Frequently Asked Questions

What fabrics do you use for digital printing?

Short Answer: cotton, polyester, nylon, and - in the near future - silk.
Our range of fabric is limited only by what is currently available in the marketplace, so if you need something as unique perhaps as hemp lycra - if we can source it, we can print it for you!
A word about silk... One of the most beautiful natural fabrics today is silk, and much of its beauty comes from the subtle imperfections for which it's known. But it's these very imperfections that make printing on silk a challenge for even the most experienced printer. Currently, we are experimenting with silk, so we cannot offer large production quantities or guarantee our ordinarily high quality standards. Inquiries are always welcome, but requests for printing on silk are handled on a client-by-client basis.

How many colors can you print? Will they match those in my artwork?

Short Answer: any color you desire

Theoretically, we can print any of the 16.7 million colors currently available.

However, the number of colors used to print your design depends upon several variables: the quality of your artwork, the type of art files you send us, the type of textile you select for printing, the type of printing process and inks we must use based on your textile selection.

So, yes - in general - we can print any color you require or desire. But colour matching is more an art than it is an exact science, and it is for this reason that we have a sampling process before we accept any project that comes our way.

Can you match the color in my custom fabric to colors in my existing decor?

Short Answer: Absolutely!

We'll absolutely give it our best shot!

As mentioned above, color matching is as much of an art as it is a science and to accurately match colors we need to work with samples of the actual items you want matched. For example, if you want your custom fabric matched to your current wall coverings, we'd need a sample of the wall covering - not just a photograph of the wall covering.

Or, if you've prepared artwork you'd like printed, not only do we need the original files, but we'll need a hard copy (print out) of the artwork that shows the exact colours you wish to achieve. [ More about sending artwork ]

Remember your taupe might not be ours, and what you think of as azure, we might be describing as turquoise. With an actual sample or hard copy, we're all on the same page right from the beginning of your project.

Are the colors permanent? Will they fade or smudge? Does my fabric require any special treatment?

Short Answer: Yes, no, and sometimes, respectively.

The dyes we use for digitally printing cloth and fabric are permanent, color-fast inks and will not smudge or smear. As with any other traditionally dyed fabric, given enough wear and tear, the colors will dim slightly - but not any more so than any other fabric that has been washed repeatedly, exposed to sunlight or typical day-to-day usage.

How long will it take my fabric to be printed?

Short Answer: Usually within 2 weeks, but we do take rush orders.

Because we want you to be fully satisfied with your custom fabric we use a two-step process for ensuring your satisfaction. First we send you a small sample for approval. This is called a "proof" and we ask that you examine it for color quality, design clarity, and overall "feel."
As you might imagine, the proofing step of the process is the time-consuming aspect of fulfilling your order: we want you to be perfectly satisfied with your fabric. Once you've given us the go-ahead, we print and ship your order, usually within one to two days.
Factors that slow the process down include:

Design Work: Some of our clients simply have a concept they'd like developed - others who are computer savvy furnish their own designs ready to print. Most fall between the two. The amount of assistance you require with pattern development, design and art work prep greatly influences the time it takes for your order to be printed and shipped.
Color Matching: Here again, the more computer-ready your designs are, the faster it is for us to produce your textiles. If we're matching fabric to items in your existing decor, the process is more time-consuming; if we're working from files you've produced on computer - we simply print a sample and await your approval.
Media Sourcing: As much as the bulk of the fabrics we print are various forms of cottons, we look for - and print on - some pretty unusual types of media for our clients. The more exotic and unique the media, however, the more your choice impacts your shipping date.

Rush orders are available and can be turned around within a day or two of proofing.

Is there a minimum or maximum amount of material I can order?

Short Answer: Anything from 1 meter (or yard) to 200 meters (or yards)

By definition, each "order" is a print run of the same pattern, in the same colors - printed at the same time.
We charge a one-time set-up fee for each pattern and color combination we prepare as a sample for proofing. This fee is non-refundable, but it is the basis upon which we collaborate with our clients to be certain that the textiles they wish to have printed from the files they provide us with will, in fact, be what they're expecting. We can't say enough about being certain that your artwork is of the highest possible quality. Poor quality images degrade even further on textiles than they do on paper!
For customers who require additional "runs" of a previously set-up order, there are no additional charges, no additional time required for proofing - orders are simply re-printed and shipped upon ordering.

What is the maximum image size you can print?

Short Answer: Almost any size you want

Image sizes are only limited by the width of our printers and/or the width of textile you select for printing. Our printer is 63" wide and fabrics range from 40" to 60" wide.
Images wider than this can be printed in sections and "invisibly" stitched together.

Can you produce sewn or finished items?

Short Answer: Not ordinarily.

We have contacts that can produce some finished goods - it all depends upon your needs. But please do discuss this with us because we might be able to help you at least locate a seamstress through our own associate network.

What do I need to know about sending you files?

Short Answer: We prefer .eps, .tiff, or .psd files; 150 dpi or greater, worked in CMYK and with fonts converted to outlines or "curves."

We accept TIFF (.tif), Adobe Illustrator (.ai) EPS (.eps) and Photoshop (.psd) files.
We prefer not to print JPEG (.jpg) files because they are often of very poor quality. Even with a great deal of effort on the part of our art department, we doubt you'd be satisfied with the printed result - particularly if there's any scaling or enlarging required.
If you're designing your own artwork, please use a resolution of at least 150 dpi at 100%. For enlarging your image or producing higher quality images, higher resolutions are needed.
Please note: By submitting artwork to Artistic Textiles, you are accepting responsibility for reproduction of any copyrighted material. All Permissions for any reproduction must be obtained from the copyright owner and are the responsibility of the client. Artistic Textiles accepts no responsibility for legal challenges based on claims of copyright infringement. By submitting files for reproduction you accept full legal and financial responsibility for any such challenges.

Will my digitally printed fabric look the same as it does on the computer?

Keep in mind - digital textile printing is not an precise science. A design on a computer screen, or even printed on paper, will never look exactly the same when printed on textiles. And, depending upon the substrate you choose, the differences will become more apparent.

Smooth, low- or no-nap substrates will have less impact on your design; substrates with a dominant weave or nap will have a greater impact on the appearance of your design.

By furnishing you with samples of your final product, you will see exactly what your custom fabric will look like before we complete your order.

Are custom-printed fabrics expensive?

In comparison to custom-woven fabrics, digitally printed textiles are significantly more affordable.

Several factors influence the price of your order: whether or not you require the assistance of our creative team, the substrate you choose for printing, and shipping and handling costs.

If you have a project in mind, contact us for a no-obligation quote.