Customizing your own clothing is a fun craft and a great way to express your style. From embroidery to sewing to painting, there are plenty of ways to add a personal touch to your wardrobe. But if you're looking for something more simple, iron-on transfers are quick and easy, usually taking less than 10 minutes to complete. All you need is a printer, your item of clothing, an iron, and iron-on transfer paper.
If you're not already familiar with iron-on transfer paper, we recommend checking out our buying guide since there are some important factors to consider, like the fiber content and color of your fabric. But if you just want to dive in, we highly recommend Avery's Printable Heat Transfer Paper for Dark Fabrics. It's compatible with most inkjet printers and will create vibrant, colorful transfers on your dark and colored shirts. Keep reading to see more of our favorites!
Quick List - Top Iron On Transfer Paper
Avery
Personalize Your T-Shirts With Text, Photos, and More
Printers Jack
Paper That Creates Vivid Images on Dark Fabric
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To get the best results, it's important to understand your printer, ink type, and fabric. This guide will walk you through how these factors impact what type of paper you should choose.
There are two main types of printers: inkjet and laser. Inkjet printers work by spraying tiny droplets of dye onto the paper, while laser printers use heat to melt toner onto the paper.
Because of this, transfer paper is designed to work with one type of printer and is generally not cross-compatible. If you’re not sure what kind of printer you have, try looking up the model number online.
If you’re looking for transfer paper to use with an inkjet printer, you have plenty of options. Inkjet transfer paper is generally compatible across brands and printer models. Inkjet printers are great at printing a range of colors and can successfully reproduce things like photographs, which have many different colors in a small area.
If you’re using an inkjet printer, it’s a good idea to check whether you have dye ink or pigment ink. Dye ink is water-based, so your transferred image may bleed in the wash. On the other hand, pigment inks aren’t water-based and will produce longer-lasting results.
If you want to switch from dye ink to pigment ink, be sure to check the manufacturer’s recommendations to make sure it will work with your printer.
When it comes to laser printer transfer paper, there tend to be fewer options. However, it offers some advantages that you don’t get with inkjet transfer paper. Images printed on a laser printer won’t bleed when transferred.
It’s also self-weeding, which means that unprinted areas won’t be transferred. For example, if you print the letter ‘B’ using inkjet paper, the holes in the letter will be transparent, but you will still be able to feel the transfer film on the fabric. With laser transfers, only the dark part of the ‘B’ will be transferred!
In a similar vein, images printed on laser paper can be rasterized to improve the final product's feel and breathability. Rasterized images look solid from far away, but they’re made up of a bunch of tiny dots up close.
Sublimation printing is another method of heat transfer, although these types of printers are much less common. Rather than transferring a layer of ink from paper to fabric, sublimation uses heat to turn the ink into gas.
The gas embeds itself into the fabric and turns back to a solid, creating an image that’s fully integrated into the material. Sublimation printing only works on polyester or polyester-coated fabrics.
Sublimation printing requires a printer, ink, and paper that’s made specifically for this purpose, although some inkjet printers are compatible with sublimation ink. If you're interested in this process, check with your printer's manufacturer to see if you can use sublimation ink in your printer.
If you’re using a laser printer or sublimation, you don’t need to worry as much about the color of your fabric. However, with inkjet printers, it’s important to make the right decision between light and dark transfer paper.
Inkjet printers print translucent ink, which gets its solid color from the white paper behind it. Think about what would happen if you printed on a black piece of paper; you wouldn’t be able to see anything!
Light transfer paper is designed for white or light-colored fabric. The transfer film is transparent, so the color of the fabric will provide a background for the image. If you print on a white shirt, the colors will be true to the original image.
As the color of the shirt changes, the colors in the image will change as well. For example, if you print on a pastel yellow shirt, any white parts of the image will look yellow and lighter colors will have a yellow cast.
Dark transfer paper is designed to produce vivid images on dark and colorful fabric. Rather than being transparent, dark transfer paper has a white background. When you transfer the image, the white background is transferred, which prevents the dark color of the material from affecting the image.
However, this means that any empty space in the image will show up as white on your fabric. Because of this, dark transfer paper is better suited to block images or ones you can easily cut around.
Because the transfer process involves heat, you need to use a heat-resistant material. Most iron-on transfer paper is designed for cotton or polyester fabric. They sometimes indicate the minimum percentage of cotton that fabric should contain for best results.
Before you choose a paper, check the material of your chosen garment. Then check the product descriptions to ensure that the paper will work for your needs. Sometimes, transfer paper will work on other surfaces, like ceramics or plastic.
Unlike standard printer paper, which comes in reams, iron-on transfer paper tends to come in much smaller quantities. Some packs just have five sheets, while others have 100. Make sure to check the product listing so that you know exactly how much paper you’re getting.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Avery Printable Heat Transfer Paper for Dark Fabrics | ![]() | Personalize Your T-Shirts With Text, Photos, and More | |
2 | PPD Inkjet Premium Iron-On Transfer Paper|PPD001-20 | ![]() | Create Customized Designs on Light Fabric | |
3 | Printers Jack Iron-On Heat Transfer Paper for Dark Fabric | ![]() | Paper That Creates Vivid Images on Dark Fabric | |
4 | Raimarket Premium Iron On Transfer Paper | ![]() | Use This Paper on Cotton or Cotton Blends | |
5 | Printers Jack Sublimation Heat Transfer Paper | ![]() | Transfer Paper for Fabric and Ceramics | |
6 | Neenah 3G Jet-Opaque Heat Transfer Paper | ![]() | 100 Sheets for High-Volume Transferring | |
7 | Techni Print EZP Laser Heat Transfer Paper | ![]() | Paper That's Compatible With Laser Printers | |
8 | EK Success Brands Jolee's Boutique Easy Image Iron-On Transfer Paper | ![]() | Pick Designs From a Gallery or Make Your Own | |
9 | PPD Inkjet Iron-On Mixed Light and Dark Transfer Paper | ![]() | Works With a Variety of Heat-Friendly Fabrics | |
10 | Avery Printable Heat Transfer Paper for Light Fabrics | ![]() | Transfer Paper That's Cricut-Friendly |
This heat transfer paper from Avery is made for use with black or dark fabrics. You can transfer text, images, and photos using your inkjet printer and a standard iron or professional heat press. It's also designed to be compatible with cutting machines. The manufacturer recommends using it on 100 percent cotton or poly-cotton blends.
