How to Print a Picture on a T-Shirt with Iron-On Transfers

By ShirtSpace | Aug 23, 2019 | Updated Jun 20, 2023

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Are you an artist looking to bring your designs to life by printing them on blank apparel? Clothing is a great option because people are often mobile – transporting your messages or artwork with them wherever they go. This is a great way for your designs to be seen. Every time someone wears the shirt you designed as their fashion choice, your design gets more exposure! Exposure to friends, family and even people they walk by on the street!

Or perhaps you want to start a small online boutique, a brick-and-mortar shop, your own apparel line or want to create branded merchandise for your business. Maybe you are a craft fanatic and love all things DIY. Whatever the motivation behind the draw, learning how to print a picture on a t-shirt is a great skill to have in your back pocket.

You may have a beautiful piece of artwork or a photo you want to display on a t-shirt, but you are stuck at the question of “how do you get the picture on a shirt?” Thanks to inkjet or laser transfer paper, you can print almost any image to your t-shirt, sweatshirt or any blank apparel. All you need is the image, a printer, some transfer paper, an iron and a quality t-shirt!

Factors That Will Impact Your Success When Learning How to Put a Picture on a Shirt

Shirt Color Matters When Ironing a Picture on a Shirt

The first step in ironing a picture onto a shirt using transfer paper is to consider the color of the shirt. If you are not mindful of these rules, you may end up with too light or dark of an image to distinguish – think contrast! Also always make sure and check your inkjet transfer paper specifications to determine what materials it can be ironed onto. This is very important for best results, especially when first learning how to print a picture on a t-shirt.

How to Print a Picture on a Light-Colored Shirt

Light-colored images will get lost on a light-colored shirt, which is better suited for dark or vibrant colors.

How to Print a Picture on a Dark-Colored Shirt

Dark shirts are better for light-colored images. The light colors will pop against the dark background.

Transfer Paper Choices to Iron a Picture on a T-Shirt

Image source: shopcraftables.com

When to Use Light-Colored Transfer Paper

Shirt color also affects the type of transfer paper you use. For light-colored shirts, choose thin transparent transfers, which make the background appear clear. This does mean any white in your artwork will also be clear, which can be a problem if people in your picture are, say, wearing white t-shirts.

When to Use Dark-Colored Transfer Paper

Dark-colored transfers are thicker, and are intended to be used with black tees or other dark-colored shirts. Dark-colored transfers have a white backing, so white areas of the photo will appear in the finished transfer. This also means that any clear background areas will appear white. While not a problem with most photos, if you’re transferring artwork you may need to carefully cut out clear areas before applying the transfer.

Design & Photo Editing

When preparing your artwork, be mindful that you’ll need to use design editing software to “flip” the image before you put a picture on a shirt – especially if your image includes text or is a photograph. If you don’t do this, the finished product will be a mirror image of the original.

Once printed, trim any excess transfer paper from around the image. Anything left will be transferred onto the shirt when you iron the design on.

How to Iron a Picture on a Shirt

Image source: Heat Press Guide

Prewash the shirt to prevent shrinkage that can cause pulling on the edges of your image when the shirt is washed. Be mindful that even if you purchase preshrunk t-shirts – they may still shrink slightly, so prewashing is still advised. Once dry, place the shirt on a table or other hard flat surface, and iron it to remove any creases or wrinkles. If you do not ensure that the fabric is completely smooth when you go to put a picture on a shirt, then the transfer may come out lumpy, not adhere to the fabric properly, or will not last through multiple washes.

Peel the backing paper off the transfer paper and carefully position the transfer on the shirt. Take your time with this part, so that you have the picture positioned just right.

Using the transfer backing you just peeled off, cover over the top of your transfer paper. This acts as a sort of parchment paper, however you can also use a soft kitchen towel too. Now, heat the iron to the temperature recommended by the transfer manufacturer. Starting in the center of the transfer, gently move the iron in a circular motion to the edges of the image and back again, repeating for as long as the transfer instructions indicate. The process can take three or four minutes.

Depending on the instructions listed for the particular transfers you are using, let the transfer cool completely and then peel the paper back off or peel it while still hot . When you begin to remove the transfer backing, carefully peel up the parchment paper or towel, starting at one edge. Once cooled and the parchment paper is removed, the process is complete!

If you are a visual learner, here are three fantastic YouTube videos that show you how to iron a picture on a tee:

1. How To Apply Iron-On Transfers to T-Shirts

2. [How To Use] Iron-on Heat Transfer Paper

3. DIY Custom Print T-Shirts | Iron-on Transfer Paper

How to Get a Picture on a Shirt: Recap Steps

1. Choose Your T-shirt

Light-colored images are best suited for dark, vibrant colored shirts. Dark images are better for light-colored shirts.

2. Choose Your Transfer Paper

Both inkjet and laser transfer paper are popular. Make sure and check your inkjet transfer paper specifications to determine what materials it can be ironed onto!

