There is a large selection of clothing on the market with a wide range of interesting inscriptions and graphic patterns on t-shirts. However, we also print custom shirts in Dallas. What if you would like to have a T-shirt with a specific theme? If you care about a personalized pattern or slogan, it is worth thinking about a way to create them yourself. This may sound like a time-consuming challenge, but it’s not. In this article, we present an easy way to create a t-shirt with your own print.
T-shirt with your own print at home
There are several ways to create a t-shirt with your own design. The simplest method is to commission such a task to an external company. Usually, all you need to do is upload the design or text you want and get a quote. However, this involves a certain waiting time for the finished product. It is also possible to create a personalized t-shirt in your own home! A hand-made print on clothing is a great idea for an original gift and a lot of fun.
How to do it? You need an inkjet printer, a plain T-shirt, and suitable transfer paper and irons to transfer and fix the effect on the T-shirt. Of course, this method is not limited to T-shirts. At home, we can obtain a print on a wide range of clothing and accessories, such as sweaters, jackets, cotton pillowcases, or handbags. The method of applying the print is analogous, here we will present it in the example of a t-shirt.
Which printer will be suitable for printing iron-on transfers?
Before you start the whole process, make sure which printer you have. Thermal transfer paper is designed for inkjet printers only. If you do not have such a printer and plan to print on transfer paper and get the best results – we recommend the Canon Pixma series.
It is characterized by high quality and print resolution, allowing for faithful reproduction of details and colors. Interestingly, by choosing, for example, a Canon printer, you will get access to a dedicated, free Creative Park application with hundreds of ready-made patterns and decorations – not only for ironing on clothes. It will also allow you to print photos in excellent quality, for this, you only need to buy photo paper.
T-shirt with your own step-by-step print
If you decide to create such a T-shirt yourself at home, you must meet several conditions to obtain the appropriate quality and durability of the finished product. First things first. First, you need a pattern that you will transfer to the fabric. If you do not have a file with the desired theme yet, you can easily create it with the help of free tools available on the Internet. Also, make sure that the t-shirt on which you transfer the pattern will be white, dark, or colored. It depends on the choice of the right transfer paper, which has its own color versions.
Print the pattern
We already have a T-shirt, we have selected the transfer paper, and the file with the pattern is waiting to be materialized. What’s next? We suggest the following steps: First, we suggest printing the desired pattern on plain photocopy paper in order to initially try it on the fabric. If everything fits, it’s time to print on transfer paper.
Set the highest print quality available and print only on the smooth side of the paper (the reverse side is checkered). You don’t have to worry about mirror image – print in the standard configuration. After printing, cut the foil around the graphics or inscription. Now you can start ironing on the pattern.
Iron the pattern onto the T-shirt
We will now transfer the cut pattern to the fabric. Take care of a hard and flat surface, e.g. a table. Transfer to new fabrics is not recommended, so it’s a good idea to wash the T-shirt beforehand. Now you can remove the foil from the back of the card and put it face up on a T-shirt. It is best to iron the pattern with an iron at the highest possible temperature and do it through baking paper or other thin cotton material.
This will protect the pattern from damage. In order for the print to adhere well to the fabric, iron the material for approx. 30-50 seconds on each piece of foil. If necessary, you can repeat the process several times without fear. Ready! Now carefully remove the paper and enjoy your T-shirt with your own print!
Keep your print in perfect condition
The product is ready, but it is important to take care of it so that it will serve us for a long time. Fortunately, it’s not difficult – just wash the T-shirt inside out at a low temperature. It’s best to avoid strong agents such as bleach and avoid treating the print directly when ironing. You can iron on the back or through a piece of cotton. Thanks to this, you will be sure that your print will be in excellent condition for a long time.
Is your own print a good idea?
T-shirts prepared in the above way are a brilliant gift idea or stand out from the crowd. If you have a bit of desire and a few basic items, you can create a truly unique product yourself. It is worth noting the low cost and profitability of this home method. Transfer paper is a small expense, and one such sheet is one T-shirt with a new, original pattern. You do not need specialized equipment in the form of an industrial printer or a thermal transfer press. We encourage you to try it yourself at home!