Holmes Family Reunion 2000 Gear

Been there! Done that! Bought the T-shirt!

What? You haven't got your "Reunion T" yet? I'm not surprised, they haven't been marketed yet; and in spite of the requests we have had, they won't be.

Actually we're going to help you get a souvenier t-shirt, for a VERY reasonable price! All you have to do is download the graphic file, and print it on a sheet of T-shirt transfer film with a colour inkjet printer. Then you iron it on the shirt of your choice, and Voila!

Don't have an inkjet printer? No problem, bring your shirt to the reunion, and we'll sell you a pre-printed transfer for 75 cents ($2.50 for the full page kids version. See designs further down the page.) and we can apply it there. Bring along an indelible fabric marker pen and get everyone to autograph your shirt. Every shirt will be unique!

One logo we have created for you (reduced image below, right) is about 3.5 inches high by 4 inches wide. The graphic file consists of four images that will all print on one sheet. (2 wide by 2 high) It will look best on a white, or light coloured fabric, which should be a mix of cotton and polyester, at least 50% polyester, according to people who tell me they know about theses things.

You need:

• A computer and a program to view and print the image file
• A colour inkjet printer
• A plain T-shirt (50/50 cotton/polyester is preferable). I use 100% cotton, but I am told it will fade or wear off sooner.
• Iron on transfer paper (available at most computer/stationary stores)
• The image file (download from here)
• A hot iron and flat surface to iron on.

Here is how you do it:

• Print the printer friendly version of this page so you can refer to it later.
• Download the image file(s)
• Import the image into your graphic program. I use Paintshop Pro 6, but you can use Netscape, Internet Explorer, or any other program that will display and print a JPG file. HOWEVER, my tests show that printing from a web browser will give you an image that is only 73% of full size. It's best to use a Graphics program.

• Print the image onto plain paper first to ensure you will be happy with the results. (Transfer paper is a bit over 2 bucks a sheet, so you don't want to ruin any more than you have to.)
• Ensure that the final image is a "mirror image" (flipped left to right) so when it is placed face down on the fabric it will iron on "right way out". Your printer probably has a setting in its properties to select either "T-shirt transfer" or "back print film" for paper type. This setting will automatically flip the image for you. If it does not have this facility, download and print the mirror image file.
• Print the image onto the transfer paper. There will be four on the sheet.
• Cut the desired logo out of the sheet. cut fairly close to the design to reduce the excess transfer material that must be ironed on. I find it helpful to leave a 2 cm tab of unprinted material protruding from one side of the design as a handle to aid in peeling the backing off during the ironing step.
• Position the garment on a smooth, flat hard surface (see the instructions that come with your transfer paper). Ensure there are no wrinkles or seams under the area where you will place the transfer.
• Place the transfer face down on the garment, taking care to ensure it is oriented properly. The suggested location is on the upper right side of the T-shirt, about 9 or 10 cm down from the shoulder seam, about 2 to 4 cm from the sleave seam. (depends on garment size)
• Holding it carefully by the tab you left for the purpose, place the hot iron on the transfer and with firm, even pressure go over the whole transfer. After going over the whole transfer a several times, ensuring the edges are ironed down, (about 15 seconds) gently pull the paper tab up as you gradually slide the iron off the transfer. If you let the transfer cool at all you will never get the paper off.

There you go! You have your own official, authorized, royalty free Holmes Family Reunion 2000 T-shirt! (or golf shirt, or jacket, or baseball cap, or umbrella, or bed sheets, or whatever.)

Oh, one more thing: when laundering, turn it inside out, and go really easy (preferably none) on the bleach!