Specially Made Printer Fabrics Available for Inkjet Printers
Living in the technologically advancing world, more and more products are becoming available to meet the growing computerized environment in which we live. Did you know there are specially made printer fabrics available for inkjet printers? This fabric is thick enough to pass through the printer without causing a messy paper/fabric jam. Retailers sell this fabric as a roll or as a sheet. The fabric is pre-treated, therefore, no worries over blotting extra ink or fear of the print fading. If you purchase this fabric, remember to ask the person serving you any questions you have on how to use this fabric, it’s durability and any problems associated with using it in your printer.
This specially made printer fabric will not work in laser printers. It would result in a huge mess. Toner needs to be treated differently to prevent the ink from fading. Another reason is that a laser printer’s internal temperature is hot enough to cause melting. Printable fabrics have a backing that would melt inside a laser printer, therefore, do not use these fabrics in a laser printer.
Fabric Printing with a Laser Printer
If you grew up in the country or remember your mom or grandmother going to the butcher, you will remember that they use to wrap meat in paper. Freezer paper is like butcher paper and is needed if you want to use your laser printer to print on fabric. This paper has a dull side, which you will be able to iron, and a shiny side, which when ironed will stick to the fabric creating a thicker fabric-paper to go through your laser printer. Though, it may also be used in inkjet printers. The fabric and paper will be cut to the size of printer paper 8.5×11. This process is explained in many YouTube videos, making it that much easier to a new fabric printer user. The videos will recommend fabric, pre-treating solutions, color-fast solutions and how to cut your fabric and freezer paper to size, as well as how to iron the two together.
Ready to Print
Once you have followed the steps to create your fabric paper, be forewarned, again, that the paper must be trimmed so that there are no frayed edges that will get caught in your printer on its way through. Be careful not to use pre-treated fabric in laser printers because of the heat issue.
Steps to print:
- Place the sheet of fabric paper into the paper feed, depending on your printer, you will have to determine if you place the fabric side up or down to ensure the ink goes on the fabric side.
- Using the best or highest quality setting on your printer menu. This setting allows for a slow print, using more ink and ensuring you get the best possible print.
- Press print.
- Once the fabric paper print has come out, allow the ink to dry. Some recommend using a product to make the ink last longer, but many do not and say that the ink lasts well. Different people have different experiences and ideas. Take everything with a grain of salt, keep what you need and ignore the rest.
Remember to check your inkjet and laserjet toner cartridges to see if your supply will meet your fabric printing needs. We have some of the best compatible toners. Purchase it now!