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First, you will need a scanner or
digital camera to transfer your photos into your computer. After scanning or
uploading your photos, you can open up the image files in a photo editing
program to resize, make corrections to color, balance, and contrast, and add
special effects. I recommend increasing the color saturation of images to make
the colors much more vivid when printed onto fabric. I use and highly recommend
Paint Shop Pro for this purpose. If you'd like to try it out, you can download a
fully functional trial version from the Jasc.com website.
Choose a printer that is optimized
for printing photographs. Don't go out and buy a new printer until you've tried
your own! You may be surprised at the quality of printed images from your own
printer. If you are in the market for a new printer and you would like one that
works great for photo transfer to fabric, I recommend the Hewlett Packard
DeskJet 1220cse Printer.
After you have edited and resized
your photos, you are ready to print. I suggest printing at least one photo out
on regular inkjet paper (or photo paper) to make sure that the image is the
correct size and the colors are correct. If you are satisfied, you can load up
the printer with fabric sheets.
You have two choices as far as
fabric sheets go. You can purchase inkjet printer fabric sheets ready to print,
or you can make your own. The second option is a more cost effective method, but
it will require some time and energy to prepare the fabric sheets for the
printing process.
If you plan to make your own
printable fabric, you will need the following: Bubble Jet Set 2000, Bubble Jet
Set Rinse, white or ivory fabric (muslin or pimatex), plastic flat pan, freezer
paper cut into 8-1/2" x 11" sheets, iron, ironing board, rubber
gloves, rotary cutter, ruler, and cutting mat. Bubble Jet Set 2000 and Bubble
Jet Set Rinse are available from several online sources.
Should you make your own printable
fabric? If you are making one small project and not really planning to do
anymore, I'd recommend using the ready made inkjet printer fabric sheets. If you
are planning a large project, or if you think this is something that you'll be
doing a lot of, you should definitely try making your own printable fabric. The
ready-made sheets retail for about $12 for a package of three sheets. You can
make your own for about 75 cents per sheet.
If you are ready to explore the
possibilities of printing on fabric, then it is time to pay a visit the site of Caryl
Bryer Fallert . She is an award winning quilt artist who makes beautiful
fabric with her computer. On her website, you can see her stunning quilt,
"Stars of Africa". All of the fabric for this quilt was made using
photos that she took during a teaching tour of South Africa. She also offers a
very informative and detailed Q & A page about Bubble Jet Set 2000.
There is no doubt that quilting is a
creative activity. Transferring photos to fabric takes that creativity to a new
and exciting level. The possibilities of this technique are limited only by the
scope of our imaginations!
Copyright 2003 by Kim Noblin
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