Ethel M

I'd like to create small quilts containing Christmas family photos from across the years.
I'd appreciate any advice as products to use to print scanned photos from my computer onto fabric using my inkjet printer.
Do I need to use a fixative solution to set the photos? Are the commercially available photo fabric products the way to go?
Will just ironing the photo after printing on fabric do?

Norene B

I have used the photo fabric most of the time. You just follow the instructions to do them up. Make sure you pull the paper off before putting in water or you have a mess to take off. Been there, done that. lol. You put the sheet into cold water after ink dries to wash off excess ink, dry it, then iron it to set. After they are used in quilt, cold water wash, not hot dryer or hand on line to dry.

I have also used Bubble Jet Set and Rinse but only once for a project for the neighbor. I have to wait and see on it.

Hope this helps.

Laura3

I have made several photo quilts and have always used Printed Treasures. They are expensive but you can get quite a few photos per sheet if they are not too big. I also use my Joanns coupons for the sheets. Search on this site for other options. Several people have talked about ironing freezer paper on high thread count fabric and using that to print on. There is also something called Bubble Jet that is a liquid you can soak the fabric in for printing.

Good Luck....

jeanequilts

Be sure to read the directions on the package before you purchase it. Some can be washed after you put the image on them, others cannot. I purchased the small package the first time, and ended up going back for the larger package (with my coupon from JoAnn's) as it took me a couple of tries before I got one I liked.

amma

I like to use Bubble Jet Set too :D:D:D

sharon b

I have used the EQ printables from Electric Quilt- print thru a regular printer - soak in water and you are done

littlehud

I use printable fabric. I haven't tried bubble jet set yet but I would like to. I used mine to make a family tree for my dad. The pics turned out great.

ann clare

Welcome from Ireland

LoveBug

You definitely need to use treated fabric before printing. I don't know what kind of inkjet printer you have, but that can also make a difference too based on the ink your printer uses.

How will the project be handled? Is it a wall hanging that won't ever be washed? Or is it a quilt that will get lots of use & washing? That can make a difference in how satisfied you are with the finished product.

I had to experiment with different photo fabrics before I found one that was ideal for my printer/ink combo. I have an Epson NX400 which uses a pigment based ink, and I use Crafter's Images Photo Fabric that comes on a roll.

I would definitely recommend that you get a pack of a couple of different kinds, print some sample images, follow the instructions on the package, and then wash them afterward to see which results hold up better.

You'll also want to test different settings on your printer; for example, you might not want to use the "photo" setting (even though you're printing a photo) because it might deposit too much ink.

You also might want to check the ink levels in each of your cartridges before the final printing; it would be a shame to run out of a color in the middle of printing something. :)

HTH!

Ebony

Jim's Gem

Welcome to the board from Southern California!!!!