My first attempt at printing on fabric

I certainly agree with you, that came out very nicely. Also check your printer settings to see if you can send out more ink.

Karen, Queen of Squishies

What kind of fabric did you use? Purchased pre-treated... or treated/prepared at home?

Sometimes the way the fabric is treated makes a difference in the "absorbability" (is that a word?) of ink into the fibers.

I used the store 8 1/2 X 11 sheets. I had a 40% off coupon for Michaels which is very close to my home, which made the sheets about 75 cents each. Seems like there is a lot of work to create your own fabric, what with treating it, then sticking it to freezer paper, then keeping your fingers crossed. LOL

The picture on the fabric looks just like the printed picture that came out on my paper. It is entirely my job to print with the highest quality instead of just the quick print. ~sigh~

Hmmm ... it might not be your program but instead, the way the printer prints on the fabric. Since fabric is VERY absorbant, it's going to print differently than it would on paper. You might want to consider either using the "Glossy paper" setting next time if you didn't use it this time- or using the "Matte paper" setting if you used the glossy setting this go.

Each printer is different ... some do better with "glossy" some better with "matte." It all depends on the manufacturer. Can I ask what yours is?

Also, bear in mind that most printers output with a "cast" - meaning a heavier hand with, say, magenta ink, than others ... some print with a "bluer cast" (HP is known for that - while my Epson prints with a "magenta cast" and Canon is known for printing with a "yellow cast"). Sometimes it's not so noticeable, sometimes it is. You just might have to compensate for it when you go to print ... if it's a blue cast, in your image editing app, just tweak the color until it looks a tad bit under-blue. Same as with a magenta cast - tweak it until it looks like it's not pink enough by just a tad.

From your image, I would guess you're printing with an HP? You have a slight blue cast (though, to be honest, I'm on a lappie and I can't tell so well from my display - it could be a magenta cast?) to your image which, I'll bet, is the reason it looks a tiny bit "washed out" and not as brilliant as you were hoping for.

No offense ... just trying to help. Hope I didn't offend! :-)

If it looks the same on paper as it does on fabric, it's the printer giving a cast as I mentioned elsewhere on the thread.

Since I'm on my lappie and can't really see color definition so well, can I ask if it looks a little too pink? or too yellow? Though it's probably a case of blue cast - it's notorious for making things look "washed out." But adding more ink won't do the job (AKA, running at a higher print quality) - since all it will do is make the inks "muddy" up.

You need to go back into your image editing app and decrease the amount of blue/cyan in the image ... if you tell me what image editing app you're using, I can help walk you through the process ... that is, if you don't already know how to do it yourself. :-)

Btw, I really hope that I'm not coming off as obnoxious here ... it's just that I've been dealing with printers and print issues since the first home/office ink jet printer debuted on the market! It comes with the territory! :-)

Oh that's so sweet. How did you finish those edges? They look good and set off the puppy. . In message , Boca Jan writes

I birthed the piece since it was so small, and framed it with the green with about 1/2.

What a nice gesture for your neighbor, and what an adorable little puppy! Is that a Coton de Tuléar?

I believe it is a teacup Llapsa Apso (sp). It is only about 10 weeks old.

That turned out really cute!

No matter what it is, it's adorable!

I think it's a regular, everyday Lhasa - far as I know, even though they fit into the "Toy & Teacup" category, there's no such thing as a "teacup" Lhasa Apso.

Mom bred them for several years ... very sweet lil things. But the hair is

Forgot to mention that the lil darlin' looks like s/he could be a Maltese, too (as a possiblity). That is, if s/he's as snowy white as your pic looks (or my lappie's displaying) ... pure white Lhasas are rare ... most common is the brindle (brown, gold/blonde/ and white and black) and golden/pale blonde. :-)

Hi all,

BJ, you could always highlight the image you have printed by going over it with water-colour pencils and then ironing it. This has worked successfully for me on a couple that have turned out a bit pale - you can either paint with a damp fine paintbrush or just iron it. If you use the paintbrush method, make sure you heat set it before moving onto another colour.