Custom Print Panel help
02-18-2022, 10:43 AM
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 7
Custom Print Panel help
Does anyone have experience with having artwork custom printed on panels for quilting? I recently had a bunch of my watercolors printed on cotton at a custom fabric printer - the printer did a good job but - all of the images are faded and not crisp. I read up more on the issue and it sounds like a synthetic or synthetic blend will print better (something about sublimation). I've never quilted on poly or poly blends - if I do, is there a caveat? I'm intending to do a panel quilt with kaleidoscope blocks surrounding the panel. I'm used to ironing the seams and blocks as I go along, can I even do that with poly? I'll try to include an image of one of the paintings that I'm not having good success getting printed.....
Who have you used? What worked for you? Have you quilted on polyester? If so, what is it like?
Who have you used? What worked for you? Have you quilted on polyester? If so, what is it like?
02-18-2022, 10:54 AM
#2
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Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Greater Peoria, IL -- just moved!
Posts: 6,141
Can't speak too directly, but is Rayon one of the suggested fabrics? I know that there are dyes and processes that work better on Rayon than Cotton. I'm pretty darn comfortable with Rayon in quilting. I figure (among other tests) if I can do a burn test and not be certain if something is rayon or cotton, it passes that way.
I have an older quilt that was made from scraps, including a patch from a favorite dress that met up with a bad ink pen. I know the dress was 100% rayon, and some 30 years later and most of the quilt is in tatters (is in the dog bed) the rayon is actually holding up with the cottons, without either being noticeably impervious to atom bombs or fraying.
Rayon is a cellulose fiber, as opposed to full polyesters which are basically petroleum/synthetically based.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rayon
I have an older quilt that was made from scraps, including a patch from a favorite dress that met up with a bad ink pen. I know the dress was 100% rayon, and some 30 years later and most of the quilt is in tatters (is in the dog bed) the rayon is actually holding up with the cottons, without either being noticeably impervious to atom bombs or fraying.
Rayon is a cellulose fiber, as opposed to full polyesters which are basically petroleum/synthetically based.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rayon
02-18-2022, 04:18 PM
#3
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Florida
Posts: 3,832
Your painting is beautiful. Printing on fabric isn't the same as printing on paper. And there's a learning curve. If you printer doesn't have experience with this, I'd go elsewhere. Spoonflower is a professional company with extensive experience.
Ink seeps into the cellulose fibers. Think of diluting dye in water. Ink attaches to the outside of petroleum fibers, so the same amount of ink is more intense.
Since the Ink seeps into the cellulose fibers, its something like bleeding. Hence it's fussy. This is why there's learning curve to use the right ink and treated fabric. There's several good books on the process.
Ink seeps into the cellulose fibers. Think of diluting dye in water. Ink attaches to the outside of petroleum fibers, so the same amount of ink is more intense.
Since the Ink seeps into the cellulose fibers, its something like bleeding. Hence it's fussy. This is why there's learning curve to use the right ink and treated fabric. There's several good books on the process.
02-18-2022, 04:35 PM
#4
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 7
Your painting is beautiful. Printing on fabric isn't the same as printing on paper. And there's a learning curve. If you printer doesn't have experience with this, I'd go elsewhere. Spoonflower is a professional company with extensive experience.
Ink seeps into the cellulose fibers. Think of diluting dye in water. Ink attaches to the outside of petroleum fibers, so the same amount of ink is more intense.
Since the Ink seeps into the cellulose fibers, its something like bleeding. Hence it's fussy. This is why there's learning curve to use the right ink and treated fabric. There's several good books on the process.
Ink seeps into the cellulose fibers. Think of diluting dye in water. Ink attaches to the outside of petroleum fibers, so the same amount of ink is more intense.
Since the Ink seeps into the cellulose fibers, its something like bleeding. Hence it's fussy. This is why there's learning curve to use the right ink and treated fabric. There's several good books on the process.
