Designing a fabric of my own – that is a dream come true. My home inkjet printer seems the easiest and viable option for me to print the designs I have conceptualized onto fabric. But there are specific steps, materials, and settings required to successfully print your designs onto fabric using an inkjet printer.
Can I print fabric with my inkjet printer?
I print on paper almost daily on my printer, and it is as easy as using the shower, and the colors are vivid enough. It seems a no-brainer to me that I can similarly print on fabric. So Easy. But I couldn’t be more wrong.
The two main problems in inkjet textile printing with your home inkjet printer are fading and bleeding, other than the obvious problem of fabric being floppy and soft to go through the printer.
The new age printers with special water resistant fabric inks do not bleed much but fading is a REAL problem. Of course if you are making one-off things like for a poster or a collage or for making a bag which would not be washed it is ok; but for making things that lasts on your home printer – very difficult
I have read that with each printer, even among models, the results are different. So one method that works for a person may not work for another with a different printer model and ink from the same printer company.What works for one printer model may not work for another model or manufacturer.
You have to take this into account as well as many other factors like the fabric and ink used, image used and use of the work before embarking on the exciting method of printing your own fabric.
Related post : Check out this post on other 5 ways to transfer images and photos onto fabric.
The advantages of inkjet printing as mentioned in this study are extensive -higher availability for short-run production, no screens needed, photo-realism with precise details, simpler pattern modification, less wastewater, higher production speed, and partial replacement of traditional printing. If only this is applicable at home, on my printer.
Inkjet textile printing.
- Inkjet textile printing.
- What do you need for printing on fabric at home
- How to select a printer that prints on fabric
- Which are the best fabrics for inkjet printers?
- Prepar your fabric for printing
- How to make inkjet printable fabric colorfast
- How to print fabric with the inkjet printer
- Is inkjet printing on fabric washable?
- Is inkjet print on fabric durable
- Can you use inkjet printer for sublimation printing?
What do you need for printing on fabric at home
1. A computer with images or photos for printing.
2. Inkjet Printer ( cannot use laser printer ) Canon, HP, Kodak, Epson.
3. Fabric prepared for printing.
4. Optional : An ink fixative spray that protects computer prints from smudging; brown paper for ironing.
How to select a printer that prints on fabric
You can print fabric on any inkjet print – but with varying results. Printers vary, inks used vary – all affecting the final outcome. Even different models of the same company produce different fabric printing results.
Some printers have settings for fabric built into them (like some models of Epson printers ) they have water-resistant pigment inks (though water-resistant inks does not mean that they are waterproof. The ink will fade somewhat after many washes, if not at the first wash)
Pigmented ink & dye-based inks are used in inkjet printers. Pigmented dyes are vivid and do not fade so much with time but they are also susceptible to washing. But as they are designed for fade resistance and long print life they are better than Dye-based inks which fade very fast. So lookout for a pigment-based inkjet printer.
Which are the best fabrics for inkjet printers?
Normal fabric, be it a very stiff and thick fabric or not, is too floppy to pass through the printer on its own. But, you can use fabric neverthless. You can follow any of the following methods to prepare your fabric so that it is suitable to pass through the inkjet printer.
1. Use inkjet printable fabric sheets specially designed for printing ( available in cottons, linens, nylons, polyester and silks) These are Specially treated  fabrics with a paper backing. They are water-resistant, although not necessarily washable/ dry cleanable. If you wash them expect some fading.
There are fabric sheets called procoat which are waterproof & Â machine washable – but they need special inks (reactive, acid, or disperse dyes) and a steamer. Color is fixed by either heat pressed, steamed in a steamer, or colandered.
To make silk scarves you can use pretreated silk available ; they need to be printed and then steamed. I have no idea about the colour fastness. They are not supposed to be washed I assume.
2. A fabric that is coated with a special solution. This will make the fabric stiff like you have applied the freezer paper and this fabric will be better able to keep color. Iron(dry iron) Â fabric sheet after the solution has dried to make it smooth.
3. Freezer paper  &  Cotton fabric (medium weight plain fabric with no designs) – this is a DIY solution to make fabric suitable to be printed.
