Photo Fabric - Printing Photos on Fabric

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WHICH PRINTERS CAN I USE?

The  majority of inkjet fabric products recommend using an inkjet printer (also known as bubble jet set or deskjet printers).         
Inkjet printers using pigment ink work best. Each brand of printer being used will produce a different result as each company 
produces different quality inks. Pigment based ink will work best and generally no ink runoff when using this type of ink.
Epson is one brand of inkjet printers using pigment inks. As seen in demonstrations by ACQ at various Craft n Quilt Fairs.

Note: Manufacturer's recommend you DO NOT USE re fillable or non genuine inks for Printing Photos on Fabric.
If you want to use non genuine inks we recommend testing on a A6 Cotton size before using a full A4 sheet to see results. 

TROUBLESHOOTING
Tray Feed Printers
Fabric side facing down to the floor.

Top Feed Printers
Fabric side faces forward towards you.

Printer rollers not feeding fabric through?
Solution 1. 
Adhere a strip of painters masking tape over the front of the lead end (first end to go in printer) now wrap the tape over to the
back of the fabric sheet and press onto the backing paper.This will help the rollers to grab the fabric and feed through the printer.

Solution 2.
Many tray feed printers have a manual feed at the back of the printer. It may look like an open slot or may have a cover that pulls down. 
Feed the fabric sheet into the printer holding onto the sheet until the printer rollers grab the fabric sheet) Ensure fabric is facing up toward the ceiling.

Solution 3.
Change the printer settings to Envelope. This opens the rollers up to accept a thicker medium to feed through the printer.

PRINTABLE FABRIC - SECONDS
Printable cotton seconds has some imperfections that vary from selvege edging (small dotted lines on one side of fabric)
to a slight mark or the main reason, the paper backing has come away from the fabric and requires pressing before printing.

The paper backing can be removed and replaced with another product to act as the backing paper:

Reynolds Freezer Paper - cut to A4 size we recommended using 2 x sheets for easy of feeding through printers.
Iron on stabaliser
Iron on fusible webbing such as Vliesofix or Heat n Bond are other types of backing can be used if you prefer to remove the original paper.

Note: Fabric can NOT feed through a printer without backng paper.

Tray feed printers usually have a manual feed at the back of the printer. When using printable fabric use the manual feed
with the fabric side facing upwards. This is also best used for card or heavy photo paper.

 INSTRUCTIONS - PREMIUM PRINTABLE COTTON

1.Create an Image/Photo/ Label or Document on your computer screen or scanner. 
 Optional: Remove any paper from the printer tray.
2.  Once you have the image ready to print on your computer screen.
     Load one Fabric sheet into your printer.
     File > Print > Properties
     Paper size = A4 check packaging for size.
     Photo Quality = Photo 
    Paper Type = Plain Paper
    Choose Print Preview before printing to allow for any adjustments required.
    Press Print.
    Set aside to dry allowing a minimum 1 hour overnight is best.
3. Once dry remove the backing paper.
    Rinse in a large tub of cold water to remove treatment and excess inks. Holding the fabric by two corners is best continue
    moving fabric in the water until all excess in appears to be washed out. If water appears to have a lot of ink then leave the fabric
    sheet in the water and add more tap water to the rinse. 
    DO NOT wring out or squeeze fabric to remove water. Lay flat on a towel to dry. 
    Want to Speed up drying time? Pat the fabric dry with an end of the towel. Use a hair dryer to complete drying if desired.

INSTRUCTIONS - PREMIUM PRINTABLE SILK & ORGANZA SHEETS 
Create an Image/Photo/ Label or Document on your computer screen or scanner. 
Optional: Remove any paper from the printer tray.
Once you have the image ready to print on your computer screen.
Load one Fabric sheet into your printer.
File > Print > Properties
Paper size = A4 check packaging for size.
Quality = Text (for a light printout) Photo or Best Photo (for solid colour printout)
Paper Type = Plain Paper. (DO NOT use Laser printers)
Choose Print Preview before printing to allow for any adjustments required.
Press Print.
Set aside to dry allowing a minimum 1 hour overnight is best.
Once dry heat the fabric to warm the backing sheet (dry iron), then slowly peel paper backing off.
Rinse is Optional: Silk & Organza 
Rinse in a large tub of water to remove treatment and excess inks. Holding the fabric by two corners is best. 
Continue moving fabric in the water until all excess appears to be washed out. If water appears to have a lot of 
ink then leave the fabric sheet in the water and add more tap water to the rinse. DO NOT wring out or         
squeeze fabric to remove water. Lay flat on a towel to dry. Pat the fabric dry with an end of the towel. 
Use a hair dryer to complete drying. 

