Tired of plain T-shirts and boring ties? Transform your wardrobe with wearable art that you make yourself! All it takes is a printer, an iron, and HP Iron-On Transfers.
Whether you're creating your own artwork or downloading a project from a website, follow these instructions to create your own iron-on transfers for T-shirts, mousepads, caps, bags, jackets, aprons, and just about anything else you can iron.
Printing iron-on artwork
- Download your artwork or create an original image using your computer. Use a digital photo or clip art and text to create an appealing, personal design.
- In your photo-imaging software, flip your picture or design around to a mirror image. Look for the option to Flip Horizontally or Mirror Image. Your software might even have a Wizard feature for easily creating iron-on transfers. Using this feature is important, as otherwise your picture will come out backward after you iron. (If you're downloading iron-on art from HP Home & Home Office, you can skip this step.)
- Print your image on paper first to confirm that everything prints correctly. Hold it up to a mirror to get an idea of what it will look like on your garment.
- Print your design onto an iron-on transfer sheet. Caution: Do not use iron-on transfer sheets in a laser printer or any printer that heats the paper. These printers can melt the transfer paper, which can damage the printer.
- Load a flat iron-on transfer sheet into your printer so that the design will print on the side without the HP logo. If the transfer sheet is curled, place it under a flat heavy object (like a big book) until it lies flat.
- Click on File, and then click on Print.
- Click on Properties to access the Printer Setup box.
- In the Printer Setup box, select Premium, Special, or Iron-On Transfer as the paper type.
- Select the Best print quality, and then click OK.
- Click OK again to start printing.
- Cut out your design from the transfer sheet using sharp scissors, leaving about a 1/4-inch edge around the image. Be careful not to cut into the design itself, or it may bleed in the wash.
Ironing your transfers
For the best results be sure to choose the right fabric.
- To show off your design, choose a light-colored fabric like white or pale yellow. Avoid darker fabrics or your transfer may not show up very well.
- Use a thick, high-quality, 100-percent cotton garment. Pre-washing isn't necessary.
- If possible, test your transfer on an old garment of the same material. Wash the test garment to make sure the transfer doesn't crumble or bleed on your fabric of choice.
When it comes to iron-on transfers, the heat of your iron, the placement of your garment, and your ironing technique all can affect the success of your transfer. To get the best results, follow these recommendations.
- Set your iron to Cotton and let it warm up for about eight minutes. Turn off the Steam feature and empty any water from the reservoir.
- Place your garment in the center of a smooth pillowcase on a low, hard, flat surface that will not be damaged by heat. Smooth plywood, Formica countertops, and smooth workbenches all are good surfaces. Ironing boards are not because they're too soft and don't disperse heat well enough. Iron the garment to be sure it is smooth and dry.
- Place the iron-on sheet, transfer side down, exactly where you'd like it on your garment.
- Use both hands and press hard enough to generate 50 pounds of pressure (put your iron on your bathroom scale to see how much pressure this takes). Keep your arms straight and use your upper body for leverage.
- Starting in one corner of the transfer paper, iron complete circles around the outer edge of the paper, making sure the iron completely overlaps the edges and corners. Keep the iron moving in large circles as you work your way toward the center of the transfer. Follow the recommended ironing method and iron for the full recommended time for your transfer size. It is about one minute for partial-sheet transfers that fit completely under the iron and about three minutes maximum for full-sheet transfers.
- Remember, too much ironing can cause the image to melt too far into the fabric. Too little ironing can cause the transfer to peel or crack.
- Complete the transfer by ironing the edges in a circular motion.
- Wait for the transfer to cool completely, and then remove the backing.
Washing and wearing
To keep your transfers looking their best, follow these simple washing instructions.
- For the first wash, wash your garment inside out in the gentle cycle using cold water and no detergent. After the first wash is done, re-wash your garment inside out using cold water and detergent without bleach. If you are using powdered detergent, make sure to dissolve it in the water before adding the garment.
- Remove the garment immediately after the second wash to prevent bleeding, and dry it on a low setting.
- For future washings, always wash inside out in cold water with a color-safe detergent.
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