How to send artwork for a custom label, patch or puller
Most delays in custom trims come from missing information, not from production. Here is exactly what to send so the first sample is the right one.
File format
Vector artwork is the safest starting point because it scales without losing edges:
- Best: AI or PDF (vector)
- Workable: high-resolution PNG or JPEG
- Also useful: a photo of an existing sample you want to match
Five details that let us quote immediately
With these five points we can confirm price, MOQ and lead time in one reply:
- Finished size and outline
- Number of colours, with Pantone references if you have them
- The fabric it will be applied to, and how (sewn, heat pressed or adhesive)
- Backing preference: sew-on, iron-on, self-adhesive or hook-and-loop
- Quantity and required delivery date
About fine detail and small text
Very small type and hairline details are possible, but what is practical depends on the size of the finished piece and the process. We review the artwork at the intended size and confirm the practical limits before sampling — that is cheaper than discovering it after bulk production.
What happens next
Once the artwork is received:
- Artwork review and specification confirmation
- Physical sample produced — 5–7 working days
- You approve the sample (colour, relief, backing, edge finish)
- Bulk production — 14–16 working days
- Inspection and packing
One more thing worth sending
If the label goes onto a stretch fabric, a coated fabric or anything with a special finish, say so at the enquiry stage. It changes the backing and the application method, and it is much easier to plan before sampling than after.
Colour: how to avoid surprises
Colour is the most common difference between what a designer sees on screen and what arrives on the garment. Three habits remove most of the risk:
- Give Pantone references rather than describing colours in words
- Approve colour on a physical sample, not on a screen proof
- Say which colour is critical — if one element must match a garment panel exactly, tell us which one
If you only have a photo or a finished sample
You do not always have vector artwork, and that is workable:
- Send the physical sample — the most reliable reference for size, relief and colour
- A clear photo is useful for outline and layout, but confirm colour on a physical sample
- If the artwork was produced in-house, check whether the original file still exists
- For repeat collections, keep the approved sample: next season’s order starts from it