Some reviewers found the resulting colors dull or said the dark fabric showed through the design. On the other hand, many reviewers were pleased with the quality of this paper. They said it works well with a range of printers and that it transfers images easily and quickly.
Print custom designs on t-shirts, pillowcases, aprons, canvas bags, and more with PPD's Premium Iron-On Transfer Paper. This paper is compatible with inkjet printers using dye or pigment ink. It's designed to be easy to cut with regular scissors, so you don't need any special tools. It works best on cotton or cotton-poly blends.
Some reviewers had difficulty with this paper, saying that it's too thin. Still, many other reviewers said that it's easy to use with inkjet printers. They said that with the right iron settings and a little bit of patience, it produces great results.
If you want to print on dark or colored fabrics, try this paper from Printers Jack. It's made to produce vibrant images that can stretch with the fabric and withstand heat. Use it on nylon fabric or fabric with over 60 percent cotton for the best results. This paper is made for inkjet printers that use pigment ink.
Some reviewers said that this paper doesn't work well with cutting machines like the Cricut. However, many reviewers were happy with the thickness of the paper. They also said that it's easy to use and peel and produces vibrant results.
Raimarket's Premium Iron On Transfer Paper can turn a plain white t-shirt into a personalized garment in less than 10 minutes. The paper works on 100 percent cotton or poly-cotton fabric, including clothes, bags, and hats. It's designed to create images that hold up in the wash, too.
Some reviewers experienced patchy or discolored images. However, most other reviewers were pleased with this transfer paper's performance, although they acknowledged that it might take a few tries to get it right. They also appreciated the helpful instructional video.
If you have an inkjet printer that uses sublimation ink, then this sublimation paper from Printers Jack is for you. This pack contains 100 sheets that can be used on a variety of surfaces, including light-colored polyester fabrics and coated hard materials, like ceramic mugs and phone cases.
Some reviewers said this paper was thin and gets jammed in their printer. Others warned that it's hard to tell which side of the paper to print on. However, most reviewers said that they were able to get vibrant and colorful transfers with this paper. And they noted that the ink doesn't bleed through, which can be an issue with other papers.
If you need to put designs on a large number of shirts, this pack of transfer paper from Neenah is a great deal. It contains 100 sheets of commercial-grade transfer paper that's compatible with inkjet printers. It can be used on light and dark materials as well as on hard surfaces.
Some reviewers said the resulting transfer was too thick and had a noticeable papery texture. However, most reviewers were pleased with the quality of this paper, saying that their images came out vivid and well-defined. People who needed to make large quantities of shirts said this pack was well worth it.
Transfer paper for laser printers is a bit harder to find, but this one from Techni Print EZP can get the job done. It's made for both fuser oil and oil-less laser printers and works for a variety of uses. You can print photos and images on a variety of surfaces, including light-colored fabric, mousepads, and leather.
Some reviewers said their designs didn't hold up in the wash, and others found the backing hard to peel off. However, most reviewers said this paper just takes some practice to get good results! They recommended letting it cool before peeling the paper off and doing a final iron with a sheet of parchment paper for a smooth finish.
This iron-on transfer paper makes it easy to create customized apparel. You get five sheets of transfer paper made specifically for dark and colored fabric. If you already have a design, then just print, cut, and iron! Or head to the manufacturer's website, where you can choose from a gallery of designs or create your own.
Some reviewers had difficulty getting their transfers to stick. On the other hand, many reviewers were pleased with this paper and just wished they could buy it in larger quantities! They said that as long as you have a high-quality printer, the image turns out very well.
If you're printing on a variety of colored fabrics, this 40-pack of transfer paper has you covered. It includes 20 sheets of light and dark paper that can be used on everything from t-shirts to banners. While it's primarily recommended for cotton and poly-cotton, it can also work on heat-friendly fabrics like viscose, silk, and linen.
Reviewers warned that this paper doesn't play well with cutting machines. Some experienced varying quality between the two types of paper, too. Despite this, many reviewers said this paper is easy to use. They also liked its smooth texture.
Use Avery's Printable Heat Transfer Paper to add a personal touch to light-colored shirts, aprons, and other cotton fabrics. It's compatible with electronic cutting machines and feeds easily through most inkjet printers. Print your own designs or go to the manufacturer's website for pre-made templates.
The main complaint reviewers had was that their transferred images peeled, flaked, or cracked after washing. Reviewers who liked the product said it's important to carefully follow the instructions for application and care. Overall, those who followed the instructions said these sheets are easy to use and transfer color well.
Iron-on transfers are just one way to create customized clothing and accessories. To expand your arsenal, check out some more of our favorite crafty sets and kits below.
No. 1: Avery|Printable Heat Transfer Paper for Dark Fabrics
No. 2: PPD|Inkjet Premium Iron-On Transfer Paper|PPD001-20
No. 3: Printers Jack|Iron-On Heat Transfer Paper for Dark Fabric
No. 4: Raimarket|Premium Iron On Transfer Paper
No. 5: Printers Jack|Sublimation Heat Transfer Paper
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