C and T Publishing Transfer Artist Paper, 8.5 by 11-Inch, 18 Sheets Per Pack

I'm new to this. I've never transferred anything before. After reading reviews about many brands, I chose this one. I was a bit nervous because of some of the reviews, so I did a lot of research before I started. I also purchased her book. Here are my suggestions and results: PRINTING: Put a bright post-it on the package, right on the flap where you open it to remove a sheet to print on. Write "INVERT" on it. If not, you'll discover the wisdom of this the first time you forget to invert your image before you print it up. CUTTING: When cutting out a square object, cut straight lines just outside your image. It's better to leave a little white around it, than to try to cut it ALL off, and cut off part of your transfer. The glue from a slim white line around your square object won't be noticeable. Glue does show some: I found that with straight cuts and square corners the glue will be more obvious-looking than if you have wavy cuts and rounded corners. I cut in and out around letters of words (not real close), but only partially in between lines of words (so they will stay together in one piece). I was satisfied with how it turned out, but, yes, you can see the glue, barely. To me, it's acceptable. Might not be for others. If you have large areas of white in your project and you glue onto white fabric, the white section of your transfer will be less white than the fabric. I'm okay with that because the alternative would have been to cut out large sections of my image with an exacto knife and I didn't want to bother. The glue was more noticeable on some transfers than others. PREP: I used a centering-ruler to center my transfers on my squares. Mine is Incra-Rules. There are probably other ways to do this. But it was very helpful to me rather than eye-balling it (perfectionist that I am). There are cheaper centering rulers out there than mine. I didn't tape anything down, and had no problems with the transfers sliding around or moving on me. One problem I found is that you can't see through the backing so it's difficult to keep your line of writing straight, especially if you've cut closely in and out around the letters. If the backing paper had a 1/8" grid printed on it, you could easily apply your transfer straight, but once you've trimmed closely to the writing or image, you have a wavy edge that's difficult to judge properly. Before I cut them out, I used a pencil and ruler on my cutting board to draw both horizontal and vertical lines on the back which I could use to keep my images straight. This wasn't necessary with square objects, but it was with items that were trimmed in any other shape other than a perfect square. With tiny transfers, my homemade grid would sometimes get cut off in the trimming. I REALLY WISH THE MANUFACTURER WOULD ADD THE ADDITION OF GRID MARKS. It would have saved so much time and made it much easier to avoid crooked transfers. IRONING: Definitely use the silicone release paper in the pack, and perhaps order some extras. My ironing board is firm and works fine. (I tried a more firm surface and it didn't work at all, so don't overdo the firmness thing.) I suggest you print up some practice images, and try them out before you begin your main project. I printed all my images in miniature on one sheet (¼ size). (I will use them to make a mini-quilt when I am done). Transferring these mini images was a great way to learn how to do this, and get the system down. Added bonus: adorable little mini-quilt I'll give as a gift. I tried a shorter time (90 sec.), but when the back comes off, the paper is supposed to feel relatively smooth. At 90 seconds, it wasn't so smooth, so I increased the time. I finally arrived at 2 min. 30 seconds as my choice for pressing. Do use a timer. That silicone sheet really keeps the fabric from frying. Some might call this overkill, but it worked for me. Practice first, and find out what works for you and your iron. I purchased the iron that she recommended on her website, a dry iron from Vermont Country Store. So glad that I don't have steam holes that might interfere with a proper transfer, but I don't think it gets super hot (maybe that's why I felt the need for extra time). I pressed firmly and kept the iron moving pretty much after the first few seconds. If your transfer fits neatly under the iron, you may