4. Use Label sheets – adhere the fabric with the sheet on the back. This is a very easy and convenient method as you can use the fabric of your own choice. Just buy the labelling sheet and attach to the back of the fabric.
For this buy the full-size label sheets, readily available online or in stationery stores. Carefully cut your fabric around the label on the label sheet. This creates a fabric piece that matches the label size. You have the fabric ready to be inserted into the printer
Prepar your fabric for printing
How to make inkjet printable fabric colorfast
To ensure that the colors on the fabric would not fade later you can try any of the two methods described below.
- Immerse pre-washed fabric in a special commercial formula ( a liquid used to precoat surfaces making them receptive to inkjet ink) for 10 minutes (as per instructions on package) and allow to dry. This formula is available in shops ( like the brand Retayne or Bubble Jetset). Line dry the fabric completely.
- Then there is this home made formula – You will have to checkout this post for the diy idea. It is used the same way that is described in the previous point – the fabric is soaked in this solution before printing . Dry thoroughly and iron smooth.
Now the fabric will be as stiff as a piece of cardboard. You will have to iron it for using.
Cut the fabric and freezer paper or fabric sheet to the size suitable for your printer or according to your design. I would cut it a tad smaller than the standard A4 size paper for my printer – 8.5 inches wide by 11 inches long.
Keep the fabric piece on the shiny side of the freezer paper. Iron in place.
Related post: Tips to make printing permanent.
How to print fabric with the inkjet printer
Step 1.
Go to pixabay.com or any free photo sharing site and select a free photo you want to print on fabric or take your own original photographs. Transfer and save it to your computer.
Make custom changes to the photo. Use online photo editing sites for this.
https://psdviewer.org
https://photopea.com
https://www.gimp.org
You can layer images, add letters or messages, give a border or leave white space for embellishing. You can enhance the photo in many ways – go to any of the photo-enhancing sites or apps and make your image brighter and better as well before printing or Make the necessary modifications to the image in your computer using a program like Photoshop or free online platforms. Or use midjourney app to make cool designs with AI.
You will need to crop the image to the A4 size or whatever is your printing area.
Ensure that the photo is having a good resolution. You cannot expect a small photo you saved from a random site to print out with great clarity. Ensure that a minimum resolution for your printer is maintained for best output . Checkout the post here for more on this.
My take away from this is
” 240-360ppi for your average professional grade ink jet printer will be sufficient for the vast majority of prints viewed within a couple of feet.”
Most photos available on the net are low resolution images and will make for horrible prints. Use Image enhancer & upscaler websites like https://letsenhance.io ; fotor.com ; pixelied.com for changing the resolution of your low resolution images.
Step 2
Select the best photo setting on your printer properties. Test print on paper to see that the photo is set the way you want it.
- Open the print settings on your computer.
- Choose the paper type – select “plain paper thick” or something similar.
- Opt for the best print quality.
- Check if there’s a “borderless printing” option; if available, select it for edge-to-edge printing. Some printers may have a problem with this option and then you may have to disable this.
Step 3
Place the fabric on your inkjet printer the same way you would a sheet of paper. I would load the fabric sheet face down on my printer . The setting in your printer may be different. Refer to the manual or do as you do with paper.
Make sure that you keep only one sheet on the tray at a time.
Print the image onto the fabric. Do not try to force the movement of the printer by pulling at the fabric – this will distort the image that is being printed.
Step 4
If you are using freezer paper, wait till the image is fully dry before removing the freezer paper. You can keep aside this freezer paper for further usages.
You have to heat set the color on the fabric by ironing. Wait for the ink to dry for atleast a couple of hours ( or as per the instructions on fabric sheets if you are using them). Waiting for one or two days is ideal.
Keep a sheet of brown paper between the iron and the fabric or iron on the reverse side of the fabric. The temperature used on the iron should be the hottest the material can withstand, without scorching or burning the material.Pass the iron over the fabric from one side to the other ensuring you do not hold it still in any area.
