The coating on this product is only compatible with inkjet printers. It will not work with laser printers.
United Kingdom
Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
General Transfer Paper
We offer 2 types of transfer paper because of the way color is applied with an inkjet printer. Since there is no white printed with an inkjet printer, the transfer paper for dark fabrics includes a white background. For the transfer paper for light fabrics, the background is clear after application. Any fabric color will show through, meaning that if you have a yellow shirt, then any blank spaces in your design will show the yellow fabric underneath.
If you need white in your design or want a white border, use the dark transfer paper.
ADD TO WEB ONLY:
You can see our test of what happens when you print on light fabric transfer paper then apply it to a dark T-shirt in this YouTube video.
Wait 24 hours before washing the garment. Wash T-shirts inside out in a washing machine using the regular, full spin cycle. Do not wash them in delicate or hang dry them.
We do not recommend using a smart iron when adhering a transfer paper design to fabric. Smart irons can automatically fluctuate the heat. You need an even temperature.
In addition, use a dry iron on the highest setting (1400W or higher for light transfer paper, 1600W for dark transfer paper) without steam. Be sure to preheat the iron for about 5 minutes.
Absolutely! We sell transfer paper to many T-shirts business clients. For best results, use a cotton T-shirt.
Please do not use an ironing board for heat transfer as that surface has a lot of give to it. You need to use a solid surface. We recommend using a hard surface that is heat-resistant instead of an ironing board.
PPD Transfer Paper is designed for smooth cotton and other fabrics that can withstand the highest heat setting. Do not use silk or any fabric that requires a low heat setting. Also, it will not work with burlap or other loose weave fabrics. When in doubt, use cotton.
Absolutely! Follow the heatpress instructions on our included instruction sheet. If you are using a handheld heatpress, please follow the ironing instructions instead. Handheld heatpresses are ones that you move around over the fabric, like an iron. Standard heatpresses lower a large, flat heated metal onto the fabric with a lever and require different time settings.
Use the Shirt Alignment Tool included with every packet of transfer paper to center the design on your T-shirt instead of having to eyeball it each time. The paper tool can be resized to fit multiple shirt sizes (baby, toddler, youth, adult) by trimming it.
TIP: Make a copy or take a photograph of the instructions on the back of the Shirt Alignment Tool to reference them later.
This transfer paper only works with an inkjet printer. It will not accept sublimation ink.
Yes, you can write and draw on this paper with any SOFT felt tip marker. If you use crayons or colored pencils, which are hard, you are likely to damage the coating. Be sure to color lightly.
This product works best with cotton. Other tight-woven fabrics can withstand high heat, too. Keep in mind that the fabric you use should be smooth and able to withstand high temperatures. It will not work on a rough or loose fabric like burlap, fleece, or a wide-weave canvas.
The color of the backing will help you identify the transfer paper type. The blue pattern backing is for dark fabrics. The red pattern backing is for light fabrics. Remember to refer to the instruction sheet for full details, since heat application differs for each one.
Light Transfer Paper
Yes, mirror image your design. You can either do that in your design program or choose "mirror mode” in your printer settings.
Light transfer paper is not compatible with smart cutters.
Since this transfer paper is transparent, you can cut roughly around the design. We recommend you leave a border for best results.
The image should be face down with the red backing visible. Iron on top of the backing.
Refer to the instructions on the provided instruction sheet for full details.
Leave the red/white backing on when heat transferring the image onto the fabric with your iron or heatpress. Once you have transferred the image to the fabric, you can peel off the backing. You’ll then use the silicone sheet and your iron/heatpress.
Refer to the provided instruction sheet for full details.
Dark Transfer Paper
There is no need to mirror your design with our dark transfer paper.
Any white paper that you see will print on the fabric. You need to cut to the edge of the printed design, unless you want a white border. This transfer paper is compatible with smart cutting machines, including Cricut.
Remember to trim before you peel off the backing otherwise it will be too floppy to cut cleanly.
Dark Transfer Paper should be placed face up on the garment. Before that, take the backing off. Be sure to add a silicone sheet between the design and the iron or heatpress.
Refer to the instructions on the provided instruction sheet for full details.
Peel off the backing, then place the image face up on your dark fabric. Be sure to add a silicone sheet between the design and the iron or heatpress.
