Custom Printing on Fabric - All About Files

WHAT ARE THE CORRECT FILES TO PRINT ON FABRICS?

Printing on fabrics requires a file with specific characteristics.

To get the best results we prepared a quick guide.

The artwork needs to be in 1:1 scale.

1:1 scale, the simplest way to put it is - the size of the printed pattern will be the same as the size of your file.

Here is an example:

We always send scale preview for approval before printing to make sure your printed fabric is just as you want it to be.

Seamless Pattern

A seamless pattern will repeat top to bottom and left to right.

If you look closely at the image above, you can see that within each yellow square, the designs are cut off.

It is important that the cut off design is complete at the opposite side.

The seamless pattern is then repeated over the width and length of the fabric.

We always check if the file you sent is seamless to make sure your printed fabric is flawless.

For more information on how to create a seamless pattern using free software, please click here.

We also have a blog post where you can explore the step-by-step process here.

Panels

We can print designs that are not seamless, repeatable patterns but are panels with set dimensions.

The panel can be repeated over the width and length of the fabric.

The maximum width of the panel is the width of the fabric.

Most of our fabrics are 150cm wide but please check a description for each fabric base.

Here are 2 examples:

The panel on the picture below is 50cm x 50cm

We can repeat the panel on the width of the fabric.

Here is how it will look on 1m of fabric that is 150cm wide:

If the panel is larger than in the example above, we will still repeat it on the width and length of the fabric, but some panels will not be full.

Here is an example of larger panel and how it would repeat on 1m of fabric:

To make a best use of the space you can also design a file that is as wide as fabric and 100cm high.

Just like this example:

We offer bespoke graphic design service and can help to create a perfect file. Contact info@customprintfabrics.co.uk to get started!

Correct file format

We accept following file formats: jpeg, ai, psd, tiff

What is a JPEG?

JPEG is the standard image format to compress image data. The file is drastically reduced however, it can maintain reasonable image quality.

What is AI?

You only need to know about AI if you use the following software, Adobe Illustrator. It is a graphics file format that works best to contain vector-based graphics in a single page. Illustrator has no pixels, unlike Photoshop that only uses pixels – if you are new to this, do not worry. You do not need to use this software.

What is PSD?

PSD is unique to graphic software Adobe Photoshop. Again, you only need to know about PSD if you use this software.

It is an image editing friendly format that supports multiple image layers and various imaging options. It is a great option if you want the flexibility to go back and re-edit your image/design.

What is a TIFF file?

The best file to print your design! It has extremely high quality and is the only format we use to print your designs. It achieves the most accuracy and is often used when scanning or taking professional images.

All the other file types our customers send us are always converted to tiff file

Image Resolution

The higher image resolution the better quality the print.

The resolution is measured in DPI (Dots Per Inch) or PPI (Pixels Per Inch).

If you want to find out more about them click here for great article.

The image resolution our printer requires is 300dpi.

Double check that your file is 300DPI (dots per inch), this will also affect the quality of your printed design.

Below is an example of what file in 2 different resolutions:

A lot of images are created for viewing on screen, these are usually in 72dpi which makes them unsuitable for printing.

On occasions we can convert the file to the right resolution and size.

We always check if your file has the correct resolution to make sure your print is great quality!

Is your file print ready? If you have any questions or need help creating your perfect design, get in touch at info@customprintfabrics.co.uk

Additional info about printing on fabric with us:

1. We can change a scale of your design to your specification - one change is free, any additional changes are charged £10 per file.

2. Any other changes to your file, i.e. seam repair, are chargeable depending on complexity. We will work with you to make sure you are fully happy with your design and often fix minor issues for free.

3. By placing an order, you confirm you have the right to use the artwork. We will not be able to print any artwork that includes copyright images, for example cartoon characters.

4. We reserve the right to refuse printing any offensive images.

5. The colour seen on the computer can appear differently on printed fabrics and even printer paper. All fabrics absorb dyes differently and the texture/transparency of the fabric has a part to play in how the colour appears. Colours of each batch of printed fabric may differ.

6. We offer samples of all available fabric bases, click here for more info.