Ink Jet Printing on Leather

[Kowboyboots]

A few years ago I accidentally drop a piece of thin pig skin in my ink jet printer and WOW I was so impressed. I had been sublimating on leather for years but never thought about running it through the printer.

Now I have figured out how to run it through my wide format ink jet to make pillows etc....

Two things I learn after playing with it for a while.

If it is a straight through printer just make sure it is ironed flat,I heat them flat on my t-shirt printing press. If it is a roll through you may want to heat it to a sheet of butcher paper, wax side. This makes it a little stiffer.

Use the setting on the printer for transfers, or card stock.

You could use this technique to make inserts for wallets, boxes, even yoke for coats.

not sure it this had been discussed on the site or not, but always happy passing on my years of doing the unusual with leather.

Kathy

[JustWakinUp]

what weight is the leather? This sounds somewhat interesting.

[Kowboyboots]

It is the real thin pig skin, I am guessing 1 to 2 oz. Thicker would work if it is a straight through printer. You need to treat it after wards with several light spray coats of neat lack or similar product.

[esantoro]

Hi Kathy,

Do you have a good source for this thin pigskin? I've used Tandy's pigskin but I'm looking for larger, a little more supple pieces.

Thanks,

Ed

[Kowboyboots]

I can't remember where I been getting it. I go through a lot of leather. Let me see if I can find my last invoice.

[Kowboyboots]

This is also a great way to make business cards. In fact that is what I had gotten this thin leather for was to laser business cards on.

[Gamekeeper]

Hi,

interested in the business card side of it.

Do you have any examples?

I've got some lovely soft & supple goatskin I think I'll give it a try on that.

Cheers

Dave

[Kowboyboots]

I can't find a single card around here, but I found a name badge made the same way.

I did get my thin leather from Oregon leather, but you would just have to feel to make sure it will go through the printer ok. I found with my printers the Epsom printers work best. The ones you drop the paper in the back an it feeds right through. Not the the ones that pick it up from the bottom & roll through.

When picking a leather, just find one that feels like card stock thickness. Remember this was not something I was trying to do, it was an accident, the first picture is the original one I dropped in the printer.

Of course I don't have any samples of the big things I did, seems like I finish them an out the door, never even got pictures of them. Only thing i seem to have to show people is the mistakes, LOL.

[Gamekeeper]

Thanks for the info, looks really good.

Definitely think I'm going to give it a try.

All the best

Dave

[Ferg]

I can't find a single card around here, but I found a name badge made the same way.

I did get my thin leather from Oregon leather, but you would just have to feel to make sure it will go through the printer ok. I found with my printers the Epsom printers work best. The ones you drop the paper in the back an it feeds right through. Not the the ones that pick it up from the bottom & roll through.

When picking a leather, just find one that feels like card stock thickness. Remember this was not something I was trying to do, it was an accident, the first picture is the original one I dropped in the printer.

Of course I don't have any samples of the big things I did, seems like I finish them an out the door, never even got pictures of them. Only thing i seem to have to show people is the mistakes, LOL.

Kathy,

I too have transferred images onto leather and most everything else

I find the easiest to use is OEM Laser Printer on to transfer paper and then onto leather. I also have used white Doe Skin, Tandy carries it. The images on the Doeskin are

fabulous.

ferg