Refer to the instructions on the provided instruction sheet for full details.
Silicone Sheets
Silicone sheets allow you to protect your iron or heatpress from the transfer paper. They also help fix the image onto your fabric to increase longevity of the image.
Our reusable Silicone Sheets work with PPD Transfer Paper and can also be used for crafts when you need a non-stick surface. This is not transfer paper, which is sold separately. You cannot print on it. Every packet of PPD Transfer Paper includes a single sheet of Silicone Paper that can be reused.
You will use PPD Silicone Sheets during the heat transfer process at different times, depending on whether you have the dark or light fabric transfer paper. Refer to our included instructions for full details.
You can reuse PPD Silicone Sheets over and over. The sheet is double-sided and non-stick. If the sheet has not been contaminated by ink, and it is not torn, then continue to use it.
Remember that Silicone Sheets do not leave anything on the image. It is a non-stick barrier between the iron and the transferred design. It helps to fix the image and keep the iron or heatpress from absorbing the design.
You can see how to use Silicone Sheets in our YouTube Video.
General Photo Paper
This is not acid free paper. This is not archival grade paper.
Crop photo paper with scissors, a hobby blade, or a smart cutting machine, including Cricut. It may work with some paper trimmers, but we have not tested specific brands.
No, we do not include watermarks on either side of our photo papers.
PPD Photo Papers dry instantly with no smears, right off the printer.
Only use this paper with an inkjet printer.
This paper is only for use with an inkjet printer. If your copy machine is an inkjet, and it can take this paper weight, then it should work.
Each PPD photo paper weight or type uses different settings for different brands of inkjet printers. Please refer to the printing instructions included with this packet of photo paper for our recommendations.
Absolutely! Print as many photos as you want on a larger sheet, then crop it using scissors, a hobby blade, or a smart cutting machine, including Cricut.
This photo paper works with ALL inkjet printers. It will not work with laser printers.
Single Sided Photo Paper
Yes, you can write on the back of this photo paper. We recommend a pen with permanent ink.
The reverse side is uncoated paper with a matte finish. It can accept simple graphics and messages.
One side of this photo paper is specially coated for inkjet printers. The other side is not designed for printing. If the ink smudged after printing, or if the ink appears to be low quality, check whether you printed on the correct side.
Satin Photo Paper
Satin photo paper has a low sheen and is sometimes called semi-gloss. It is halfway between our glossy and matte photo paper. The shine off this photo paper will depend on the lighting level and the angle of the light which will illuminate the photo.
If you are concerned about any glare, even when photographing photos using a light box, please consider matte photo paper.
Absolutely! The satin finish is well-suited to reprint vintage photographs.
No, this is a low sheen finish. There is no texture.
Satin Single Sided Photo Paper
The back of this photo paper is matte and cannot be printed on. Please print only on the satin finish side..
Pearl Photo Paper
This is a low-sheen paper that is slightly less reflective than PPD Satin photo paper. It can be referred to as a semi-gloss photo paper.
The back of this photo paper is matte and cannot be printed on. Please print only on the Pearl finish side.
Absolutely! The pearl finish is well-suited to reprint vintage photographs.
No, this is a low sheen finish. There is no texture.
Heavyweight Photo Paper
The 280 gsm photo paper is more like photo lab paper, but you can make invitations out of it.
PPD also sells 240 gsm greeting cards with or without envelopes. They are pre-scored for your convenience.
Our heavyweight paper is not intended for brochures and programs. Use something lighter at around 120-140 gsm for best results.
The matte greeting cards we sell create nice programs.
No, the back of this paper is absorbent. You need our 280 gsm photo paper which has a polymer coating on the back. It is the only one suitable for ink painting.
The PPD product codes are PPD-15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 70, 86, 68,82. All these are microporous PE coated. All the 200g, 255, 280g in all countries are PE coated and can be used in alcohol printing.
With Alcohol printing, it does not matter whether the paper is Gloss or Satin because the artist is using the back of the paper, where we normally do not print. For more understanding about alcohol printing, see this video
Yes, this paper will fold and score. When printing a photo, it is possible you will end up with a white edge. NOTE: The coating will not crack. It is the same coating as is used on our pre-scored greeting cards.