Brands MIRACLE FABRIC - PRINTED TREASURES - COLOR PLUS - PHOTO FABRIC
Important Note:  Miracle fabric sheets are American A4 size 8.5" x 11" therefore the page setup needs to be adjusted.
Go to File > Page setup > Paper Size = Letter.         
Create and Image/Photo/ Label or Document on your computer screen or multifunction printer. 
Load one Fabric sheet into your printer. Once you have the image ready to print on your computer screen 
Go to File > Print > Properties
Paper size = Letter  
Quality = Photo 
Paper Type = Paper Now you can Press Print. Follow manufacturer instructions to complete.

DO I HAVE TO IRON THE FABRIC TO HEAT SET IT?
YES. Bubble Jet Set
YES. Miracle Fabric Sheets require heat setting - see instructions.
NO. Premium Printable Fabric
NO. Printed Treasures
NO. Photo Fabric by Bluementhal
NO. Matilda's Own - Caution NOT recommended for frequent laundry read the fine print.
NO. Color Plus
Yes. June Tailor

WHY IS FABRIC PRINTING DIFFERENT FROM PAPER PRINTING?
Paper printing will have a different effect on ink than fabric printing. The colours will appear to be different but in reality it 
is because of the change of fibre from paper to fabric. You will find colour changes even when printing on different types 
of paper, such as a high gloss to a matt or satin paper.

 Compare Printbale Fabric Types

A  SECRET! 

Here is a a great idea a customer lead us to for holding the ink on pretreated fabric sheets. We love her for it however, 
she said its a secret........ssshhhhh! Print onto your pretreated fabric sheets allow to dry, overnight is best. 
Peel off the backing paper lay fabric print on a dry towel and spray with 'Waterproof Spray'. 
This eliminates the rinse process and holds the ink.    

WILL THIS PRODUCT DAMAGE MY PRINTER? 
NO.  Inkjet Fabric Sheets are pretreated and paper backed. The BJS solution is soaked into the fabric and dried before 
it is used in the printer, it does not connect with the printer's mechanisms. Simply feed fabric through your printer exactly
like a sheet of paper. Ensure all loose threads are trimmed off and removed before placing in the printer.

SHOULD THE COLOUR LOOK DIFFERENT ON FABRIC?         
Yes. The colour will look different on fabric because of the density of  the fabric. This process is no different than dyeing 
any fabric. It is important to know that colours will look deeper on fabric and appear lighter on paper. 

CAN I  USE ANY PRINTER? 
Inkjet Fabric sheets are recommended for inkjet printers only. PREMIUM printable fabric or June Tailor brands will feed
through most printers and copiers. Many customers have told us they use their Laser printer by Slowing down the printing
by changing the Paper type = Matte paper. In our experience no other  brand of  fabric sheets will feed through a laser printer successfully. 

WILL THE PRINT FADE WITH CONTINUOUS WASHING? 
This process is equivalent to dyeing fabric and if you wash any fabric over and over again you will see fading in the colours. Washing powder with enzymes fades fabric faster than the sun We recommend washing in a mild dishwashing liquid like Lux flakes or Baby shampoo Note: Matilda's Own inkjet fabric is not recommended for frequent laundry.

CAN I  USE GENERIC INK CARTRIDGES? (non genuine)
It is recommended the setting time needs to be longer for greater success 24 hours would be a good idea. 
Testing with generic inks have found the generic cartridges for Inkjet printers bleed. We suggest 
a test  with the 24 hour setting time and then decide. If the test is not successful (fading and bleeding), 
only use genuine brand inkjet cartridges which have greater stability, yielding higher quality.

