Guys I have been trying my hand at making some new pads for the new GHP. Ive been reading up on ways of getting images onto fabric because I have little knowledge of it to begin with. So Ive learned tons over the past month or so on the processes that are involved in it.

I found a bunch of websites on using printers to get your images onto fabric so this is the first way I went. I took some GHP artwork from the new school decals and scanned them. I then imported the images into Autocad and recreated the artwork into line work so I would have the option to manipulate it a little better. Well here are some of the results from using a laserjet printer. I did use an inkjet but the inks and quality are just not the same as the laserjet. It was hard to get a good picture due to the reflectiveness of the gold fabric. This was the best I could do.




Im still not really happy with the quality and Im not sure if this is due to the printer that Im using or not. I am going to attempt some other ways to improve the look. Im thinking about using some screen printing ink to go over the image or creating a screen to screen print some other pieces of fabric.

I think some more experimenting will turn something out that I like better. Ill make sure to put some more pics up as I get more into it.

Here are a few websites that I checked out before getting into this.
printing on fabric

[ September 02, 2006, 01:48 PM: Message edited by: lowchin ]

Hey, that looks pretty good! How did you run the material through the printer? Is that rip stop nylon? I tried the same thing with heat press material, it worked on the nylon but it melted the vinyl.

No it is not ripstop nylon. I wish I actually had some metallic gold ripstop. This is some metallic gold material that I ordered from a this website that does a lot of costumes. It is very delicate stuff. It doesnt tear or anything if you pull on it but it kind of stretches a little.

What I had to do was buy Freezer Paper from the grocery store. Freezer paper is basically wax paper that only has the wax on one side. So you cut the freezer paper to the size paper that your printer can handle. Then you cut the fabric just a little smaller than the paper. I then put the fabric good side down then put the freezer paper ontop of the fabric. The freezer paper should be placed on the fabric with the wax side down onto the bad side of your fabric. I then took an iron and went over the paper side of the freezer paper. This melts the wax/plastic on the other side of the freezer paper and makes it bond to the fabric. Then I just let it dry for a minute or two. I got my image ready in my cad program and then ran it through.

Looking pretty good there low. Pop me a set of dingo pads to go on the bass boat.

I wish it was as easy as popping them. I have hours into doing the artwork. But hey if you get me the art it may be possible. I dont think Ive ever seen Dingo Pads. Did Dingo ever make any?

No, they sure didnt. I was just kiddind around with you. I know there is alot of man hours put into what you have already done. For me too even ask you too make me a pad set was pretty stupid on my end. I know that when you finish yours they will be sweet looking.

Well I tell you what if you can get be some of there artwork we can see what we can do. I dont have really any good dingo graphics other than some lettering and the face decal you gave me. Id really like to see a set from the decals that are on your dingo those are pretty cool. Take a good pic of it and send it to me Im just curious as to the deatail of it.

Let me say that the only thing that I really had an issue with was the type of fabric that I decided to use for my pads. I bought two different types of gold fabric to start with. I ended up choosing the one I did just because of the color and way it looked seemed overall nicer. I think that really any other kind of fabric would have worked better lol. However I must say that buying fabric online is really hard you cannot get a good grasp of its texture or generally how it is. If that makes any sense?

[ September 03, 2006, 10:31 AM: Message edited by: lowchin ]

I have a set of nos white cal-lite pad set here at the house. Could we use those? I'll take the pics you need , pluse I will scan the other decals I have in that box you saw. I'll even snap pics of the padset.

Have you finished the pad set yet?

Maybe Ill see if I can post some pics up tonight. See how motivated I get.

Um, I'm not trying to be a butt here. I think both you guys (Retro and Lowchin) are great dudes, but did anyone get Greg Hills permission to be making pads using his logo that is in current production? Just being nosey..

Brian I did write Greg. Im not selling the pads to anyone there just for this guy right here. If Greg wants me to stop I will in a second.