Brochure Paper
No, there are a lot of ways you can use this think, high-resolution paper. You can make takeout menus, business brochures, travel flyers, programs, multi-page pamphlets, mailers, catering menus, and realty brochures (get the gloss!). You can also use it for technical specifications and product manuals or to highlight an upcoming event.
Fun ways to use this thin, double-sided paper: make goodie bags, wrap chocolate bars with custom paper designs, comic books, or print game covers, DBD covers, or design your own book covers. It also makes an excellent custom calendar.
Yes, this paper is suitable for DVD cover prints. Not only is it thin, but it features a high-resolution coating for an excellent print result for colorful images.
Absolutely! PPD brochure paper can be printed on both sides.
No, we do not pre-score our brochure paper. You can fold it after you print it.
Some of the folding styles our customers have used include: bi-fold, tri-fold, letter fold, Z-fold or accordion fold, gate fold, double-gate fold, right angle, map fold, and double parallel fold. See our graphics for visual examples of many of these flyer or brochure fold types.
Unlike a glossy finish, which is shiny, a matte finish is a flat finish without any sheen. It produces a sharp, colorful image on a smooth paper.
A heat sealer will not work with PPD Brochure Paper. The paper does not include any material that would melt and form a seal. Try using craft glue or a glue stick instead.
General Self-Adhesives
Peel it back slowly, then smooth down the sticker as you reapply it.
TIP (when applying): If you peel off only a small corner of the sticker first, then apply that to start, you can slowly peel off the backing and smooth your way across the whole sticker surface to prevent bubbles.
You can attach PPD stickers to most non-porous surfaces. That includes smooth surfaces like wood, metal, glass, paper, plastic, railings, pipes, binder covers, and photo albums. They are fun to add to printed photos, too!
For best results, remove regular paper sheets from your printer before adding sticker sheets. Please refer to the instruction sheet included in your packet for brand-specific printer settings.
Leave a small bit of room between your sticker designs when printing on the sheet to allow you to maneuver scissors or leave a white border.
If you are adding a spray fixative or lacquer finish on top of an inkjet printed paper, then the lacquer must be solvent-based. It cannot be water-based. When it is not solvent-based, the lacquer will mix with the ink and distort the image. PPD offers a solvent-based lacquer spray.
Vinyl Self-Adhesives
Cut around the stickers using scissors, hobby blades, or smart cutting machines, including Cricut. With intricate designs – or large quantities – we recommend you use a smart cutter.
When using a smart cutter, set the machine to "Normal Paper" and use a 30° knife blade.
PPD vinyl self-adhesives can be peeled off without leaving a residue.
Sticker Paper Self-Adhesives
Cut around the stickers using scissors, hobby blades, or smart cutting machines, including Cricut. With intricate designs – or large quantities – we recommend you use a smart cutter.
When using a smart cutter, set the machine to "Normal Paper" and use a 30° knife blade.
These stickers are perfect for crafting, party favors, and to apply to indoor plastic or metal surfaces. They are not designed for exterior use.
These self-adhesive stickers can be peeled off without leaving a residue.
Clear/Frosty Self-Adhesives
Cut around the stickers using scissors, hobby blades, or smart cutting machines, including Cricut. With intricate designs – or large quantities – we recommend you use a smart cutter.
When using a smart cutter, set the machine to "Normal Paper" and use a 30° knife blade.
Our clear and frosty stickers are designed to be permanent.
Inkjet printers do not print white ink. With the clear or frosty sticker sheets, any white areas in your design will appear as clear or frosted when you print them, depending on the sticker you purchased.
The frosty sticker is slightly see-through with a milky finish. The clear sticker is see-through like a window.
Greeting Cards
Absolutely! All our greeting cards are pre-scored to make folding easier. Print on an inkjet printer first, then fold it.
Our greeting cards are blank inside so you can print your own message in them.
You can print on both sides with an inkjet printer.
Print photos on the outside of the card.
Print simple graphics and messages inside the card. We do not recommend printing a photo inside as it is uncoated paper and will behave just like any standard printer paper.
Absolutely! Use an inkjet printer to print the recipient’s name or contact information on the envelope.
The greeting cards must be folded in half to fit inside the envelopes.
Absolutely! Hi-res photography prints well on our inkjet greeting cards. It looks great on our glossy cards.