HOW DOES Bubble Jet Set 2000 (BJS) WORK?
BubbleJet Set 2000 was designed to bond dye molecules with fibre, specifically 100% cottons and 100% silks. 
DO NOT use fabrics with any synthetic fibres, this includes the poly/cotton fabrics as BubbleJet Set  
does NOT adhere to synthetic fibres. BubbleJet Set  is a fixative which reacts the same way as dying fabric.
BubbleJet Set  sets the ink from your printer into the fibres of the fabric and makes it permanent and washable. 
Pretreated fabric requires a carrier sheet to feed through an inkjet printer. We recommend Reynolds Freezer Paper
this is ironed onto the back of your fabric then peels off without leaving behind any residue.

WHAT IS THE SHELF LIFE OF THE PRODUCT?         
The manufacturer states the Bubble Jet Set has a shelf life of 1 year.         
PREMIUM Printable Fabric leave fabric inside sealed plastic bag provided. 
Printed Treasures yellows over time as the fabric is not sealed. This product has a 1 year warranty. 
This is true for any brand of inkjet fabric not sealed as the air affects the treated fabrics.
Other brands carried do not seem to state the shelf life.

IS THE PRODUCT TOXIC OR DANGEROUS? 
Bubble Jet Set does contain formaldehyde We highly recommend using rubber gloves if you are 
sensitive to chemicals. Open windows when using. The product is 85%  water and contains many 
laundry detergent ingredients.The various brands on inkjet printable fabric sheets are safe to use.

CAN I  BLOW DRY THE FABRIC? 
Yes. After the rinse process lay the fabric on a dry towel and pat dry first then blow dry.

WHY IS WHITE FABRIC BETTER?
True colour prints are produced on white fabric (as with professional photograph paper - photographers only use white paper so it only makes
sense to use white fabrics ) Coloured fabrics mix with the ink producing muddy photo colours. 

FABRIC PRINTING vs PAPER PRINTING.          

Paper printing will have a different effect on ink than fabric printing.       
The colours will appear to be different but in reality it is because of the change from paper to fabric.  
Fabric will absorb the ink into the fibres. When the fabric print is rinsed excess ink will 
wash out and fabric sheet will appear duller than paper print out. This is the normal process for inkjet fabric. 
However if there is a great amount of colour loss this can be due to several reasons.
1. Using generic inks. 
2. Water treatment from house taps bleaching out colour.         
3. Printer settings not on Photo quality. 
4. Low grade printer brand.Inkjet printers using pigment ink work best.

Using pre treated fabric sheets or readymade fabric sheets in a printer may void the printer warranty. 

As a distributor of these products Australian Country Quilts and any other business associated with us hold no responsibilty for any claims. 
The onus is on the consumer for the use of these products or any other mediums chosen to use in the printer. 
Product claims should be made through the respected manufacturer of each product purchased.

PRINTER RECOMMENDATIONS 

Australian Country Quilts is NOT affiliated or recieve any financial support or goods from ANY printer company.
We use and recommend using Epson inkjet printers due to their superior print quality as the inks contain pigment. Pigment in inks is known to 
help retain colour and reduce fading compared to other brands we have tested. The following printer brands have been tested using ALL the 
printable fabric products we sell, the results are as follows:
1. Epson Stylus (any model we have used 5 models)
2. Hewlett Packard
3. Canon Pixma
4.  Brother, Dell, Kodak, Lexmark

All the inkjet printers will print onto printable fabric sheets as the manufacture recommends, however the result will vary from each printer due
to the ink quality of the printer being used. This information is stated on each manufactures packaging.

While we have been using prinatable products for the past 10 years we do not state that we are expertts in the technical side of manufacturing
products including printers. For further help with technical difficulties please contact the manufacturer of the product or printer being used. 

SHIPPING CHARGES

The shipping charges are set down by Australia Post an increase is allocated 2 x a year. Please go to Australia Post website to verify we
DO NOT charge handing or delivery fees, only the rate offered by Australia Post per indivdual parcel.