Help with printing photos on fabric for a quilt
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 25
Help with printing photos on fabric for a quilt
Hi everyone
I'm frantically making a quilt as a Christmas present.
I've made up some 9-patch blocks and my plan is to print some photos onto photofabric, cut out the photos to be the same size as the 9-patches and then sew the quilt top.
I've chosen the photos but is there an easy way to print them off so that the photos are 4in squares?
thank you!
I'm frantically making a quilt as a Christmas present.
I've made up some 9-patch blocks and my plan is to print some photos onto photofabric, cut out the photos to be the same size as the 9-patches and then sew the quilt top.
I've chosen the photos but is there an easy way to print them off so that the photos are 4in squares?
thank you!
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
Posts: 635
I tried printing pics myself but ended up sending them off to be printed because the stuff I got just made a rubbery image on the fabric like a cheap transfer on a t shirt. I'm sorry thats the only experience I've had of that. I hope some one comes along with useful advice
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 321
I would scan the photos and size them to the desired size before printing. I use WordPerfect to re-size photos (it also allows me to "mirror-image" photos, if I'm using iron-on transfer paper)...but there are other programs for re-sizing (such as Irfanview, which is free and easy to use). Also, with WordPerfect, I can put four 4" photos on one page, and arrange them to allow for seam allowances.
If you do not have WordPerfect, there are some free word processing programs (such as OpenOffice) that may have the same capabilities.
If I can be of help, just let me know.
If you do not have WordPerfect, there are some free word processing programs (such as OpenOffice) that may have the same capabilities.
If I can be of help, just let me know.
#4
Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 24
I made a quilt for Mom with all photos and used Bubble Jet Set 2000 and Bubble Jet Rinse purchased from http://www.cjenkinscompany.com/Bubbl...t_2000_s/3.htm.
It worked great. Cut the fabric 8 1/2 x 11 treated, dried, ironed on freezer paper and ran thru inkjet printer. I washed a sample 10 times with no "special" treatment and it never faded. It was really fun and Mom loved it.
It worked great. Cut the fabric 8 1/2 x 11 treated, dried, ironed on freezer paper and ran thru inkjet printer. I washed a sample 10 times with no "special" treatment and it never faded. It was really fun and Mom loved it.
#5
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: in the sticks of PA
Posts: 2,313
Since you're in a hurry to finish the quilt you may not want to do this process with plain fabric that you then have to put into the solutions. I would just use the package that is sold for this purpose, it's just simpler. Use the word program where you can resize as you need to. Every memory quilt I've ever made except for the first time I did this way. They still look good after several years.
#6
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Tulsa, Ok
Posts: 4,582
I use a photo fabric called "PhotoFabric" by Blumenthal Crafts. It comes on a roll with a stiff paper backing. I cut off a piece, generally close to 8"X11" and it runs through the printer just like paper. After printing, let it set for 30 minutes. Peel off the paper backing then Soak the printed fabric for a few minutes in cold water -- if any ink bleeds off (which seldom happens) change the water till it stays clear. Then lay flat to dry. I then iron it and it is ready to sew in the quilt. I use this stuff for photos and my quilt labels and it is holding up great.
#7
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 12,930
Jeanne, is it the poplin PhotoFabric?
http://www.amazon.com/Blumenthal-Lan...dp/B000F3FT3K/
or the twill PhotoFabric?
http://www.amazon.com/Blumenthal-Lan...dp/B000F3HMWQ/
http://www.amazon.com/Blumenthal-Lan...dp/B000F3FT3K/
or the twill PhotoFabric?
http://www.amazon.com/Blumenthal-Lan...dp/B000F3HMWQ/
#9
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Tulsa, Ok
Posts: 4,582
Jeanne, is it the poplin PhotoFabric?
http://www.amazon.com/Blumenthal-Lan...dp/B000F3FT3K/
or the twill PhotoFabric?
http://www.amazon.com/Blumenthal-Lan...dp/B000F3HMWQ/
http://www.amazon.com/Blumenthal-Lan...dp/B000F3FT3K/
or the twill PhotoFabric?
http://www.amazon.com/Blumenthal-Lan...dp/B000F3HMWQ/
I am using the poplin fabric. It is fairly lightweight, similar to regular quilting cotton fabric. I did not know they made a twill fabric, so don't have any experience with it. But the poplin fabric works great.
#10
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Tulsa, Ok
Posts: 4,582
I have not printed photos or labels larger than 5x7, but this is what I do: I edit and crop the photo to the finished size I want, then print a test photo on regular copy paper. Then cut a piece of the photo fabric the width of the roll and a couple of inches wider than my photo or label. I use regular scotch tape and tape the photo fabric onto the piece of paper with the test photo printed onto it, with the photo fabric directly on top of and centered around the test print. Then I run that back through my printer. (My printer prints on the underside of the paper in the tray, so I put it in the tray upside down with the taped photo fabric on the bottom ) I have not had any issues with both layers feeding back through the printer. Hope that helps a little!
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