Your custom printed fabric is ready to be used for various creative projects
If you intend to use the printed fabric for a project which will be washed a lot, wash the fabric it a couple of times before using it .
Step 5
Coat the fabric to prevent fading (optional step)
To make the ink somewhat permanent many experts recommend spraying the image with a fixative spray( many such sprays are available at stores) ; don’t spray on too thick, but a couple of thin layers.
There are many diy ideas floating around like using a salt bath or a vinegar bath to set color and prevent fading which may or maynot work.
Another idea is to use a neutral ph PVA glue and water solution to set the colors, depending on the use of the fabric. When brushing the glue solution it looks as if you have applied white paint over your printed photo, but it will dry clear. But the plastic feel of the glue coating (slight gloss and slippery surface and somewhat stiff) may put you off or may not be the effect you want.
Whatever you have printed or however you have done it, wait at least 24 hours before you use it.
As already said, printing on fabric is not easy. There are many pitfalls you and your fabric can fall into – like your old refilled cartridge inks creating a blotched up job on your precious fabric piece, or the fabric getting stuck inside the printer and all the tugs in the world not getting that one out unlike the flimsy paper you always manage to get out, albeit with a tear or two or your photo ending up looking like your grandmother’s.
If you can tolerate one or all of these consequences you can go ahead and explore all those unlimited possibilities of printed fabric – like a pre-printed fabric for embroidery.
Is inkjet printing on fabric washable?
Generally fabric printed on inkjet printer is better not washed. But if you want to wash it, hand wash the garment or machine wash on a gentle cycle in cold water and mild soap. Avoid direct exposure to light and expect fading over time. Do not use harsh detergent.
Pigment-based and dye-based inks are more wash-resistant than water-based inks.
Is inkjet print on fabric durable
Not so much. Wash, wear and light can fade the colors, as it does for any textile printing. Most inkjet printers have dye based inks and they are generally not durable. Some inkjet printers use a combination of dye-based and pigment-based inks. These printers are called hybrid inkjet printers. Use this and you get more durable prints.
Can you use inkjet printer for sublimation printing?
Sublimation printing requires specialized sublimation inks, which are different from regular inkjet inks. Sublimation inks are designed to turn into a gas when heated, allowing them to penetrate polyester fibers and bond with them. These inks are typically not compatible with standard inkjet printers. To use an inkjet printer for sublimation, you need to convert it for this purpose. This often involves installing a CISS (Continuous Ink Supply System) with sublimation inks, replacing or modifying the existing cartridges, and using specific ICC profiles to ensure accurate color reproduction.
Important warning :If you are planning to do this extensively, you may want to read this warning – the writer claims to have ruined her printer by using it to print on fabric
Related posts : 12 best T-shirt printing methods
How about the opposite? Are there any special water soluble inks for printers that can be easily erased. I
I’d like to print patterns for quilting that could then be transferred to the quilt top and easily removed after quilting (like a water-soluble marking pen). quilting through the paper is problematic and specialty water soluble interfacing is expensive. I’m hoping to find an ink-based solution or a way to treat inkjet ink so that you don’t risk staining the quilt top
Hi James
There are pigment and dye-based inks. pigment inks are fade resistent. dye based inks fade faster and much more faster with exposure to sunlight. But frankly I have no idea whether it will completely dissovle and disappear with washing. But I totally get you. printing with water dissolving inks on fabric would have been great
Hello James . . . you may want to check out Inklingo’s website. Ann Lamy *smiles*
Thank you for posting this article. I’ve used the freezer paper/cotton fabric method with my inkjet computer for printing out my own labels. I’ve had good results with a product called RETAYNE to help control bleeding of ink on the fabric. For very small projects, the solution of salt and white vinegar also worked well for me when Retayne was not available. After rinsing the printed fabric in a salt and white vinegar solution, I air dried it, and then carefully pressed it with a hot iron, using a pressing sheet..
Hi Judy, I read about Retayne – glad to know it works . Salt and Vinegar is what most people would have in their homes though. Thanks for the tips
Thank s for sharing ladies. Judy what kind of printer do you use?