katei

Just wondering if anyone cam recommend fabric paper for printing photos on to. I bought a packet of (expensive!) paper to print photos on for a memory quilt. Fortunately I tested it out first and on the first light wash the photo faded considerably. Has anyone found a fabric paper that really works? Thanks.

SlightlyOffQuilter

Honestly, I have yet to find ANY fabrics that will hold a photo unless I print them on my Grandmothers Epson printer. If I print it on my HP, NOTHING but black stays. This is because Epson inks are pigment ink ( permanent ) and HP inks are dye based ( water soluble ) . HP does make Vivera Pigment Ink. Make sure to check your ink to be sure it says PIGMENT and not DYE. A quick tell is if your printer uses 1 black cartridge and 1 tri-color cartridge your printer does not support pigment cartridges. Only those machines that use multiple color cartridges have the ability to use the pigment based cartridges ( and yep they cost more too ). This is why Hubs said the next time we go looking to get a printer, I am to get one that will support Pigment inks !

Onebyone

I made one photo quilt. I had a print shop print my pictures on fabric. The pictures are still vivid and the quilt has been washed a lot.

Stitchnripper

Thank you so much for this information! Had no idea. And we just got a new HP printer, so none in our future any time soon. I wonder if some place like Office Depot or Office Max have the pigment printers and could print off. Would get spend if there were a lot though.

kathy

I agree that epson is better but..... I use printed treasures fabric sheets, heat set with my iron, and rinse in warm (baby bath) water AFTER 24 hrs, my HP ink stays well, these quilts are washed 1-2 yrly.

Weezy Rider

Try soaking in cold salt water. I have Tshirt transfers that are still pretty good after 20 years. I used a Canon 600 when I first started. One poster is right about inks - some tend to be more permanent. Sometimes if you use the paper from the printer company, it works better than transfer paper from a different vendor.

nanna-up-north

Yup. That's exactly what I do... I have a HP printer as well and don't put a special ink in it. My DGS's quilt with photos is still bright and colorful after 6 years and my daughter washes it more often than I would. I've found printed treasures at Joanns and my LQS as well. But, with the 50% off coupon at Joanns, it's a lot cheaper.

crocee

Has anyone tried using a laser jet printer for the fabric photos? I heard they are permanent.

quiltstringz

NOTE Most Fabric Sheet will tell you NOT TO USE A LASER JET and if you do it will void any warranty that you have.

I have used printed treasures off and on for some time and no real isues. However we just got a new quilt shop and they used to do T-Shirts so they still have all of the equipment. They are doing the transfers (using the t-shirt method) for quilters now. It is possible if you have a t-shirt shop near you that they might also do this. It didn't seem anymore expensive than the treated fabric sheets and more permanent.

snipforfun

Laser printers get too hot for fabric.