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How to print on fabric?

I would like to print on rolls of fabric using a large-format printer (HP Designjet 500PS). I believe the inks are water-based, dye-based ink. What can I do to make it so the ink is colorfast and won't bleed when the fabric gets wet?

Public Comments

1. There is a special kit you can buy at staples or office Depot.
2. I have work with many dye based large format printers in the past. Most dye based inks are not ideal especially if final product will be getting wet. You can apply finishes to fabric to help, but in these cases it still is not for full saturation of water. Some of the HP large format model printers have the option to change the ink lines so you can run solvent based inks, and still have your dye based lines to switch back too. Sadly though you can not run both types of ink thru the same lines. Solvent based inks are colour fast and water proof when cured/dried. You might have to try a few experiments before you get the effect you want. I would even try the dye based inks and heat set them with an iron and try washing or wetting them to see what happens. Also keep in mind dye based inks fade much faster than solvent based. Even though you can make a t-shirt transfer on a inkjet and it can be washed. Keep in mind that the ink get sealed into the t-shirt and the heats sets it up. I also know that these types of transfer wash out quickly. The most poplar way of printing on fabric still to this day is silk screening.