Painting on Iron-On Transfers

• Fabric paints
  
  You can paint on iron-on transfers once they have been applied to fabric and heat set. There are a vast variety of fabric paints available for use on any number of textiles. The key to producing a successful result is to match the right kind of fabric paints with the right kind of fabric. Most fabric paints work best on fabrics with a minimum of 60 percent cotton. A higher percentage of cotton will yield a more vibrant color. You should also take note of the shade of your iron-on transfer because certain fabric paints are designed to be applied specifically on light or dark shades.
  
  

Transfer paints

• Transfer paints
  
  There is also another type of paint called transfer paint, which you can use on regular copier paper by painting a design and then transferring the painted paper directly onto fabric. Transfer paints work best on synthetic fabrics or blends with at least 60 percent synthetic. These types of paints require a heat source to set. Specifications vary by manufacturer.
  
  

Tips

• Effects
  
  It's a good idea to wash your garment with the iron-on transfer before you apply your paint. This will prepare the portion of the fabric with the transfer on it for paint application.
  
  Test different paints and techniques on scrap fabric and transfers before painting on a good garment. You can experiment with different fabric paints, shades, painting styles and iron-on transfers. The more practice you have, the better your odds of achieving a desirable effect.