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Iron-ons don't last. If you spill anything on them or get them wet the colour will invariably run.
Stencils are ok for small volumes and allow you to get a bit tricky without much experience.
Silk-screens are easier than you'd think - especially if you're just after one colour. A basic step by step would be :
1. Make a wooden frame about twice the size of the image you want to print.
2. Stretch silk-screen material over the frame and staple it tight. This can be bought from any art supply store. Don't use any old silk - it won't work.
3. The screen should be as tight as a drum. Now coat it with a UV Emulsion. This is an emulsion that becomes waterproof on exposure to UV light. It can be purchased from screen print supply stores.
4. Wait for the screen to dry.
5. Prepare you image and print in black and white. Photocopy onto acetate.
6. Place acetate onto screen and hold in the sun for 30 or so seconds. The emulsion under the black parts of the actetate won't be exposed to the sun's UV rays and so won't be waterproof.
7. Wash out the screen. The parts that were exposed to the sun are now waterproof. The parts that weren't will wash out leaving you with your image on a silk-screen.
8. Put the screen in the sun and leav to dry.
9. Place on t-shirt and spread t-shirt ink over frame. Ink should can be bought from art supply store and should be the kind that can be "fixed" with an iron. This means it sets permanently when heat is applied.
10. Use a strong piece of cardboard or ideally a squeegee (bit of wood with hard rubber edge) and draw the ink across the image pressing firmly.
11. remove the screen from the shirt. You should have transferred the image.
12. Wait for the shirt to dry and turn inside out before setting with an iron.
This whole setup should cost no more than about $50 and will allow you to create loads of lasting silk-screens that can be used over and over again.
Hope this helps!
Damo.
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