not feel you have to move it at all, but the iron will leave an `iron' imprint on the fabric if you don't; so move the iron around a bit to avoid the imprint. Overall, I think that a hot iron, a firm but cushioned surface (like an ironing board), and length of time are more critical than pressing hard, but I did press pretty firmly...just in case. Keep the tweezers handy to pull off the hot transfer backing. RESULTS: I had no problems at all with the transfer. I did about 18 mini pictures and about 20 mini "verses" of writing. Then I repeated with the full-size transfers. Everything worked exactly like it was supposed to. They looked great: very bright and clear; maybe not "photo-perfect", but spectacularly close, especially since this is fabric and not photo paper. I was very, very happy with it. Besides white fabric, I also transferred onto beige, light blue, and patterned fabrics (all light colored). Mostly this was just lettering and they all turned out great, even on the metallic patterned fabric. I did a practice "photo" on a colored fabric, but I wasn't happy with it and decided I should do it on white instead and appliqué it onto the colored square it was made for. It came out much better that way. The transfer isn't shiny; it's matt. Only when you get it at a certain angle to the light will you see a bit of the glue if you left significant amounts of white. It's most obvious around my lettering where I didn't cut super close. It's totally an individual call as to whether this is acceptable or not. Personally, I don't have any problems with it. HAND: The transferred image will be stiffer than the rest of the fabric and gets slightly less so after washing. But it still feels much more stiff than the regular fabric...and is also more slick. This doesn't bother me, but if you want a completely "fabric" feel, this isn't it. WASHING: Wait 3 days before washing. I think I read that somewhere in my research. I printed up some mini practice pieces for washing and numbered them with a marker. I washed one with laundry soap, and saw some definite fading. More than I would have liked to see, especially dark blue areas. It was less obvious on a red/green transfer, but still enough to notice. (But that said, they still looked terrific.) There was no running or bleeding. I think fabric artists who don't wash their projects will have no problem with this product. Those making quilts and clothing that they expect to wash may be disappointed if it fades on them. I am making a seasonal memory quilt, and don't plan to wash it often (and maybe never, if I'm afraid it will fade). TAP produces brighter colors than other transfer methods I've looked into; so if it fades a little, it may be no worse than any of the others, and just might still be brighter. Will it continue to fade with future washings? I don't know yet. Overall, I'm satisfied (ecstatic, actually) except for the slight fading issue, which I've yet to find out about. I don't recommend regular laundry detergent. Please check out the images that I uploaded for this listing. One shows an original scan, transfer and washed transfers. Also an image with white left in the interior of the transfer; one dark image, and one with writing overlapping the image. I hope this helps someone. (I suggest you buy her book if you're interested in transferring onto canvas, tile, wood, paper, Lutradur, metal, clay, glass, or mica, as she goes into more detail than you'll find in the package instructions.) PS I've added a comment about washing (click on comments). UPDATE: I had some leftover transfer sheets in my pack. I used them about 4 months after opening the package. I've noticed a quality difference. The transfer didn't transfer perfectly, although most of it did (I did it twice with same results). It doesn't seem as bright in color, and it seems to be "rubbing" off and getting lighter or spotty and grainy-looking, even though I try to never touch it to anything. It seemed to be doing this even as I was working with it, sewing it to a purse, and continues to do so. I don't feel it looks as good or will last as long as my first transfers. I think this product degrades quickly with age, so I recommend not buying more than you need. If you have extra sheets, use them up quickly on future projects. Just my opinion: Used fresh, they will last; used old, they may go bad before you finish your project.

