Inkjet Fabric Sheets are for inkjet printers only. Do not use laser printers or color copying machines. The colorfastness of your fabric printout will depend on many factors including the number of washings, how you wash them, chemicals in your water, the total exposure to light, and the type of printer ink used. Be aware that the fabric may shrink slightly, so we recommend printing your photo approximately 1⁄4″ larger in width and height to allow for any shrinkage.

Prepare image for printing

  • Scan in a photo or other image.
  • Use a digital photograph.
  • Or create a design using software.

Prepare fabric for printing

  1. Flatten any curl that may be in the fabric by weighting the fabric sheet down overnight with books. You can also hand-curl the fabric in the opposite direction from how the fabric wants to curl.
  2. Trim any loose threads from the fabric. Do not pull them.

Prepare printer for printing

  1. Adjust printer setting to Plain Paper. (Use Thick Paper or Heavy-weight Matte if printer has this option.) The quality setting is up to you. Sometimes we find Best quality can put out too much ink. Normal quality may be a better setting, but each printer is different.
  2. Remove all paper from the printer tray (use Manual Feed if available), and insert fabric one sheet at a time.

Printing and post-treatment

  1. Print a print-test on paper. Then insert fabric and print onto the fabric side of the sheet.
  2. Let the printout dry for 15 minutes after printing. (For Vivera inks one of our testers suggested allowing the prints to dry for 2 or 3 days, but this is up to you. You may also let them dry for 15 minutes.)
  3. Peel off the plastic backing.
  4. Soak the fabric in room temperature water for 10 minutes. We recommend soaking in distilled water, since local tap water may have additives that affect the printer ink. If you notice ink bleeding, soak in a solution of one part fabric softener to three parts distilled water. The soaking is intended to remove excess printer ink, so keep the fabric moving by swishing it around in the water solution if you notice bleeding.
  5. Lay flat to dry. You may want to blot with a paper towel so that water does not pool on your printed fabric.
  6. There is no need for heat setting. Ironing with a hot iron may scorch the printed ink, so if you do have to iron, to smooth the fabric printout, be sure to use a cloth between the iron and the printout, and do not use too hot an iron. Steam is not recommended.