Can I use dark heat transfer paper with a white shirt?

Question

The problem is walmart only had dark transfer paper left when i went. i tried it on a grey shirt first (my first attempt) and it came out horribly because it left the original white rectangle (for some reason i thought everything white would disappear or become transparent). so since i am forced to leave some white on the deisng, since im sure i wont be able to cleanly cut aroung the image since it is quite an intricate design, i want to use it with a white shirt. can i do this with a dark heat transfer paper? whats the difference with dark and light transfer paper?

thanks!

Answer 1

The difference is primarily that the regular transfer paper makes a transfer that's more transparent and/or translucent (especially anything that's not intentionally colored) on the shirt, and it works best on light colored fabrics/backgrounds.

The "dark papers" make an opaque transfer --they will print fine on dark fabric, etc., as well as light, but on dark the background will be white if not changed.

So you could use an opaque transfer paper on any color shirt, but to make the background around your main design "disappear" on the shirt, you'd need to make the background area of the transfer paper be the same color as your shirt (...or the default color will be white).
Or you could make it something subtle (like a tone on tone pattern that's similar to your shirt color, for example, of just a non-bright toned-down color that would go with your shirt, as a sort of subtle framing for your design.

(I think Walmart only sells the opaque paper, but office supply stores, craft stores, etc. should sell the regular type since it's more common.)

Hope I got all that right... just read the instructions on the dark paper carefully to see exactly what you need to do, or go to the company's website to get more info.


Good luck!

Diane B.

Answer 2

White Transfer Paper

Answer 3

Dark Transfer Paper

Answer 4

I think you would have to cut, because the transfer is white and the printer can't do anything to change it.

If it's an important project, you may just have to shop somewhere else like a craft store for clear transfer paper.

Answer 5

That is an interesting question

Answer 6

I was wondering the same question too yesterday