This stuff is great, once you open the package your mind starts to venture off to all kinds of possible projects! I wanted to use it for transferring needlework designs to cross stitch fabric, so I was not sure if it would work. Printed the design up and ironed it onto 18 count even weave fabric and had no problem with it at all. The design transferred perfectly the first time. While ironing I did pick up the corners to peek and see if it was working and had no problem when I laid the corner back down and continued to press. The paper came off clean and easy, but if it does stick simply run the iron over it again and it comes right off - best removal of the transfer paper results when the transfer is still warm from the iron. I have an iron with the steam holes in the bottom and had no issue at all with the transfer. The paper background is clear so you do not see it on colored fabric, only the design prints. I noticed that it does tend to have a bit of a tendency to pull fabric fiber up with it when you remove the sheet so the smoother your fabric the better your results seem to be. Overall this transfer paper might be the best thing since sliced bread. Yes, it is a bit expensive, but you certainly get what you pay for which is a super quality transfer.

I have been using heat transfers in my artwork for years - on fabric, wood, tile, metal, etc. I've tried many different brands, and was getting best results with Epson and Lazertran iron-ons. However, I have gotten such great results with TAP that I've switched entirely to using it for all of my transfers. On fabric, other transfers leave a rubbery or plasticky feel, where TAP is soft and pliable. I make baby onesies using TAP, and it works great with the stretchy fabric, much better than any other iron-on. It also works beautifully on lutradur and wood. I've had less success with glass and metal - but those are very difficult surfaces to transfer to, and I haven't gotten any better results with other iron-on materials. I also teach workshops about using heat transfers in arts and crafts, and always show students the range of products. They love the examples I show them of TAP transfers, although unfortunately a piece of TAP we printed out for a student project did not transfer, and I later learned that sometimes a batch is defective. (I quickly received a replacement batch.) I have had no problem at all with the recent batch that I bought from C&T and I suspect that quality control will be more consistent now that they are producing TAP. My students are also concerned about the price of TAP, but I break down the expense of other high-quality iron-ons (Epson for Epson printers and Lazertran), and they're in the same ballpark. The much lower-priced iron-ons just don't provide the quality that I want for artwork that I'm going to sell.

Great product, but it being out of stock since last year has been a real drag. I use this product for items that I sell and there is no other product on the market that works quite the same way. I have customers asking for items that I cannot give them because the transfer paper is not available. I do hope that problem is resolved soon and never happens again. I have found the product to be very user friendly. Colors transfer nicely and quickly. Unlike other transfer materials, this one does not leave a shiny or plastic looking finish. It's as though it melts right into the fabric to almost give the appearance of the image having been printed on the fabric. Not much practice is needed, but trim your image as close to the edge as possible to get the best look. I have only used this on fabric. I have noticed that it works best on tightly woven, but not too thick fabrics. Cottons, muslin, etc. work best. I also found that the images will fade with laundering. Supposedly, the formula is being "reworked" causing the delay in availability, so maybe the fading issue will lessen. It is a good transfer product, but it's not perfect. Still, I found it to be better than all the others I have tried.

I have purchased this product over and over again and have come to rely on it for the best quality and results. The directions are very clear and easy to follow. I leave the iron on for an extended time as the directions say you cannot over do the ironing and the longer you keep the iron on the more it helps to bond and stay when laundering. I use a large ceramic tile from the hardware store under my projects to iron on and it works great for a hard temperature proof surface. I have washed my t-shirts several times and they come out beautiful on gentle cycle with cold water and hang dry with air fluff. The design is just as nice as the day I made them! I try to fit as much design as possible per sheet and the nice thing is you don't have to be too careful about the outlines, you can cut away what you don't need!

This is absolutely my go to product for easy, perfect transfers on cotton fabric. Nearly impossible to go wrong; shoot an image out of a good quality inkjet printer, and iron away! In constructing my award winning textile work, I count on TAP to add one of a kind images, and it blends beautifully with silkscreened imagery. The product has been recently improved, and in my experience, is actually easier, and quicker, to do. I have done both color and black and white images effectively. There is a slight change in the hand of the fabric, but it is not visible. I've also put my pieces through the washing machine, with no loss of image, and the hand of the fabric is returned. I can strongly recommend it for ease of use and reliability on tightly woven cottons, such as kona cotton, but would test any fabric that is loosely woven, as the images may not be as strong or durable, i.e., burlap or vintage feed sacks. However, I have used it as a method of transferring an image to these types of fabric, as a marking method for further machine embroidery and stitching. You can see my TAP in action at www.pattykz.com.

