If you’ve always dreamed of starting a customization business, but don’t have the budget to purchase a sublimation or DTF printer, don’t worry! Today I want to show you an accessible and economical alternative to start customizing t-shirts, bags and other items. With a inkjet printer and the transfer paper, you will be able to create incredible designs without having to invest in expensive machinery.
In this blog I will guide you step by step on how to use these materials to create personalized products that you can sell or use for yourself. And the best of all is that this technique is perfect both for getting started in the business and for those looking to make unique gifts or personalized clothing for personal use.
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Necessary Materials
- T-shirts and Other Items: Almost all types of fabric and color (light and dark fabrics). You can find t-shirts at Jiffy and tote bags in this link.
- Color Inkjet Printer: An inkjet printer is sufficient for this project. You can use the Canon Pixma MegaTank.
- Transfer Paper: There are two types of transfer paper: one for light-colored fabrics and another for dark fabrics.
- Transfer Paper for Light Screens: Use the Transfer Paper for Light Colors Letter size Asub.
- Transfer Paper for Dark Fabrics: He Asub Letter Size Transfer Paper for Dark Colors It is ideal for dark fabrics.
- You can also use Transfer Paper for Dark Colors A4 Size Sculpfun and Transfer Paper for Light Colors A4 Size Sculpfun.
- Scissors or Cutting Machine (Cricut): To cut the designs. You can use the Cricut Maker.
- Heat Press or Home Iron: To transfer the design to garments. The one I used is this one but is not yet in the market (launching March 2025). Here are other alternatives. Vevor manual heat press and HTVRONT AutoPress
- Parchment paper.
Video review in both ENGLISH and SPANISH on my YouTube channel.
Step 1: Preparation of Designs
To personalize your garments, you must first prepare the designs you want to print. In this tutorial, I will show you how to do it from two different programs: Canva and Cricut Design Space.
1. Print from Canva:
- Designs for Light Fabrics: If you are printing on light fabrics, you will need to use the transfer paper for light colors. The design must be printed on mirror mode so that the design is correctly aligned when you transfer it to the fabric.
- Designs for Dark Fabrics: If you are going to personalize dark colored garments, you should use the transfer paper for dark colors. Unlike designs for light fabrics, designs for dark fabrics do not require printing in mirror mode.
2. Use Cricut Design Space:
- If you prefer a more precise cut, you can use the program Cricut Design Space to print and cut your designs with a Cricut machine. There is no need to print in mirror mode here if you are using the transfer paper for dark colors, but yes if you are working with light fabrics.
Step 2: Print and Cut the Designs
- From Canva:
- First, select the design in Canva, adjust the size, and add any borders or customizations if you wish.
- If you are going to print on clear screens, make sure to use the mirror mode before printing.
- Print the design on the suitable transfer paper for the type of fabric you are using (light or dark).
- If you are using scissors, cut out the design carefully, but if you prefer greater precision, use a machine Cricut to cut the design
- From Cricut Design Space:
- Upload your design and adjust it to the size you want.
- For light fabrics, be sure to select mirror mode in the configuration.
- Send the design to the printer, print it on the suitable transfer paper, and then use your Cricut machine to precisely cut out the design.
Step 3: Transfer the Design to the Garment
To transfer the design to your t-shirt or other fabric item, you will need a heat press or home iron. Below I explain how to do it:
Use the heat press or iron at 330°F (165°C) for 20 seconds.
- For Light Fabric (Transfer Paper for Light Colors):
- Place the printed design on the garment with the design side facing down.
- Place a sheet of parchment paper about the design.
- For Dark Fabric (Transfer Paper for Dark Colors):
- In this case, you must first remove the paper covering the back of the design.
- Place the design on the garment with the design side facing up.
- Cover with a sheet of parchment paper and press at 330°F (165°C) for 20 seconds.
Comparison Table between Transfer Paper for Light and Dark Colors
| Feature | Transfer Paper for Light Colors | Transfer Paper for Dark Colors |
| Fabric Type | Only works on light fabrics | Works on light and dark fabrics |
| Mirror Mode | Necessary (if used on light fabrics) | Not necessary |
| Application | Place the design face down | Place the design face up |
| Press | 330°F (165°C) for 20 seconds | 330°F (165°C) for 20 seconds |
| Result | The design is clear and bright | The design is equally clear and bright |
I did some tests with both materials on both fabric colors to show you the result and came to the conclusion that the transfer paper for light colors only works on light fabrics and the transfer paper for dark colors works on both light and dark fabrics.
Personalizing t-shirts and other items with transfer paper is an excellent economical and simple alternative to create unique designs, either for your personal use or to start a customization business. The key is choosing the right type of transfer paper and follow proper printing and cutting instructions. Remember that the transfer paper for dark colors is much more versatile, as it works on both light and dark fabrics, while the transfer paper for light colors It is only effective on light colored fabrics.
If you haven’t tried this technique yet, I hope you’re encouraged to do so! You can start with t-shirts, tote bags or any garment you want to customize.
Explore other Personalization Techniques
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“Creativity is the soul’s voice, and in every project, we find a little piece of ourselves.”
Daisy
“La creatividad es la voz del alma, y en cada proyecto encontramos un pedazo de nosotros mismos.”
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