How to Iron-On Transfer Pictures to Shirts

updated by Anne Dorfman on 2/12/2026

If you want to create wow-worthy graphic t-shirts on the fly, iron-on heat transfers are the way to go. Once you learn how to master DIY transfers, you’ll have a fast, easy method to make t-shirts for birthdays, trips, family reunions, school events or clubs, concerts and more.

If you’re selling custom graphic t-shirts, this is a great way to add new designs into the mix without needing to keep them printed and in stock. You can easily create a professional transfer and heat press it to a blank t-shirt once a customer places an order. Learn how to create a professional DIY heat transfer of your favorite artwork right at home, and attach it with heat to your favorite blank t-shirt.

How to Iron on a Picture to a Shirt

If you want to decorate a t-shirt quickly with a high-quality, custom graphic that lasts, look no further than using the iron-on transfer process to add a stand-out decoration to your blank t-shirt. Here’s how it works: First, you print your artwork onto transfer paper, which has a smooth surface that’s a medium for the ink. Then, you use your heat press or iron to transfer the image from your paper to your t-shirt.

While you can use an iron to apply your transfer, if you want to sell your graphic t-shirts, it may be best to invest in a professional t-shirt heat press machine, since it provides consistent, uniform heat so you can get long-lasting durable designs on your t-shirts. There are lots of advantages to using a heat press at home to “iron on” a picture to a shirt, including:

• Easy to learn and use: Even if you’ve only used an iron to affix artwork to a shirt, it’s easy to learn how to use a heat press. These machines are small, so they’ll only require a small footprint in your work area. Plus, you’ll be able to print on different parts of clothing, so you can create a wraparound print on your favorite t-shirt, for example.
• Clean operation: If you’ve ever tried screen printing at home, you know it can get messy with the inks, additives and solvents you need to use—and that sometimes get all over your t-shirt or work area. A heat press mimics the look of a vibrant screen-printed design, but without any spills. You just need your printer, your transfer image, your heat press and your t-shirt.
• High-quality decorated t-shirts: You can quickly apply vividly colored heat-transfer images onto a t-shirt with your heat press. These images can be full-color, high-resolution and even photo-realistic artworks that a designer creates in a professional program like Adobe Photoshop or CorelDRAW. Your “iron-on” pictures can rival the high-quality results of direct-to-garment printing or screen printing, at a fraction of the price.
• Affordable cost: Speaking of price, heat pressing your design is cost effective. Screen printing works best if you’re printing hundreds, or even thousands, of the same item. However, for small volumes, like one or six or 15 t-shirts, it’s a lot more affordable to use heat transfers and your press to get a similar effect. Heat press machines are more budget-friendly than a screen-printing press setup. You’ll find presses starting around a couple of hundred dollars. If you’re selling the shirts you decorate, you may quickly make back the money you’ve invested in heat transfer supplies and equipment, and start making a profit.

DIY Iron Transfer With Transfer Paper

If you’re new to ironing personalized designs onto your t-shirts, you’ll be excited to know it’s super-easy to create your very own iron-on design using the computer and printer you already own. When you make your own DIY iron-on transfer, you can choose the image you want, whether you create it, use elements available online or hire someone to create it.

An iron-on transfer is an image that you can attach to a t-shirt with heat and pressure from an iron or heat press. The process is straightforward: You create your image and then print it on one side of your transfer paper, using your regular printer. Then, you iron the transfer onto your t-shirt. When you apply heat to the transfer, the image transfers from the paper to the fabric. Once the transfer cools, you simply peel the paper, and the image imprints on the fabric. Here’s how to iron on artwork to your t-shirt, using transfer paper that you purchase.

Step One: Gather Your Iron-On Transfer Project Materials.

Take some time to gather what you’ll need for this DIY picture on a t-shirt project. Here’s a short list of what we recommend you use:

• Blank t-shirt
• Transfer image
• Printer paper
• Transfer paper
• Printer
• Iron
• Pillowcase to cover your work surface
• Heat-resistant work surface
• Cardboard
• Scissors
• Timer

Step Two: Choose the Right T-Shirt for Your Transfer Project.

Here at Clothing Shop Online (CSO), we think choosing the blank shirt is the most thrilling part of any project. After all, your t-shirt is your blank canvas for your creativity and self-expression! For an iron-on transfer project, cotton and cotton blend fabrics work best.

Here are some affordable 100% cotton tees and tanks that we like for a heat transfer project:

• Bella + Canvas CVC Jersey Tee (style #3001C)
• Next Level Apparel Cotton Muscle Tank (style #3633)
• Hanes Beefy-T® T-Shirt (style #5180)

Step Three: Select the Right Heat Transfer Paper for Your Project.

It’s important to select the right transfer paper for your project. Here’s what you need to know. You’ll find transfer paper sheets for light-colored (like white, yellow and light gray) and dark-colored (black, dark blue and dark gray) t-shirt fabrics. Choose the right transfer paper based on your t-shirt color. You’ll see that transfer paper for darker t-shirts are thicker. They also have a white backing, so the lighter colors in your design stand out against the dark fabric.

