermal transfer product. Once you have made the final circular motion, place the iron in a safe place and turn it off. Wait one to two minutes until the thermal transfer area cools down. Starting from any corner, remove the paper from the product. Removing paper may be difficult if the transfer area has been allowed to cool for too long.

Thermal transfer of small images Small images (4"x4" or 10x10 cm) are much easier to transfer to fabric.
1. Start ironing on one side of the image. Slowly move the iron along the transfer sheet, about five seconds. This will allow the image to be fixed to the surface.
2. Holding the iron firmly, without lifting it from the surface, slowly move it across the image for 45 seconds - 1 minute. Be careful not to overheat the heat transfer product.
3. Place the iron in a safe place and turn it off when you are finished. Wait one to two minutes until the thermal transfer area cools down. Starting at any corner, peel the paper off the heat transfer product. Removing paper may be difficult if the transfer area has been allowed to cool for too long.

Tip If you are transferring more than one image onto a product, make sure that the heat transfer will not overlap any of the images already applied.

The product you receive as a result of EPSON's thermal transfer process is machine washable, but you can protect the colors and image quality by following the following simple tips:

* Wash only in cold water and, if possible, use a special detergent for washing colored items.
* Wash colored and white items separately.
* Take things out washing machine immediately after finishing the washing process.
* Dry items in the dryer under normal conditions.

Many owners of inkjet printers do not even suspect that using these devices you can print images to decorate various fabric products.

Printing images for transfer onto fabric is perhaps one of the least known and rarely used capabilities of printing devices. In this article we will tell you how you can decorate your T-shirt, shirt or other fabric product with a unique design or original inscription. Using the methods described below, you can transfer an image to products made from cotton and mixed fabrics that can withstand prolonged heating.

Equipment and materials:

A printer. To print an image that is then transferred to fabric, you can use a home inkjet printer or MFP. Since high resolution is not required in this case, not only modern, but also rather old models of inkjet printers that have long been discontinued can successfully cope with this task.

Iron or ironing press. To transfer the printed image onto fabric, it is best to use an ironing press - it will ensure the most durable fixation of the design. If you don’t have a press, you can use a regular iron. In the latter case, it is necessary to prepare a work table with a flat and hard surface that is resistant to heat (an ironing board, unfortunately, will not work for this purpose). In the process of work you will need a piece of clean cloth.

Special media. To transfer the image onto fabric, special media are used - (thermal transfer paper for light fabrics) or (thermal transfer paper for dark fabrics). The structure of such carriers includes a dense paper base and a thin elastic layer that is attached to the fabric when heated - it is on its surface that the image is applied.

Preparing and printing the image:

The preparation of an image or inscription can be done in any program that supports the printing function. Multiple images small size can be placed on one sheet, leaving 10-15 mm between their borders.

It should be taken into account that printing on fabric has a number of features. The translated image may differ markedly from a print produced by the same printer on a sheet of plain paper, primarily due to lower contrast, narrower color gamut, and poorer highlight reproduction. To obtain optimal results (especially when printing photographs, reproductions, etc.), it makes sense to artificially increase the contrast and saturation of the image, and also, if possible, exclude areas filled with the lightest shades.

Important point: In order for the image on the fabric to be read normally, it must be printed in a mirror image. To do this, activate the option of mirroring the printed image (Flip or Mirror) in the printer driver window or in the print settings of the program from which the drawing is output. To check the correctness of the selected settings, it is best to use the preview mode.

Transferring an image onto fabric using an iron

The image printed on the sheet must be cut out, leaving 5-6 mm of free space around the perimeter.

The iron regulator must be set to the position corresponding to maximum power. If you have a steamer, you must turn it off. Before starting work, the iron must be left for some time to warm up to its maximum temperature.

Because the temperature conditions may differ between different iron models, it makes sense to pre-select the optimal time for transfer by experimenting with several small-sized images and an unnecessary piece of fabric.

When the iron is ready for use, place it on the work surface in advance

Prepare a piece of fabric and smooth it thoroughly so that there are no wrinkles or folds. Then place the product onto which the design will be transferred onto the fabric. Prepare the surface for transferring the image by ironing it. Place the cut out print face down where you want it to go according to your design.

The sequence of actions when transferring a large format image onto fabric using an iron:

To best fix the image on the fabric, it is advisable to use the widest part of the iron’s working surface. When transferring a large image, it is best to smooth the sheet in several passes, slowly moving the iron pressed tightly to the table along the long side of the design. The time for one pass should be about 30 seconds.

Turn the iron 180° and repeat the above procedure, starting from the opposite edge. After this, you need to carefully smooth out the edges of the translated image, moving the iron pressed tightly along the perimeter of the image.

After completing the transfer procedure, allow the product to cool for one to two minutes, and then remove the paper backing by grabbing it at any of the corners. It must be taken into account that it will be much more difficult to remove the base from a completely cooled product.

When transferring several images to the same product, you must place them in such a way that they do not overlap each other.

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