Hi:
I am looking for a new printer and would like to get one that I can use to print pictures on fabric for memory quilts. Can anyone recommend a printer that does a good job on this.
Thanks for any suggestions you can offer.

Barb

I was wondering about that, too.

Does it require special inks or powders for fabrics? (Or whatever it is that makes the marks) Or special setting processes/techiniques?

I know that if I get the paper wet from something I printed with my printer, the inks run all over the place.

In my experience. (not alot) you will do best with a top fed printer. Thise that feed from the bottom the fabric has to do a "U" turn and it tends to jamb more. with the top fed the fabric only has to do a 45 degree angle and less chance of jambing.

To print on fabric you need an ink fixative such as Bubble Jet Set, this can be bought from Dharma Trading Co. or other places online. Then to get the BEST picture quality you need a photo printer that prints lab quality photos.

You would have to take the fabric you are going to print on, soak it in the solution. let it dry, then iron it onto a piece of freezer paper cut the paper and the fabric to 8.5x11 so it will fit in the printer. Then you would need to use Bubble Jet Rinse to remove excess ink, Bubble Jet Set, and add extra fixatives to the fabric that keep it from fading!

I have an HP Photosmart printer and it does great. As for printing on fabric you have to prepare the fabric (I use Bubble Jet Set) before you print on it then you set the ink with Bubble Jet Rinse. The fabric is irond on to freezer paper to put through the printer. That's how I make a lot of my quilt labels too.

you can go to http://www.cjenkinscompany.com/Bubbl...t_2000_s/3.htm to check it out.

Hope that helped.

Thanks for your information. Does anyone have a printer that they use for this that they would recommend?

a Canon printer that uses the pixma (pigment) ink. it's almost colorfast without bubblejetset.

please note that i said "almost". if you don't pretreat with bjs, the canon pixma ink will run and a lot of it won't wash out.

pretreat with bjs and you can hardly tell the difference between freshly printed and washed-after-printed.

i have a Canon PixmaPro 9000. it's pricey (over $400) but will print on sheets up to 14" x 28".

I have never done photo fabric yet.
Just wanted to vent about my printer, the HP Photosmart C4280, It gobbles up ink like crazy and costs a fortune to keep replacing or refilling.
It has a very small cartridge but costs as much as printers with larger cartridges. Dont buy one of these.

When I did my grandson's photo quilt, the fabric I used called for an inkjet printer to be used. I have an HP Photosmart printer. I bought the paper from cjenkinscompany that was pretreated and then after printing I set with the Bubble Jet Rinse. Worked pretty slick

PatriceJ: I have that printer, just purchased it at Staples, wanted to do some larger prints for my DH initially. But, wow the ink was expensive, almost another $125. I think the printer was on sale for $288. Good to know it is the same one you are using, makes me feel like I know what I am doing.

Debbie: If I understand you, when using the Printed Treasures type fabric sheets, I don't need to Bubble Jet Set, just Bubble Jet Rinse?

I have an Epson Photo R200. It prints on fabric just fine. We've done LOTS of iron-ons over the years.

I have the HP Photosmart C4480 and the ink is a whole lot cheaper than my last HP printer. I go to the HP website and buy their super sized ink cartridges when they are on sale or I buy it at Costco when they have thier coupons. It's also pretty cheap at WalMart. I buy the XL size. Has like 3 times as much ink.

me too. CX4800. works just fine.

That's correct, I didn't have the use the bubble jet set because it's already treated.

I have a HP DeskJet 895Cse ink jet printer. I buy the Printed Treasures fabric sheets for Inkjet Printers, packet includes 5 - 8.5 X 11 sheets. Very easy to use, I have done photos, this is how I make my labels, just follow directions for fabric sheets. So far no problems and they have been washed and dryed and turned out fine.

I have an Epson Stylus Photo RX 430 (4 years old). It has 4 individual cartridges $A16.00 each. I have been using it successfully with injet printable fabric - Matilda's Own and Printed Treasures. They only need to be rinsed in clean water after printing. They work so well I have used them in two wedding memories quilts for my kids.

I have an epson, I researched and all I found said epson ink hold best, I tried it and agree. I made 2 photo quilts (printing on Crafters Images Photo Fabric from JoAnns) using my HP printer before it died. When I rinsed per the directions, alot of ink came out. The sheets are ready to use, no soaking in solution needed. I bought an Epson printer, I printed the wrong pic on one so I washed it to check for colorfastness. it held up so much better!!! I have made 3 photo quilts using the Epson poto rx595 printer. The only problem I have found is you must put one sheet in at a time. They jam if you try to put 2 in.

I have a book which recommends the Epsom as have the best colourfastness also. You can also enlarge your photos in sections, print each section on a separate fabric sheet and join them together to make poster size prints for your quilt. I haven't tried this yet.

Thank you all sooo much for your opinions....great information.

Barb

I have the HP 3650 ( I think , it was just a cheapy ! ) and use the EQ printable sheets and have had no problems. You just print on the fabric and then soak for 10 minutes and they are done :lol:

If you look in avatar that is one quilt I made using this method
Sharon

I think going with one that is reccommended by someone that already has one, like Patrice, is a good idea.
I have an Hp 380 3 in one, and it too, not only gobbles up ink, the color is not as good as the printer I had before that. I would go back to that one, but it does not copy or scan.

3 years ago I made a quilt with pics, used the fabric sheets- Printed Treasures ? (whatever is referred to here) and it is still as nice as then. I have a HP7550 for photo printing. The quilt hasn't been washed as it's a memory quilt.

I bought a new printer HP6200 series. Haven't really played with the fabric printing feature, but have a project coming up that I will use it.

I just purchased a Dell V305..$50 something..Ink is about average. I use the prepared sheets and make all my labels with it. Rinse, then iron & is supposed to be permanent.

I have done pictures in the past using an HP inkjet & it didn't fade...Hope you get one you like...