Before you order or buy your transfer paper, do some online research to learn about different brands. You want to choose the most high-quality, long-lasting and highly rated ones. You’ll also want to be sure that the transfer paper you choose will work with your printer type, whether it’s an inkjet or laser. When you choose your transfer paper, read and follow all of the instructions carefully.

Step Four: Create Your Artwork in an Online Design Program.

You can use a program like Canva.com, since it offers an easy-to-use photo editor. There are many artwork templates available, along with a library of fonts and images (including photos, or you can import your own). 

Pro Tip: Aim to use brighter colors for a design that will go on a light-colored t-shirt. Otherwise, the image will look discolored after you transfer it to your t-shirt. For best results on a light-colored shirt, use medium to darker colors.

No matter what image software you’re using, you’ll need to edit your chosen image so it fits your t-shirt. You can use the image editing software to change your image’s size, colors, appearance and special effects. If you’re new to this process, there are many online tutorials you can use to learn editing skills, tips and tricks.

Pro Tip: Once you’ve created your design, you’ll need to “flip” or “mirror” it by using your photo editor or printer settings. That way, the design will transfer exactly as you intended onto your t-shirt. Depending on your image editing software, you’ll select a command like “flip image horizontally,” “reverse image” or “mirror image.” When you flip your image, it’ll be facing “the wrong way,” so that it faces the right way when you affix it to your t-shirt with heat.

Step Five: Print and Cut Out Your Heat Transfer Design.

Get ready! Now, things are getting exciting. First, review your design on your computer screen to make sure it looks exactly how you want it to appear on your t-shirt. Since your image might look a little different when you print it, we recommend that you do a test print on regular printer paper first. Make sure that your lines are crisp and colors are vibrant. Be sure that the entire image prints out, and no edges are cut off.

Now, place your transfer paper in your printer’s paper tray, following the instructions on the package, and hit print.

Then, cut out the image. Keep narrow, rounded margins around the edges. Try to remove as much of the transparent areas around your design; otherwise, you’ll see the t-shirt fabric through these areas, distorting your image.

Step Six: Apply the Heat Transfer to Your T-Shirt.

Heat your iron to the cotton setting. Place an unwrinkled pillowcase on your work surface, which should be hard, flat and heat resistant. You might choose a wooden cutting board or table that’s large enough to cover the size of your transfer. Experts advise not using an ironing board, which won’t stand up to intense heat.

Then, put a piece of cardboard inside your t-shirt to project the other side. Lay your t-shirt on your work surface, and iron out any wrinkles.

Next, place your transfer paper face down on your t-shirt in the spot where you want to apply the design. Then, start ironing your transfer, applying some pressure. You can iron from side for 20 seconds, and then up and down for 20 seconds. Focus on the edges so that they adhere solidly to the fabric.

Aim to iron the entire transfer using this method for about three minutes. Keep the iron moving so that you don’t scorch the design. Don’t use steam or a water spritz; in fact, steam will keep the transfer from fully sticking to the fabric.

Step Seven: Remove the Excess Heat Transfer Paper.

Let your transfer cool for two minutes. This is when the glue adheres to the fabric. Then, start peeling the paper back, slowly and smoothly, from one corner of the transfer.

If your transfer starts lifting along with the paper, that means you didn’t apply enough pressure with the iron. Repeat the iron-on process we described in the previous step, and focus on the edges.

Pro Tip: Don’t throw your shirt into the laundry or even hand wash it for at least 24 hours. That will allow the heat transfer image to set even better.

Step Eight: Clean and Wear Your Iron-On Heat Transfer T-Shirt.

When you wash your t-shirt, set your wash and dry cycle to a cool or gentle-care setting. Turn your shirt inside-out or inside a pillowcase to protect your design. Use a gentler detergent. Plus, don’t ever use bleach, because that will fade the design.

Pro Tip: The first time you launder your shirt, you might opt to hand-wash and line-dry it.

DIY Iron-On Transfer Without Transfer Paper

Let’s say that you don’t have transfer paper handy and want to make a cool graphic t-shirt. The good news? You can still do a DIY iron-on transfer for your t-shirt project right at home using supplies you have in your kitchen. In no time, you’ll transform that blank t-shirt into a customized graphic tee!

Step One: Gather Your DIY Iron-ON Transfer Project Materials.

Take some time to gather what you’ll need for this DIY shirt printing with an iron project. Here’s a short list of what we recommend you use:

• Blank t-shirt
• Plastic wrap
• Transfer image
• Printer
• Printer paper
• Parchment paper
• Iron Pillowcase to cover your work surface
• Heat-resistant work surface
• Cardboard
• Scissors
• Timer

Step Two: Choose the Right T-Shirt for Your Transfer Project.

Here at Clothing Shop Online (CSO), we think choosing the blank shirt is the most thrilling part of any project. After all, your t-shirt is your blank canvas for your creativity and self-expression! For an iron-on transfer project like this one, cotton and cotton blend fabrics work best. 

