granny_59

I did read a lot about foto transfer to fabric in this board and someone mentioned how easy it is with a laser printer.
It really works perfectly, the pictures on the fabric look great but they wash out.
Is there something that can be done about it?
These prepared pieces of fabric available are just for ink jet printers, arent they?

I made an attic window with fotos on fabric done by a copy shop and it was very pricey so I would like to find another option.

Granny

amma

Laser printers get too hot to run fabric through :D:D:D

Yes, they are made for ink jet printers only :D:D:D

You can treat them with Bubble Jet afterwards to help hold in the color.

granny_59

thanks for your answer.
I dont think it gets too hot. I had no problem to print with the laser printer on fabric. Just put some white fabric with 505 on a paper and it worked perfectly............just that the paint does not stay on if getting washed.
What is this bubble jet stuff chemically that it sets the colors into the fabric?

ckcowl

did you wash the fabric before using it? are you using PDF'S? (prepared for dying fabrics?) if you are using any other fabric you have to prepare it yourself by washing out the sizing and there is a product called bubble jet that is also used, available at places like Joannes and some quilt shops. once you have prepared your fabric and ran it through your printer it is important to set the pictures aside for at least 24 hours to 'cure' it gives the ink time to really saturate and set, then heat set it. i have done this step every day for a week before using the pictures and have had good luck with the colors staying vibrant. usually after a week of heat setting and just setting i rinse them in cold water i think you can use retayne also. it takes some practice before you really get it right, just like dyeing fabrics. but i think the curing/heat setting is very important, along with all sizing being removed from the fabrics.

kdid82

when I made a quilt using photos, at a LQS, we had to soak the finished photos in vinegar and let dry, then pressed on the wrong side, they came out perfect

ghostrider

Laser printers are not too hot to run fabric through. They are too hot to run 'printer fabric sheets' like Printed Treasures through because those are coated with adhesive and the adhesive can melt inside the printer. Fabric ironed to freezer paper is perfectly safe to run through a laser printer, as is fabric 'basted' to paper with 505 spray it seems. :wink:

Bubble Jet Set is not usually needed on fabric printed with a laser printer. Heat setting is not necessary on fabric printed with a laser printer as the heat of the laser process is sufficient.

It would be my guess that the reason your photos washed out was due to the type of ink cartridge your laser printer uses. There are two types of ink cartridges, dye-based and pigment.

Dye-based ink is water soluble. It fades quicker than pigment ink, is cheaper, and is used in most current ink jet printers. Bubble Jet Set counteracts the water-solubility issue with dye-based inks in ink jet printers. Pigment inks are more expensive, water-resistent, and are often called archival. Laser printers can use either type of cartridge, though the majority use pigment inks.

My guess is that your ink cartridges could be dye-based and it might be worth trying some Bubble Jet Set to see if it will counter the water-solubility issue. It'd probably be cheaper than buying pigment ink cartridgess, if that's even an option with your printer model.

granny_59

Good morning and thank you so much for your answers.

Good to know that prepared fabic wont work with a laser printer and I will try to figure out what kind of cartridges DH printer is using (without asking him :lol: )

I will try to set it with vinegar and find somehow the patience to heatset it for a week before washing it.
Did you ever hear of covering it with oil for a while to make it durable?

Granny

craftybear

does your hubby know you are using his printer???

granny_59

of course I get to use "our" printer and of course he also gets to know about it.
I just figured that it would be better for him not to know in advance. Just in case my fabric sets the darn ding on fire.........or so :lol:
But like I said: it works perfectly well. I cut the fabric a bit littler than the paper and make sure it is well attached with 505.

patricej

i've never had any success trying to print on fabric with a laser printer. i've tried both untreated fabric and fabric pretreated with Bubble Jet Set. the toner washed off every time.

if your printer is less than 2 years old, i don't think there's any harm in trying as long as you run your fabric through on the straight path (straight in one side, straight out the other, doesn't go through the roller and come out on top of the printer). technology changes all the time. maybe the newest toners will work?