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Things You'll Need
Instructions
Iron Transfer
Insert the iron transfer paper into the computer printer. Unlike the fabric transfer method, iron transfer paper cannot be made at home. Generally, the shiny side needs to be oriented as the print side.
Set the printer settings to print the image in mirror or reversed mode. The exact method to do this will depend on your particular system and software. A common approach is, with the image's file open, to click on "File" and scroll down to the "Page Preview" or "Print Preview" option. Click on this option and look for the "Reverse" or "Mirror" option in the pop-up menu. Print the image.
Cut excess transfer paper neatly from the printed image. Place the printed iron transfer paper ink-side down directly on the fabric where you want the image to appear. With the iron on its high heat setting and no steam, press each section of the transfer paper between 30 seconds and three minutes. The time needed is product specific. Some products require the image to cool completely before attempting to remove the backing paper; others instruct you to remove it while the surface is still hot.
Direct to Fabric Printing
Create printable fabric transfer paper if you are not using purchased fabric transfer paper. To do this, cut plain white fabric into rectangular sheets slightly larger than 8½ inches by 11 inches. Soak each sheet in an ink fixative solution until the sheet is saturated. You can soak several together. Hang to dry.
Cut enough pages of 8½-inch by 11-inch freezer paper to match the number of fabric sheets you've made. Once the fabric sheets are dry, use a hot iron with no steam to iron them onto the shiny side of the freezer paper, making sure there is a strong bond created by the wax and no creases or bubbles. Cut this fabric transfer paper to exactly 8½ inches by 11 inches so that each paper will travel easily through the printer.
Insert the fabric transfer paper into the computer with the fabric side as the print side. You are printing directly to the fabric, so print the image as you want it to appear. Remove any normal printer paper from the printer, so only the one sheet of fabric transfer paper is loaded. If your printer allows you to set paper types on the print menu, select "cardstock" to help the printer adjust its feeds for the additional weight.
Print the image to the fabric and remove the wax freezer paper. Lay the fabric flat on a protected surface and allow the ink to set for at least 30 minutes. Samit Chevil, who works for Fabric Graphics, explains that this time is required to allow the ink to bond with the molecular structure of the fabric fibers and for the colorant to absorb onto the fiber surface.
Wash, by hand or machine, as a delicate for two minutes and hang to dry.
Transfer by Medium
Lay the fabric to receive the image on a protected, flat surface and secure it in place using tacks or tape on the outside edges. Heavier fabrics work best with this technique because they are less prone to crease or shift under pressure. This transfer process can be considered a rub-on process.
Spread the fabric transfer medium evenly across the surface of the printed photo. Each product is different, but in most cases, three coats of transfer medium are applied; each coat is allowed to dry before the next coat is applied.
Remove the backing paper after the final coat of transfer medium has dried. Most products recommend soaking the printed image in water to help loosen the backing paper. Softened paper can be removed by gently rubbing it with your finger or a sponge until all of the paper is gone. You should have a flexible, translucent copy of your image.
Put another coat of fabric transfer medium on your image and on the surface of the transfer. Lay the image on the fabric. Use the burnishing or folding tool to press the image onto the fabric starting in the center and pushing out to the edges. You may wish to use a small scrap of paper to protect the surface of your transfer as you work. Take your time on this and keep smoothing the image.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions for how to bond the transfer to the fabric. You will likely need to allow the project sit for two or more hours to fully cure. It may be longer before the fabric is ready to be laundered or require special laundering techniques.