Here are some affordable 100% cotton and cotton blend tees that we like for an iron-on transfer with parchment paper project.

• Next Level Apparel CVC T-Shirt (style #6210)
• Bella + Canvas Jersey Tee (style #3001)

Step Three: Create Your Artwork in an Online Design Program (or Use One of Your Favorite Photos).

As you learned in the previous section, you can use a program like Canva.com to create your t-shirt graphic since it offers an easy-to-use photo editor. There are many templates available, along with a library of fonts and images (including photos, or you can import your own).

However, if you don’t want to create a special image for the t-shirt, you can easily use one of your favorite digital photos (like your baby’s first birthday or your beloved pet).

Step Four: Create Your DIY Transfer.

First, print out the image in color using your printer and regular printer paper. Then, cut out the image.

Pull two sheets of plastic wrap, and place the image between them. Smooth out any wrinkles or bubbles. Then cut the image out, cutting as close to the edge as possible.

The whole front and back of your image should be covered with the plastic wrap.

Step Five: Apply the Homemade Heat Transfer to Your T-Shirt.

Heat your iron to your high setting. Place an unwrinkled pillowcase on your work surface, which should be hard, flat and heat resistant. You might choose a wooden cutting board or table that’s large enough to cover the size of your transfer.

Then, put a piece of cardboard inside your t-shirt to project the other side. Lay your t-shirt on your work surface, and iron out any wrinkles. 

Then, place the wrapped image face-up on your T-shirt where you’d like it to transfer. Then, cover the DIY transfer image with parchment paper.

Start ironing your transfer and applying pressure. You can iron from side for 20 seconds, and then up and down for 20 seconds. Focus on the edges. Aim to iron the entire transfer using this method for three minutes. Keep the iron moving so that you don’t scorch the design. Don’t use steam or a water spritz; in fact, steam will keep the transfer from sticking to the fabric.

The plastic wrap will melt and adhere your design to your blank t-shirt!

Step Six: Remove the Excess Heat Transfer Paper.

Let your transfer cool for about two minutes. Then, start peeling the paper back, slowly and smoothly, from one corner of the transfer.

If your transfer starts lifting along with the paper, that means you didn’t apply enough pressure with the iron. Repeat the iron-on process we described in the previous step, and focus on the edges.

Pro Tip: Don’t throw your shirt into the laundry or even hand wash it for at least 24 hours. That will allow the heat transfer image to set even better.

Step Seven: Clean and Wear Your Iron-On Heat Transfer T-Shirt.

When you wash your t-shirt, set your wash and dry cycle to a cool or gentle-care setting. Turn your shirt inside-out or inside a pillowcase to protect your design. Use a gentler detergent. Don’t ever use bleach, because that will fade the design. You might opt to hand wash and line dry your t-shirt to keep the design intact longer.

Tips for Making Your Own Iron-On Transfer

We gave you two options for creating a DIY iron-on t-shirt graphic via a transfer sheet you buy, and one you make with plastic wrap. No matter which DIY method you choose, here are some handy tips to master the art of the transfer:

Aim to Create Images With Darker, Bolder Colors.

Experts say that you should avoid creating or using images with light colors, since darker-colored artwork shows up better on most fabrics.

Don’t Leave “White” or “Open” Areas in Your Transfer Design.

First, many home printers don’t print white ink, so they’ll appear clear when you print out your transfer image. That means the fabric color will “show” through the image, and look distracting. It’s a better idea to avoid white areas if you can. Similarly, open spaces also will reveal your fabric color, so try to fill in those areas with a hue.

Don’t Use a Design or Image You Don’t Have Permission to Use.

You don’t want to run into any legal issues if you use a copyrighted image that you don’t have permission to use. Check out sites like Unsplash.com or Pexels.com offer high-quality, royalty-free images that you’re free to use.

Yes, You Need to Cut Out Spaces Inside Each Letter.

This might be one downside to a transfer image. If you’re using letters or text, you need to cut out the space inside each letter so the fabric shows through. Another tip is to use a white background for the letters, and then trim around the edges. A white background, however, doesn’t always look great on dark fabrics. You can experiment with using other backgrounds under text to see if you like the effect.

Shop Clothing Shop Online (CSO) for Your Next DIY Iron-On Transfer Project

We hope you’re excited to start your first iron-on picture project with your favorite t-shirt. Doing iron-on transfers at home has lots of benefits:

• It’s easy.
• It doesn’t cause a mess.
• The process is chemical free. The results are long-lasting.
• You can achieve complex, vibrant, photorealistic images.

Now that you’re ready to start your DIY iron-on picture project, Clothing Shop Online (CSO) makes it easy to find high-quality shirts to showcase your beautiful and stylish designs. Choosing the right t-shirt might just be the most important part of gathering your supplies. After all, your t-shirt is your blank canvas for your creativity and self-expression! We recommend choosing a 100% cotton t-shirt or a cotton blend, depending on the style you like.