Media having ink-receptive coatings for heat-transferring images to fabrics

1. A method for applying an image to a fabric material, comprising the steps of:

a) providing an ink-jet printable heat-transfer medium, the medium comprising a base substrate having a front surface and back surface, the front surface coated with: i) a hot-melt layer comprising a thermoplastic polymer having a melting point in the range of about 60° C. to about 180° C., and ii) an ink-receptive layer overlaying the hot-melt layer, the ink-receptive layer comprising non-polymeric organic particles that are a reaction product of a diamine and two molecules, each molecule having at least one carboxylic acid group and at least five carbon atoms; thermoplastic polymer particles; and a thermoplastic film-forming binder having a melting point in the range of about 60° C. to about 180° C.;

b) printing an image on the front surface of the substrate with an ink-jet printer;

c) placing the imaged substrate on a fabric material so that the printed image faces downwards and contacts the fabric;

d) applying heat to the backside of the substrate so that the imaged film coating is pressed into the fabric and the image is transferred to the fabric; and

e) peeling the substrate away from the transferred printed image on the fabric.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the heat is applied to the substrate by means of an iron.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fabric is a white T-shirt.