LIGHT COLOR FABRIC IRON-ON TRANSFER INSTRUCTIONS (RED BACKING)
ITEMS YOU WILL NEED:
- Light Color Garment (T Shirt, Canvas Bag, Apron, cotton and poly-cotton fabrics etc.) Please carefully consider the color before applying your image. The fabric color should be lighter than the lightest color in the image or the image will look dull or washed out.
- Iron – 1400 w or higher
- Suitable FLAT Surface (Solid Table, Work Top, Floor or similar – DO NOT USE AN IRONING BOARD)
- Pillowcase
- Silicon fixing paper (Supplied and reusable)
PREPARATION:
- Trim excess white areas from around and within the image leaving approximately 1/8 to 1/4 inch. You can cut around the image as a whole if the image is more detailed than a block image. (The transfer paper is transparent and the white that is shown is just the backing that will be peeled off – the color white cannot be printed so please consider this when choosing your light color fabric)
- Prepare a FLAT solid surface by placing a pillowcase down on the hard surface and then place the garment on top of the pillowcase. Do not use an ironing board. This will cause the image not to transfer completely and your image will peel as a result.
- Preheat iron to cotton setting/400F for 4-5 minutes.
- DO NOT use steam.
TRANSFERRING THE IMAGE – Ironing with a Domestic Iron:
- Iron the garment without the image to warm it up a little and smooth out any creases (about 20 seconds) It is recommended to pre-wash the garment if it is new so the image will not crack or peel due to shrinkage when washed.
- Place the transfer paper with the image face down onto the garment. The white and red backing should be facing up.
- Start ironing the image. Make sure all areas of the image receive the same amount of heat by moving the iron constantly in small circles and covering all the areas, especially the edges. Apply FIRM and CONSTANT PRESSURE to the iron. (You cannot put too much pressure on the image – THE MORE THE BETTER)
- Iron 2 1/2 – 3 minutes for full sheet images, 90 seconds for 1/2 sheet images, and 45 seconds for 1/4 sheet images. TIME MAY NEED TO BE ADJUSTED as iron temperatures can vary. It is crucial that ALL areas of the image receive equal time length of ironing. Insufficient time will achieve a poor result.
TRANSFERRING THE IMAGE – Heat Press:
- Follow the same instructions as with the iron but apply the press for 20-30 seconds at 375 degrees F. and high pressure.
TRANSFERRING THE IMAGES – Peeling:
- Peel the image when COLD – after ironing the image, allow the paper to cool to room temperature (there is no time limit on doing this, you can wait as long as you like but it has to be completely cold to touch before peeling – NOT WARM). Once cold, slowly peel the paper. Peeling before it completely cools may cause the color to lift.
- If the image begins to lift when peeling the backing off, place it back down and re-iron the image focusing on the lifted area(s). Allow it to cool again as instructed above.
FIXING:
In order to achieve the best washing results, the image should be fixed.
- After you have peeled the backing off, place the enclosed silicon (parchment paper) on the image and iron it for about 10 seconds (or use a heat press for 3 seconds). Peel the paper slowly when cooled. The image is now fixed. Parchment paper can be used throughout the life of the garment to brighten and protect the image.
- If your image starts to fade or lose color after so many washes, reapply the silicon/parchment paper as directed above to add protection. This can be done for the life of the garment.
WASHING:
- Wait 24 hours before washing the garment.
- Wash inside out using a FULL SPIN CYCLE and cold water setting. Remove promptly from the washer. Not suitable for hand washing or delicate cycles. Do not bleach or leave wet too long (this may cause the image colors to bleed).
- It is recommended to air dry your garment but if it is necessary to use the dryer, than turn inside out and dry with no heat. Heat can damage the image in the dryer.
- Iron inside out if needed.
TROUBLE SHOOTING:
- Some of the image did not transfer. Make sure the iron is set on cotton setting and that all areas of the image are ironed equally especially the edges. Make sure you are applying as much pressure as possible. Also, make sure you are working on a solid surface. An ironing board IS NOT SUITABLE for this process.
- During washing some ink ran. Wash garment in a washing machine only – DO NOT HAND WASH and DO NOT use delicate wash cycles. Wash cycle must have a full spin cycle and only wash in cold water. Do not leave garments soaking in water and do not leave wet in washer.
- Some of the image peeled off or cracked during the wash or dry cycle. Per-wash shirt if new before applying the image. This prevents shrinkage that could cause cracking and peeling. Iron the image on a flat surface (not an ironing board) and make sure enough heat and pressure are applied evenly on the transfer during the application process. Also, fixing the image with the silicon sheet will ensure more durability throughout many washes. This can be reapplied over the life of the garment to continue protection. Make sure you wash in cold water and either air dry of dry with no heat.
- The edges of image are peeling up. Make sure enough pressure and heat are applied to the edges. It is important to apply equal heat and pressure to the whole image especially the edges. If it starts to peel back – take a piece of parchment paper and cover the peeled area, reheat your iron, and reapply the image using the same technique as instructed. This may not work if it has been washed.
- The image stuck to itself in the dryer and peeled the image away from the shirt. It is recommended to air dry but if a dryer is used, the garment should be inside out on a no heat setting.
- Color does not show up or is not vibrant. The transfer sheet is transparent (the white that is shown is just the backing that is peeled off after application). Choosing a color fabric garment that is darker than the image colors will make the image look dull or hard to see.
TOP MISTAKES:
1. Don’t forget to cut around the image carefully. If you don’t cut round your image carefully enough, you’ll end up with too much fabric transfer paper left which will reduce the impact of your design.
2. Don’t iron on a surface which isn’t a flat hard surface. You must iron your fabric transfer paper on a completely flat hard surface; otherwise the image will not be sufficiently attached to the fabric. Do not use an ironing board.
3. Don’t be frightened to get the iron really hot. It is essential that your iron is set on cotton setting and has reached its maximum temperature before you iron the transfer. It’s important that if you use a steam iron, the steam is switched off and no water is in the iron.
4. Don’t keep the iron still. The problem with today’s irons is that most have indentations on the bottom for steam to pass. If you don’t keep the iron moving while you’re applying your transfer, there will be parts of your image that won’t stick to your fabric.
5. Don’t forget to apply enough pressure to your iron. The whole transfer process relies on pressure to make it work effectively. While moving the iron, you must consciously apply as much pressure as you can in order to get the best effect.
6. Don’t leave any part of the image un-ironed. Leaving small parts of the image un-ironed is a common mistake particularly on irregular or large images. You must make sure that every corner of the image has been ironed.
7. Don’t forget to fix the image after you’ve removed the backing paper. This will absorb any glossy film left on the image after you remove the transfer paper and take any excess ink that has not been absorbed. It will leave your image soft and stretchable without cracking and fully machine washable.
8. Don’t wash your garment before the printing has fully set. The guideline for fabric transfer paper is not to wash it before it has been allowed to set for 24 hours. Again a common mistake is washing the garment too soon after printing.