AboutConnie Hester Expertise Quilting and applique expert.Can advise on the following topics:quilting, art quilts, quilt design and construction, machine and hand quilting, paper foundation piecing, machine piecing, hand piecing, raw edge applique, turned-edge applique and fiber art.
Experience Winning awards in international fiber and art competitions since 1983; http://www.conniehester.com/
BS,MS
See my work and books at http://www.conniehester.com/
Expert: Connie Hester Date: 6/4/2005 Subject: photgraph on fabric
Question We want to print photographs directly onto a fabric that is more like a microfiber or satin than a cotton. Do you know how we can do this?
Answer Hi, Terri,
You will need to do a test print. If you have an Epson with Durabrite ink (pigment-based ink), the print will be water resistant as well as lightfast. Other printers have dye-based inks and are varying degrees of not being water resistant and definitely not lightfast.
Wash the fabric first with 1/2 cup of washing soda (Arm and Hammer) and a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid (Dawn or Joy) per washing load of a couple yards of fabric in order to remove any surface grime or surface treatments which can interfere with the ink adhering to the fabric.
If the fabric cannot be washed, a light spray of clear acrylic paint can be misted over the print in order to seal it, if desired.
Iron the fabric to freezer paper to make it easier to feed through the printer. Trim to 8 1/4" x 11". Then, tape the 8 1/4" x 11" sheet to a sheet of plain printer paper or to cardstock by aligning the 8 1/4" sheet about 1/2" down from the top edge of the printer paper and holding it in place with a strip of cellophane tape all along the top edge. Begin printing about 1" down from top edge.
Let me know if I can help further.
