The fabric and the backing paper must be tight and flat together. Use a hot iron on the paper side to reseal the paper and fabric together if the paper and fabric become separated.
Before you load any fabric sheets into your printer be sure to cut or clip loose threads, do not pull.
Do not force a fabric sheet into any printer. Place the sheet flush against the paper guide and square with the entry roller.
Feed single sheets at a time. (If you are using an HP the print side goes down and the ‘paper’ side up in the feed tray.)
Humidity and storage conditions of the Color Plus® Fabrics will affect its performance. Store flat in low humidity conditions. Other conditions affecting performance are the age of your printer and the condition of the pickup and drive rollers inside the printer.
Select ‘Print’ then select ‘Properties’ then in the pull down box next to ‘media’ select ‘Plain Paper’ setting.
Check the printer utility for ‘cleaning’ instructions if the output quality appears to have changed OR if you can see banding or white lines through the image.
Fabrics and papers will leave dust and lint in your printer. Using a can of compressed air to ‘blow’ debris out of the printer mechanisms is a good preventative maintenance and will help to keep your printer clean.
Frequently Asked Questions
Today’s products are being sold for use in a wide range of applications including textile sampling, soft signage, and garment production. Color Textile’s Color Plus® Fabrics, incorporate our patent pending chemical process that yields digitally printed fabric that outperforms traditional silkscreen techniques while providing maximum color accuracy, gamut and a high degree of wash fastness!
Q: How is the product sold? A: We sell chemically treated goods in widths from 8.5" to 60". Small quantities and bulk rolls may be purchased, with or without paper backing. We recommend ‘paper backing’ as it facilitates loading the media into your inkjet printer. Bulk goods are sold in square yards rather than running yards and are full widths including salvage.
Q: What makes this product different from all the other fabrics available on the market? A: With this product, you can use Thermal or Piezo printers (see also next question). The performance is outstanding with dye or pigment inks. The image is permanent on the final printed textile. It has maximum color gamut and the "blackest black in the business". There is no need for steaming or other post—processing! This results in amazing quality of reproduction and it has quickly become the standard product used by many artists.
Q: Will the Color Plus® Fabrics work in my inkjet printer? A: In general we have tested a wide range of dye and pigmented inks from Canon, ColorSpan. HP, Ilford, ENCAD, Epson, LexMark, and Lyson inks and they all work with Color Plus® Fabrics! If there is a specific Ink set not listed that you are using please call. (Note: Solvent inks are not environmentally friendly and we DO NOT support any solvent-based ink systems)
Q: How does this compare with traditionally dyed fabrics? A: Everyone has purchased a piece of brand name clothing from a well-known store; only to have half the color wash out with the first washing! Color Plus® Fabrics are all natural fibers. The level of wash fastness will depend on which fabric you are using, the brand and age of your ink set, the amount of ink lay down, the time from the first printing to the first wash, the method of washing, the pH of the soap used, the minerals in the local water supply, the length of the soak, the temperature of the water, the rpm’s of the agitation, and any other outside factors beyond our control.
As a rule, these fabrics will give the user the same life as a similar fabric used in high-end garments. Treat the finished fabric with the same care as your best garment, and give careful instructions to the user if the garment is being sold or is a gift.
Q: How do I care for the fabrics? A: Certain fabrics like our Color Plus® Silk should be hand washed, some may be machine-washed and ALL of the fabrics may be dry-cleaned. Just like any store bought garment, hand washing and dry-cleaning will extend the life of the garment. Last, test the inks you are using so you know your limits and how it reacts to light and water!
Q: Can I do anything to make the dyes/pigments last longer? A: We have found that the best thing to do is rinse or spray the fabric with plain water to wet out the fabric. This ensures that all the dye molecules are attached and any excess are rinsed away. This also insures that any excess chemical is removed. The fabric coating acts like a magnet and can attract dye that doesn’t belong.
Q: Will it help to rinse in vinegar water or any other items found in the store for fabric care? A: No! Many of the printer inks respond better to high pH levels rather then low pH. Some of the items in the stores could break down the inks or the finish on the fabric. Feel free to test small images with your inks and let us know your results, good or bad!
Q: Can I put "Scotch Guard" on the printed image? How about starch or sizing? A: Yes, but first rinse off the fabric for 30 seconds, blot the excess water with a towel, and let dry. This 30-second rinse is also recommended if you are going to wear the item!
Q: Should I rinse it even if it is a dry clean only fabric? A: Yes, a 30 second rinse will remove all the extra dye and extra chemical. Do not wring or twist the fabric to remove the excess water. Gently squeeze and roll in a towel, pat the towel to absorb the water, then lay flat to dry.
Q: How safe is the chemical in the fabric? A: Very safe! There are no toxic chemicals used in our patent pending chemical pretreatment.
Q: How light fast is the fabric? A: That entirely depends on the lightfast quality of the dyes you are using.
Q: Is Color Plus® fabric stored or handled any different from other fabrics? A: Our fabrics should be stored with the rolls in a horizontal position. Small threads should be clipped, not pulled. The fabric can be touched without fear of fingerprints or fear of removing the chemical. Make sure your hands are clean, free of lotions and dry prior to touching the fabric. Small stray threads can lie on the fabric. If you see one on the fabric, pick it up before the fabric goes through the printer. The fabric can be removed as soon as it is finished, there is little to no dry time required!
Q: Is there any special handling with regards to the paper backing? A: The paper can be removed at any time after printing. The paper can be discarded. If you are removing the paper from a large printed area, lay the fabric face down on a clean surface. Release the paper from a few inches of the fabric and lay an empty tube over the loose paper. Roll the tube to pull the paper up onto the tube. You will need to put pressure over the fabric edge to maintain tension. The important thing is to be careful not to pull the fabric out of shape. If you do so, wet the fabric, as the suggested rinse, and reshape the fabric, laying it flat to dry
Q: I pulled off all the paper backing and still have good fabric area to print on. What do I do? A: You can reattach the paper with a standard hot household iron to the back of the paper. Use the removed paper and make sure the glossy side is against the back of the fabric. Trim the paper to the fabric.
Q: Do I have to wet the fabric if I’m making a sign? A: NO! It’s not necessary. If you want to ensure that there are no "loose" dye molecules, or the fabric was pulled out of shape when removing the paper, lay the fabric face up on a clean surface. Using a clean spray bottle, mist the fabric with plain water. Let the water soak into the surface and reshape the fabric.
Limited Warranty
DO NOT USE THIS PRODUCT IN COLOR LASER PRINTERS. Color Textiles Color Plus® Fabrics are designed for use in all inkjet printers (thermal inkjet or piezo inkjet). This product if defective in materials and workmanship will be replaced. Send the product along with proof of purchase to 9030 West Sahara, #198 Las Vegas NV 89117. Replacement is the sole obligation under this warranty, this warranty expressly excludes incidental and consequential damage, including, but not limited to the printer and or the print heads. Under no circumstances does Color Textiles assume any responsibility for the inkjet color printer, the thermal or piezo print heads in the printer or the inks.
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