How To Make Shirts On Your Computer

So you want to make shirts on your computer? Well, it’s not that hard! Here’s how to do it!

What you’ll need :

* Iron-On Transfers (Epson makes pretty good ones)
* A good color ink jet printer
*Hand iron (Flat, hard, smooth, non-porous surface, like marble. You don’t want to use an ironing board, glass or metal.)
*Pillowcase (Something to put the transfer on like: shirt, patch, etc.)

Making the image

You can use just about any graphics program to make the image, like MSPaint, Photoshop, etc. Just be sure that you can reverse the image (make a mirror image of it) so that it comes out right on the fabric. Your printer might also have the option to flip the image as well. If your image doesn’t have any text, then you might not need to worry about flipping the image.

Printing the image

Make sure you have flipped your image so it looks like a mirror image of what you want on the fabric.

Select the correct print quality of the image. Some printers have the option of selecting transfer paper. You will probably want to print the image at normal dpi so you don’t use up a schload of ink.

Insert a single sheet of transfer paper into the printer with the blank side (the one you are printing on) loaded correctly for your printer. Make sure the paper isn’t curled or bent.

Set the paper thickness level to normal or plain or standard paper setting. If your printer also has a thickness adjustment lever, set it to the plain, standard or 0 setting.

Print the image

After you have printed the image, trim away the blank paper around it. Leave a white border of about 1/4 inch on all sides but one. Along this last edge, leave a 3/4 inch border that you can use to peel off the transfer after ironing.

Before you start ironing follow these tips to ensure the best results :

Make sure the iron is very hot.

Press firmly the entire time you are ironing. If you do not press hard enough, the image will not be transferred completely.

Keep the iron on the transfer long enough to make sure the image is completely transferred to the fabric. To larger the image, the longer it takes to transfer it. Be sure to keep ironing a large image for at least 2 to 3 minutes.

When you are ready to peel up the transfer paper, be sure to do it as soon as you set down the iron. If you allow the transfer to cool, it will stick to the fabric when you try to peel it off.

Small images (4″ x 4″ or less) are easier to transfer than larger ones. If you have never ironed a transfer before, you may want to try a practice run first with a small image on an old piece of material you don’t need; then you can get a feel for the process before you start with your good image.

Be careful not to touch the iron or the heated surface of the transfer paper. Set the iron down in a safe place when you are not using it and keep children away from the iron and the hot transfer surface.

The best technique for transferring an image depends on the size of the transfer; follow the appropriate instructions below.

For a large image: Place the iron over the upper left corner of the transfer image. Hold the iron in place for a few seconds to make sure the transfer sheet will not slip. Then, pressing firmly, move the iron very slowly across the long side of the image, an inch at a time. You may want to wiggle the iron as you move it. Do not iron down the unprinted border. Lift up the iron and place it over the lower left corner of the image. Again, move the iron very slowly across the long side of the image, pressing firmly. Move the iron across the image again, making two slow passes. Then move the iron over the entire surface in slow circles, pressing firmly. Be sure to cover the entire image, including edges, in each circle. Keep ironing the image for at least 2 to 3 minutes.

For a small image: Place the iron on top of the transfer, completely covering it (except for the raised, unprinted border), and hold the iron still for several seconds to prevent the transfer from slipping. Then, pressing firmly, wiggle the iron over the image, moving it constantly for at least 20 to 30 seconds.
Set the iron down and immediately peel the transfer sheet off the fabric beginning with the raised, unprinted border. Be sure to do this while the image is hot. If the image is large, it helps to have a second person help who can hold down the fabric and peel off the transfer sheet while you continue to iron back and forth in front if the next section to be peeled. If the fabric gets too cool and you cannot left the transfer sheet (or it starts to tear), do not keep pulling. Just reheat that area for 10 seconds and start peeling again.
Allow the fabric to cool completely on the pillowcase before removing it. If you are making another iron-on transfer, be sure to let the ironing surface cool first.

Ironing the image

Preheat the iron on the highest temperature setting and wait until it is ready before ironing the transfer. The iron must be very hot. Do not use steam.

Place the pillowcase on the ironing surface with the open end hanging over the edge and smooth it flat so there are no wrinkles. Make sure there are no seams on the ironing surface.

Center your fabric on the pillowcase surface. Smooth the fabric and pillowcase so there are no wrinkles. You may want to iron the pillowcase and fabric so they are smooth before ironing the transfer. Be sure to let them cool completely before placing the transfer on the fabric.

Place the printed transfer image face down on the fabric where you want to iron it on. Make sure no part of the transfer extends beyond the edge of the pillowcase. Fold up the edge with the 3/4 inch unprinted border.

Washing Your New Creation

Your new transfer creation is sturdy and machine-washable, but you can protect the color and quality by following these simple washing guidelines

Wash in cold water only, and use a detergent with color protection if possible.

If you are washing a shirt or similar garment, turn it inside out before placing it in the washing machine.

Remove the article as soon as the washing machine completes its cycle.

Dry it in the dryer using normal settings.