03-14-2022, 05:58 AM
#5
Member
Join Date: Feb 2022
Posts: 19
I, too, have had many images printed on fabric at Spoonflower. I have always been happy with their process. In all cases, I have used either the petal cotton or poplin. You may get a sample of your work first, which I have also done. It is worth the fee, which I believe is $5.00. I had a huge project and ordered their samples. Wow! They are awesome and I go to them whenever I need anything printed.
Your painting is outstanding. I love it!
Your painting is outstanding. I love it!
03-14-2022, 08:05 AM
#6
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Southern California
Posts: 1,041
It is a beautiful painting, and I am concerned about printing on fabric, too. I will try Spoonflower as I've only heard good things about it from friends who have used it. Spoonflower has a book out, explaining their process.
03-15-2022, 09:54 PM
#9
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Join Date: May 2011
Location: Pacific NW
Posts: 9,490
03-16-2022, 02:35 AM
#10
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Corpus Christi, Texas
Posts: 1,940
Seems like I had to create a (free) account when I started. BTW, you can order up to about 30 swatches (6"x8") on one big sheet for about $35.
When I looked for the pic of my swatch order, I found these instructions that I had typed for myself. I hope they help. I believe I copy/pasted from website. Sorry 'bout the blurry pic, but you get the idea.
Make a Collection:
Design Library is on main menu -Click on top right, middle, black icon shaped like a person.
Create a “Collection”:
Go to ‘Design Library’ and look on left side to:
Views
All Designs
Collections
Click on ‘Collections’
You will see a grey ‘plus sign’, Click to create a collection and name it.
Go to ‘All Designs’ ----you will see your uploaded pics in individual thumbnails with a box underneath.
Click ‘Select Collections’ and a drop down menu will appear with your “Collection” that you created.
Now you are ready to Create a Sampler
And
Spoonflower Sampler
1. Navigate to your Collections by clicking on “Design Library” and selecting “collections” on the left side of the page under Views.
2. Select the collection you want a sampler of.
3. Click ‘See This Collection in Your Design Library’ highlighted in blue.
4. Click ‘Get the Sampler’ button on the upper right corner of the page.
5. Confirm the designs. To see how each design will print, click the design thumbnail and select test swatch in the size and amount drop-down on the design page.
6. Select the fabric you want your sampler printed on.
7. Click ‘Order a Fabric Sampler’.
Please note: For Collections that contain more than 30 designs, only the first 30 will print and be charged. The Collection being sampled must be composed of all original designs; Collections with a mixture of original and Marketplace designs are not available for swatch samplers.
When I looked for the pic of my swatch order, I found these instructions that I had typed for myself. I hope they help. I believe I copy/pasted from website. Sorry 'bout the blurry pic, but you get the idea.
Make a Collection:
Design Library is on main menu -Click on top right, middle, black icon shaped like a person.
Create a “Collection”:
Go to ‘Design Library’ and look on left side to:
Views
All Designs
Collections
Click on ‘Collections’
You will see a grey ‘plus sign’, Click to create a collection and name it.
Go to ‘All Designs’ ----you will see your uploaded pics in individual thumbnails with a box underneath.
Click ‘Select Collections’ and a drop down menu will appear with your “Collection” that you created.
Now you are ready to Create a Sampler
And
Spoonflower Sampler
1. Navigate to your Collections by clicking on “Design Library” and selecting “collections” on the left side of the page under Views.
2. Select the collection you want a sampler of.
3. Click ‘See This Collection in Your Design Library’ highlighted in blue.
4. Click ‘Get the Sampler’ button on the upper right corner of the page.
5. Confirm the designs. To see how each design will print, click the design thumbnail and select test swatch in the size and amount drop-down on the design page.
6. Select the fabric you want your sampler printed on.
7. Click ‘Order a Fabric Sampler’.
Please note: For Collections that contain more than 30 designs, only the first 30 will print and be charged. The Collection being sampled must be composed of all original designs; Collections with a mixture of original and Marketplace designs are not available for swatch samplers.
Last edited by aashley333; 03-16-2022 at 02:37 AM.
