Iron On Printer Paper
Iron on printer paper more commonly referred to as Transfer paper commonly find application for textiles and art projects. These are special types of paper on which an image may be printed and then transferred on to a fabric or canvas by ironing on the paper.
Normally the iron on printer paper is of the inkjet variety suitable for similar printers. This paper may come in two varieties; for light colored and dark colored fabrics. The paper meant for light colored fabrics is transparent. Since an inkjet printer does not print white so the white parts of the image will not be printed and the color of the garment would be visible in those places. Thus the transparent iron on paper is best suited for garments in the shades of white. The paper meant for dark fabric printing is white in color and thus the white color of the image would be displayed on the fabric and the fabric’s color will not show. The prints will stay for a long time on the fabric if the washing instructions mentioned on the packet are followed.
One important thing to be kept in mind is that the iron on transfer papers meant for ink jet printers should never be used on a laser printer. These papers cannot stand the heat produced in a laser printer and may melt, causing printer damage. Generally the iron on papers need to be peeled off from the fabric soon after ironing, there are specific transfer papers available which need to be peeled off once they have cooled. Use of these papers is safer as they reduce the possibility of burning of fingertips while peeling.
The iron on transfer papers adhere to the fabric by heat. At times they may leave a very plastic feel to the design .It is advisable to trim the excess paper around the design for a better finish.
When using iron on papers one thing of utmost importance is the quality of the image. You should ensure that you choose a good quality image which is not blurred preferably with solid lines and bright colors. It is advisable to avoid an image with too much detailing in it for best results. Choosing the right paper is of utmost importance in fabric printing. Ideally you should buy standard transparent paper fro light fabrics, opaque white paper for dark fabrics and soft papers for delicate and stretchy fabrics. You should also remember to perform a test run with regular paper first, to preview your image and the margins to avoid wastage of transfer paper which is generally more expensive. You should also remove all other paper from printer tray and use one transfer paper at a time.
You may buy your iron on papers off the shelf in your nearby stationary shop or order them online from one of the various suppliers. These transfer papers give you a chance to explore your creative side and make beautiful gifts for your near and dear ones which will make them feel special.