I discovered TAP last September, and I have FINALLY figured out the tricks to transferring well. First of all if you want to use a larger image go to: blockposters.com. Once you've got everything all printed out, make sure you are working on a firm flat surface (I use my kitchen floor). DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT iron your entire image in one swoop. Instead, work in small sections pressing down very hard. Once the transfer process starts there's no going back, and it takes awhile for the colors to set into the fabric. I start out at the bottom corner then slowly move across, then slowly move up and across. If you follow this technique you will save yourself frustration and money. Also, don't try to rip off the tap paper if it isn't 'giving', heat it back up and slowly pull it off. Be careful not to let your iron touch any exposed parts because the ink will smear. If you start to pull up and see a small part that didn't transfer, you can usually go back over it with the tip of your iron and rub it in (for some reason this doesn't really work if the ink is red, I have no clue why). The instructions say you can wash the fabric; but when I tried, my whole project was destroyed. I'm not sure if it was because I hadn't waited long enough for the ink to dry or because I didn't wash on a delicate cycle, but I am too scared to try again! See tutorials on this at www.boxwoodavenue.com/blog/tap-paper-tips-and-tricks

I bought this paper to put cute transfers onto onsies for my baby shower. TAP is supposed to work on ANY fabric. I did not work at all, barely transferred on to the onsies and was so blotchy you could barely tell what the image was. The 2 I tried looked so awful I just ended up throwing them away. Tried transferring onto a white sheet with only slightly better success. I've done many transfers before using other, much cheaper products that turned out SIGNIFICANTLY better than this one. Super disappointed because reviews for the product were awesome, and I watched several videos on YouTube that made it look super easy and the results were perfect. I tried using different surfaces to iron on, tried 2 different irons both on highest settings (and dry) and tried different materials and none of it worked. Don't waste your money. I'm definitely returning it and contacting the company that makes it.

Product worked great for a photo quilt, the results were bright and clear and the fabric didn't have the "plastic" feel that other transfers leave behind. My only small criticism would be discovering after purchase that the sheets have a best-before date, of sorts. There is a note on the back of the package that says "For best results, use within two years of purchase date." Since the product worked so well my rating is still high, but keep in mind if you're buying the bulk package! Update, five years on... Got the package out, printed up a few more images and it still works great! The paper is definitely fragile and there are lots of white flakes as I cut out images, but the results are as good as they were years ago.

This is the only transfer paper that can be used over other transfers.

First time using Tap but I found it easy to use and my T-shirt Transfers turned out fantastic. Just remember to use a really hot iron (no steam)a hard surface and apply even pressing over the whole area to get a perfect transfer. The best part is the transfer image on my t-shirt was soft and pliable not that hard plastic film others have. My next project is pillow covers and a clothe pumpkin which I am sure will turn out amazing because I have Tap Artist Paper. TAP Artist paper is truly an great product and I highly recommend trying it. Thank You LM

I love this product. It arrived very quickly and I couldn't wait to try it. It gives a superb finish - very soft, no stickyness at all. It doesn't copy very pale colours very well onto white or cream backgrounds but everything else copied very well. Items have been washed and re-ironed without any apparent effect. Please note the size as it is not A/4 but slightly wider and shorter. I filled the area with photos drawings and cartoons and then cut them out before applying. I ordered another pack so it proves I like this product.

I was re-upholstering a chair to look like the vintage French country chairs recovered in grain sack. Except I wanted the text to be in Italian, and stencils for that don’t exist, or I couldn’t find any. I wanted a specific text that would be really intricate and difficult to cut if I was cutting my own stencil. I didn’t want to use the typical iron on sheets for fabric that I’ve used in the past for T-shirts, the plastic film left behind would be terrible on upholstery. I took a chance and ordered the TAP paper, they still left a bit of film but not as much. After I watched Leslie’s tutorial on You Tube, I followed her instructions to remove some of the shininess by ironing again with release paper or some muslin fabric. The muslin removed all the shininess and left only the ink, also providing a more aged look to the text which is exactly the look I wanted. The paper’s are more expensive than I’d like, but for me they will negate the need to purchase stencils and allow me to design the exact font, size and graphics I want when re-upholstering. I will definitely be purchasing a lot more of this product in the future.