How to Make and Use Iron on Transfers

What do an anti-establishment punk rocker and agrandmother who loves to make crafts have in common? Well, for one thing, they can both have fun with iron-on transfers! Iron-on transfers allow you to easily decorate clothes and other fabrics, and creating your own makes your style unique. Here's how to make and apply transfers.

1. Buy a transfer. You can buy transfers at most crafts stores, art stores, and big box retailers.
   
   
2. Create your own transfer.
   
   
   • Find or create an image you want to use for the transfer. You can scan an image into your computer, find one on the internet, or create one in a software program.
     
     
   • Manipulate the image. Using basic image editing software, you can resize your image, add effects, change colors, or do whatever you want until it's just right. Use your editing program to mirror the image so that it comes out correctly on the fabric you transfer it to.
     
     
   • Print the transfer. Print a test page on plain paper, and when you're sure it's how you want it, print it onto a piece of transfer paper. Make sure to load the transfer paper so that the image will print on the correct side (this should be clearly marked).
     
     
3. Lay out the fabric. Place the t-shirt (or other cloth to which the image will be transferred) on a hard, flat surface, and smooth out any wrinkles. The work surface should be heat resistant and should be large enough to accommodate the entire area of the transfer with a little room to spare.
   
   
4. Place the transfer image-side down on the fabric. Put the transfer on the cloth precisely where you want the image to be. Be sure you have the image facing the fabric.
   
   
5. Place brown paper inside the shirt directly under the transfer paper. Unless you want the image to be printed on both sides of a shirt (if that's what you're transferring the image to), you'll need to put something between the front and back.
   
   
6. Iron on the transfer . Carefully read the instructions given with the transfer paper. Set the iron to the designated temperature, and wait for it to warm up. Move the iron in large circles on top of the transfer paper. Start by focusing on the outside of the image, and gradually move toward the center. Be sure to apply adequate pressure for an adequate amount of time for ten seconds (see the transfer paper instructions), but keep the iron moving to prevent scorching.
   
   
7. Wait for the image to cool. Turn off the iron when finished and let the image cool for a few minutes.
   
   
8. Remove the backing from the transfer paper. Gently peel the backing off of the fabric.
   
   
9. Care for your project properly. Wash and dry the cloth on a cool setting only. If the transfer was done to clothing, turn the article of clothing inside out before washing.
   
   

• Trim around the edges of the transfer after printing. While not really necessary, trimming helps you to better see where exactly you're putting the transfer on the fabric.
• The transfer paper instructions will tell you what kind of printer and/or inks can be used for best results. Read the instructions carefully. Typically, laser printers aren't suitable for printing on transfer paper.
• Laundering the T-shirt or fabric before you apply the transfer will preshrink the material and remove any sizing, which will help the transfer stick better.
• To mirror the image in your computer software, you may need to use a "Reverse" or "Flip Image Horizontally" command. See the program's Help section for more information.

• Irons are hot! Be careful not to burn yourself, and never leave an iron on and unattended.
• Removing the backing before the image has cooled may cause the image to crack or become malformed.
• If you find your image on the net, be very careful about copyright. Faking brand-name T-Shirts is illegal. If you want to put a brand name on a shirt, why not try wikiHow? If you need a picture, one has already been uploaded here.

• T-shirt
• An iron-on transfer
• An iron
• A hard surface to iron on
• Scissors
• Some brown paper
• An image to use (if you're making your own transfer)
• Transfer paper
• A computer, with image software (if making your own transfer)
• A printer (if creating your own transfer)