3. Prepare Your Artwork

Use photo editing software to “flip” the image if your image includes text or is a photograph. If you don’t do this, the finished product will be a mirror image of the original.

4. Print Your Artwork on Transfer Paper

Once you’ve printed your image, trim any excess transfer paper around the image. Anything left will be transferred onto the shirt.

5. Prewash the Shirt to Prevent Shrinkage

Pre-washing will prevent pulling on the edges of your image when the shirt is washed.

6. Place the Shirt on a Table or Other Hard Flat Surface

Use an iron to remove any creases or wrinkles in the fabric of your shirt. You want your design to be flush with the fabric for a smooth result when you put a picture on a shirt.

7. Peel the Backing Paper off the Transfer Paper

Carefully position the transfer paper on the shirt. Take your time with this so that you have the picture positioned just right!

8. Cover the Transfer Paper Using the Paper Backing You Peeled from the Transfer

This acts as a sort of parchment paper, however you can also use a soft kitchen towel.

9. Heat the Iron to the Temperature Recommended by the Transfer Paper Manufacturer

If you make the temperature too hot you may melt your transfer, or the design may not be opaque enough. If the heat is too low, the transfer may not adhere to the shirt properly.

10. Gently Move the Iron in a Circular Motion Starting in the Center of the Transfer

Move the iron to the edges of the image and back again, repeating for as long as the transfer instructions indicate. The process can take three or four minutes.

11. Let the Transfer Paper Cool Completely

Then, carefully peel up the parchment paper or towel, starting at one edge and moving quickly. Once cooled and the parchment paper is removed, the process is complete!

FAQs About Using Iron-On Transfers to Print a Picture on a T-Shirt

Q: Can I use a household iron instead of a hand-held machine like a Cricut EasyPress, a clamshell press or swinger/swing away heat press machine?

A: While sometimes successful, using a traditional clothes iron may hinder the results you would hope for. Often, the heat is not regulated properly or consistently. If you use a normal clothes iron, the transfers are likely to come off quicker than if you used a crafting or professional heat press. Investing in a small heat press intended for heat transfers is the best way to ensure a great outcome. We suggest the Cricut EasyPress Mini if you are only intending on doing small vinyl projects. It’s perfect for small apparel items like face masks, onesies, hats and also works well for chest designs on t-shirts. For larger garment decorating operations that venture outside of simply being a hobby, investing in a clamshell or swing press is advised.

Q: What are some of the best t-shirts for iron-on transfer projects?

A: While it’s always important to check your manufacturer’s instructions on compatible products, there are a handful of t-shirts that are ideal for most iron-on transfers:

• Preshrunk t-shirts in cotton or cotton/poly blends – you don’t want to drastic shrinking to warp your design or make the shirt unwearable

• Gildan’s G64EZ0 Adult Softstyle EZ Print T-Shirt – it’s literally made for printing projects!

• Enzyme washed tees – dye is broken down into smaller molecules that wash away easier – leaving a super smooth printing surface that materials bind well to.

• Combed and ringspun cotton – so incredibly smooth to the hand and even more comfortable to wear!

Q: Will iron-on designs last through regular washing?

A: Your best bet for washing a shirt with vinyl transfers is by first making sure that your vinyl adheres very well to the fabric of the garment. Make sure you are using enough heat and pressure for a good bond, but not too much heat or pressure. Always check the manufacturer’s specifications before you start your project.

For washing instructions, we suggest either handwashing in cool water with a mild, diluted soap, or if you still want to machine wash, just make sure you follow a few rules:

• Wash at cooler temperatures on the gentle cycle either alone, with other shirts or with delicates

• You don’t want the edges of the vinyl to peel from rubbing against abrasive surfaces. Turning the vinyl side somewhat inside out will also help to protect the design

• Use a mild detergent

• Air dry if possible. If not possible, tumble dry on the lowest setting

What’s Next After You Successfully Learn How to Print a Picture on a T-Shirt?

You did it! You learned how to print a picture on a t-shirt! If your first try didn’t come out perfectly, don’t fret! Practice makes perfect and it’s always worth testing fabrics, other materials and methods to find out what works best for you.

If you master the skill of ironing a picture on a shirt you may want to move to the next step and invest in a printing press. They can be spendy but more efficient and can produce better prints. When you learn how to decorate t-shirts with a heat press, you will be able to create your designs quicker – allowing you to make more shirts. The heat is also more evenly distributed with a heat press versus an iron, so you may yield more professional looking results. You may also try your hand at heat pressing vinyl on clothing as well for another garment decoration method using a handheld iron or a heat transfer press. Learning how to print a picture on a t-shirt can be a process of trial and error, but a worthwhile one!

Beyond the choice of method, you could also try printing on other forms of clothing besides t-shirts such as sweatpants, sweatshirts, hats, and even cloth face masks. Luckily the first step is usually learning how to print on a shirt, once you’ve got that down – the possibilities are endless! Tell us any heat transfer tricks you may have up your sleeve in the comments below.