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Continuing the series Printing on Fabric 101, today let’s look at printers and the best feed path when printing on fabric.

One of the most common problems when printing on fabric is having the fabric jam when feeding through your printer. This problem can be alleviated in part by ensuring that the fabric is properly adhered to a paper backing so it feeds through your printer smoothly. Additional information about adhering your fabric to a paper backing can be found here for using freezer paper and an alternate method can be found here for using sticky labels .

Paper jams can also be avoided by using a printer with a feed path that better supports the thickness and texture of fabric, and ideally a straight through feed or an L-shaped feed are the best options for printing on fabric. If you’re not sure about your printer’s feed path, check your user manual.

Best Choice – Straight-Through Feed
The paper feeds from the back (or the front) of the printer and exits at the front (or the back) in a straight line. This ensures that the fabric remains securely bonded to the paper backing and feeds smoothly through the printer.

This type of printer offers the best solution for printing any type of material from very thin to quite thick.

Next Best Choice – L-shaped Feed
The paper feeds from a tray located at the back of the printer in a downwards angle, curves slightly and then exits at the front. Because the fabric feeds through with only a very slight curve, the fabric remains securely bonded to the paper backing.

This type of printer is probably the most common and should work well with most types of material except the very rigid.

Least Preferred Choice – U-Shaped Feed
The paper feeds from a horizontal tray located at the front or on top of the printer, feeds into the printer and makes a curve in order to exit.

This is the most difficult type of printer to work with as the fabric has to make (an often) sharp u-turn in order to feed through, and this can cause the fabric to form wrinkles as it bends, and then it peels away from the paper backing which in turn increases the risk of a paper jam. This type of printer will limit the types and thicknesses of materials that can be printed.

NEXT … Printer Inks

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