Where can you get cheap transfer paper to make T-shirts?

Question

I want to make my own T-shirts and my own designs. Where can I get cheap transfer paper and a cheap press? ANSWER PLEASE!!!!

Answer 1

Go to KINKOS they should be able to accommodate you. It cost around $10 with images.  Call first to make sure.

Answer 2

you can get "transfers" from any store that sells paper.  including wal mart, staples, target, office max, etc.  The transfer paper will be with printing supplies near things like magnet sheets for a printer, or printer labels/stickers.  

However, if you are going to sell them I would take your work to a screen printer.  Screen printing is a semi permanent process and is what companies use to create any t-shirt you see that has an image on it.  (thus why they are called screen-tees).  If you want to mess around with this process at home you can, but your product won't be as crisp.

An easy way to do it is to stretch one layer of old pantyhose over an empty photo frame on the side that will lay flat against your shirts.  Place your image on your workspace (protected table) then place a piece of plastic wrap on top, next place your pantyhose frame flat side down on top of the image/plastic wrap.  apply glue (just elmers or whatever) with a paint brush to any area where you want NO paint to seep through.  Leave the area you want to paint glue free.  be very careful getting into corners and tight spots.  This method is only good for easy shapes.  Make more than one gluey screen for each layer of color.  (if you have a cow you would make one screen for black and another one for white).    Remove the plastic wrap and image.  Once the paint dries you can carefully "pull" or scrape paint that was meant for clothes (you can find it at any craft supply store or wal-mart)  across the screen laying over the shirt with a ruler pressed flat against the screen with the shirt underneath.  You can do this by piling paint on a section of the screen that is covered in glue (so there is no paint on your shirt yet) then use the ruler to scrape the paint all the way across the open area on to your shirt and then back into an area covered with glue again (so the paint doesnt sit on your shirt).

Here is a link for a slightly more expensive method that will work much better and is more like the way screen printing is really performed.  

http://www.instructables.com/id/Screen-P...

Answer 3

I started a company about 4 years ago that specializes in providing economical solutions to heat transfer printing. My company manufactures and sells an E-Z Press heat transfer machine for less than $150. My company has sold over 1000 units through my website and eBay. That will definitely get you started. As far as heat transfer paper is concerned, you do not want to purchase your paper from department stores like Staples or Walmart. The transfer paper they sell is the absolute worse quality paper you can buy, and it's not even cheap. My company sells an American made, commercial quality heat transfer paper that will not crack or fade when washed. This heat transfer paper holds up very well in wash testing.

There are other ways to create your own shirts but heat transfer printing is by far the cheapest way to get started. When done right with the right materials, heat transfer printing can be a very rewarding hobby or business.  

Answer 4

I am in business of printing shirts and I would not touch transfer papers. You wash it once and it cracks and does not look good anymore.

I would suggest to make your pictures good, make sure you have a high resolution scan of them or if you create them with a graphic software have a file and find some local business that have GARMENT PRINTER. Those print full color in few minutes.

They can print with fabric dye right on a 100% cotton T-shirts and it will dot wash out. I know it is not a greatest solution but I worked for a company before that used transfer papers and it was horrible.

You have to have a high quality printer to even produce good transfers.

Check out transfer express company-I  am not sure if they have papers. Maybe they can produce transfers from your designs for you.