Remember that while you can print on both sides with an inkjet printer, we don’t recommend printing a photo inside. Print simple graphics and messages inside instead.
Absolutely! Use these greeting cards in a variety of ways. The inside works great for printing text and simple graphics.
Some people insert extra pages inside as an insert and secure them with a ribbon or glue. PPD Brochure Paper works well for this purpose.
Yes! The paper works well with sharp imagery or text printed on it.
When an 8.5 × 11" piece of paper is folded it is called half letter size. Our greeting cards are pre-scored to fold the paper exactly in half.
Gloss Greeting Cards
PPD greeting cards have a high gloss finish. Print any photos on the glossy side of the card, not on the interior.
PPD greeting cards with a glossy finish are shiny on one side with a matte/smooth surface on the other. You can print photos on the shiny/glossy side.
Matte Greeting Cards
PPD matt greeting cards are coated on both sides of the paper. You can print on both sides.
Magnetic Paper Sheets
PPD magnet sheet papers include a coating (the white side) and a magnet on the back. There is no need to use an adhesive as the magnet is already attached to the paper. Just print your design, cut it out, and adhere it to a metal surface.
We do not recommend using PPD magnet sheet papers as a bumper sticker.
Absolutely! You can handle the magnet directly off the printer without smudges.
Yes! Our magnet sheet papers are compatible with smart cutting machines, including Cricut, and with hobby blades. We recommend a 30° blade angle.
Absolutely! These papers print beautiful photos on a magnet.
If you are adding a spray fixative or lacquer finish on top of an inkjet printed paper, then the lacquer must be solvent-based. It cannot be water-based. When it is not solvent-based, the lacquer will mix with the ink and distort the image. PPD offers a solvent-based lacquer spray.
Transparency Film/OHP Film/Transparencies
Absolutely! Our transparency film sheets are designed for use in an overhead projector. Simply print your image on the sheet then lay it on the glass surface of your projector.
They can also be used in many school or business applications, such as a coversheet or an overlay inside reports, to print colorful charts, and for arts and crafts as clear sheets with printed messages wrapped around greeting cards.
We included a helpful notched corner on our transparency sheets to provide you with an indicator when loading the sheet into a printer. Feed in single sheets for best results.
When you hold a transparency sheet with the notch on the top right, the printing surface is facing you.
When printing in an inkjet printer, feed the sheet into the printer with the notch on the left.
Use the highest resolution available. We recommend a minimum 1440 dpi. It produces brilliant, sharp images that project well.
We included this helpful notch to help you load the sheet into the printer. It is also there to allow you quickly lift the sheet off the glass of an overhead projector when changing out images for a presentation or in a classroom.
It is possible this was printed on the wrong side since PPD transparency sheets are instant dry.
Each transparency sheet has a printable side and a non-printable side. When you hold a transparency sheet with the notch on the top right, the printing side is facing you.
When printing in an inkjet printer, feed the sheet into the printer with the notch on the left.
Yes, recommended printer settings for different brands of inkjet printers are included on the printing instructions in your packet.
PPD Transparency Sheets feature a microporous coating. It is a transparent, milky clear surface.
Watercolor Fine Art Papers
No, we do not include watermarks on either side of our watercolor paper.
Yes, this is acid free and archival grade paper.
Giclee is a printing process that allows you to recreate fine art with digital prints and a specially coated paper that is designed for any inkjet paper. It offers higher image detail than standard photo paper.
These types of inkjet papers are often designed like specialty papers, such as our watercolor paper that allows you to print digital artwork with a watercolor look. It can also print photos of watercolor to allow you to print multiples without having to repaint each one.
Canvas Fine Art Papers
Absolutely! Our printable canvas is not paper. It is made from 100% cotton canvas that is acid free and archival. The special coating allows the fabric to accept ink from any inkjet printer.
No, we do not include watermarks on either side of our printable canvas paper.
This is a cotton paper and is not made from wood pulp. No FSC certification is required since it is not a wood product.
Yes, since this is 100% cotton canvas you can stretch it over a wooden frame, adhere it to wood or display it as is.
Photo Printing Rag
The paper has a smooth surface.
This is a cotton paper and is not made from wood pulp. No FSC certification is required since it is not a wood product.