Printing on fabric
If you are looking for information about printing on fabric, the best place to start is the Learn section of this site. There are several informative articles about fabric printing there. We suggest that you read more about
printing on Inkjet fabric sheets before getting started. In addition, you should read the manufacturer’s instructions for your fabric sheets. If you are making your own fabric sheets, read the fixative instructions carefully.
Question: Do you have any fabric printing tips for beginners?
Answer: We have a section of
helpful tips, many of which focus on fabric printing.
Question: What is the first step to printing on fabric?
Answer: To get started, you need a fabric sheet on which to print. A fabric sheet is a piece of fabric that has been treated to ensure the fabric is colorfast and washable. It has a paper backing—either an adhesive label paper or freezer paper—that is attached to hold the fabric stable as it moves through the printer. After printing, remove the paper backing and you are ready to use your printed fabric.
Question: Where can I get printable fabric sheets?
Answer: There are several ways to get fabric sheets: you can buy them at your local craft or fabric shop, purchase them online, or you can make printable fabric sheets yourself.
Question: Should I load a stack of fabric sheets into the paper tray?
Answer: We do not recommend loading multiple fabric sheets at once. It could cause misfeeds. We recommend that you remove the paper from your input tray and insert each fabric sheet one at a time. For front-loading printers, load the fabric in the tray fabric side down. Push the sheet all the way into the tray and make sure that the paper guides are tight against each of the edges.
Question: My fabric is jammed in the printer. How do I get it out?
Answer: Just like clearing a paper jam, it depends on the printer. Check your printer manual to see how to clear paper jams. If your printer has a Rear Access Door, open it and gently pull the jammed fabric sheet out the back of your printer. If you are using an HP printer, you can also check HP Customer Care on the HP Web Site.
Question: What printers can I use to print on fabric?
Answer: Many printers can print on fabric, but we recommend that you use HP Inkjet printers because, unlike laser printers, they do not use heat transfer. If you want to use another kind of printer, make sure you read the user's manual first.
Question: What kind of fabric should I print on?
Answer: We recommend that you print on tightly woven 100% cotton fabric like the kind found in pretreated printable fabric sheets. You can choose other fabrics, but fabrics with a tight weave like Pima cotton are the most reliable choice. You can print on thinner fabric, but thick fabric could cause ink smears or could get caught in your printer. Textured fabrics might not produce a uniform print result.
Question: When I print on fabric, it has smears on it. How can I avoid them?
Answer: If your fabric has smears or smudges on it, you may have a build up of ink on your print cartridge, which means you need to clean it. Your user's manual or the HP web site has tips on how to clean print cartridges for your specific printer. If your cartridge is clean, the problem may be that you are printing on fabric that is too thick and the fabric is hitting the print head. Try a thinner fabric weight and see if that works. Remember to always print a test page on paper before printing on a fabric sheet.
Question: Why does my fabric print with white streaks in it?
Answer: White streaks (where no colors print) could be an indication that one or more nozzles on your print cartridge are clogged. Your user's manual or the HP Web site has tips on how to clean print cartridge for your specific printer. If cleaning your print cartridge does not help, replace the cartridge and try printing again. Remember to always print a test page on paper before printing on a fabric sheet.
Question: Why does my printout have white specks on it?
Answer: There was probably lint on your fabric sheet. Remove lint from your fabric with a lint brush or tape before you print.
Question: How do I load fabric sheets in the printer?
Answer: Printers are different when it comes to the print orientation (face up, face down, etc.) Read your user's manual and experiment with paper before you print on fabric. Also, we recommend that you print fabric sheets one at a time. All front-loading HP Inkjet printers load this media with the fabric side facedown.
Question: What are some of the other uses for Inkjet printed fabric in quilting?
Answer: You can use printed fabric in many ways. Customize and personalize your quilt labels by adding photos and text. Repair vintage quilts, match fabrics to your dŽcor, and make a family tree wall hanging. You can also create quilting effects like faux stitching and appliquŽ.
Question: My printable fabric seems to curl before I have a chance to print on it. Is that a problem?
Answer: Your fabric media should be flat when you send it through the printer. If you are using pretreated fabric, keep it in its original packaging until you are ready to use it. You might also want to place a heavy book on the fabric sheets to keep them flat. If it is fabric that you made yourself, try re-ironing before sending it through the printer. This will bring the fabric media back to its original flat shape.
Question: Can I use any software application to print on fabric?
Answer: Yes. Anything you print on paper you can print on fabric. You can use a word-processing program to print a quotation in a decorative font. Use an image-editing program to print photos or use illustration software to output your drawings onto fabric.
Question: Can I print on dark fabric?
Answer: Yes, but your image will be darker, too. Since printers do not print white, any areas of your image that are white on the screen will appear in the same color as the fabric when they are printed.
Question: How can I prevent my fabric from separating from its backing when it prints?
Answer: It is important that the leading edge of the fabric be securely adhered to the backing in order to avoid a misfeed. If you are using a fabric sheet that you created yourself, try re-ironing the sheets. You may also want to try folding a strip of masking tape over the entire leading edge of the fabric media that you will be sending through the printer. This should prevent the fabric from separating from the backing.
Question: Where do I get support for my printer?
Answer: Check the manual that came with your printer or go to the HP Web site and look for information about your HP printer.
Question: After printing fabric, my printer has loose threads in it. How should I get them out?
Answer: As a general rule, you do not need to worry about small threads in your printer. But, if you want to clean them out, read your user's manual for instructions. To reduce the threads in your printer, trim any loose threads before you print, and secure the leading edge with masking tape.
HP Quilting Web Site - Frequently Asked Questions