Tag Archives: surface design

Holiday Break

This year Digital Fabrics will be closed on 22rd of December and re-opened on 8th of January with a skeleton staff, production commencing on the 15th January 2018.

How about if you still want to order fabric? Don’t worry, we will be accepting all online orders during holiday to be printed when we are back in action in 2018.

After the holiday first orders will be due to dispatch on Wednesday the 17th January.

Stay smart during pre-holiday rush, don’t rely on couriers services, they are busy! If possible, arrange a pick-up of your order from our Marrickville studio, we will be happy to say Hi.

Digital Fabrics Holiday Break

CREATE YOUR OWN FABRIC CREATE YOUR OWN CUSHION COVER

To avoid pre-holiday stress and to receive your fabric before Christmas please note super important dates below:

Cut off times, if you require shipping

·         4th December – for Print and Make orders such as cushion covers, banners, scarves etc

·         11th December – All fabric printing orders that needs to be shipped and delivered before holiday. As much as we would love to, we cannot guarantee that orders submitted after this date will reach to you on time before Christmas.

·         12th December – last Express order for fabric printing or Print and Make orders

Orders for delivery, submitted after 15th December more likely to be printed and dispatched in New Year unless it’s an express order.

Pick-up orders cut off time

·         11th December Print and Make orders such as cushion covers, banners, scarves etc

·         15th December fabric printing orders

·         18th December last express order for fabric printing or Print and Make orders.

3 pm is our daily production cut off time, which means, if you placed an order after 3 pm, your order will be rolled over to the next day. Be that just an extra little careful when planning your fabric printing orders.

And as always, if you have any question, we are only a phone call away.

CREATE YOUR OWN FABRIC CREATE YOUR OWN CUSHION COVER

happy x-mas

Snippets: Chats With Creatives – Series 1, Snippet 6

Snippets’. Chats with Creatives. Here at Digital Fabrics we love everything print, pattern and colour and we love to know what makes designers tick. This series is all about asking some fun and different questions and learning about the inspirations and ideas behind the artist and their work. We hope to inspire others by sharing snippets of these creative stories. We gave the artists and designers featured a varied list of questions to choose from so we will learn something new from everyone involved, should be fun!

Today on Snippet’s we are talking to Margot Warre from Margot Design, a Sydney based Textile artist and designer with a passion for supporting Local and Ethical Production.

Margot Warre Design_digital fabrics_custom fabric_fabric printing 3Tell us a bit about yourself and what your creative practice is, how and when you began:

Creative practice for me is all about telling a story through my designs. That story will be carried all the way through the complete integrity of the design – where the designs are printed, finishing style and packaging.

I want to tell stories about the city I love. When I first started designing it was all about the trends in NY, London etc which didn’t resonate with me. I felt that my country and city is so unique that we didn’t have to look to others for inspiration it is all around us. Inspiration and stories such as uniqueness of Sydney summer, the beach on a winters day and more recently the beautiful Art Deco buildings all over Sydney.

After I have the realised the story – I start researching images, sketching, painting patterns sometimes in gauche, water colour, texta, collecting scraps of fabrics, paper – a real mixture of process, never are two collections developed the same way.

The sketches are scanned and then played with in illustrator and photoshop to create the designs digitally. I started designing my own range of textiles after years of designing for some of the industry leaders, such as Warwick Fabrics. I moved back to Sydney after living in Melbourne and began my own ranges.

Margot Warre Design_digital fabrics_custom fabric_fabric printing 4Which part of the creative process is your favourite and why?

Putting a concept / mood boards together, sourcing images that communicate your idea and colour palette. I could look for images for hours.

Which five words best describe you?

I have been told and don’t disagree: Energetic, Fun, Personable.

How would you describe your work, and what influences your style?

It has a very distinctive style, it not pretty style but handsome and I would hope reflects how we live in Australia.

Margot Warre Design_digital fabrics_custom fabric_fabric printing 5What does a typical day look like for you?

I am up early and generally do most of my work after a morning workout before heading to my “day” job.

What would your dream creative project look like?

I would love to work on a full collection of prints, weaves, knits, embroideries all made here in Australia and then work with an amazing photographer to shoot the collection.

Which other Australian designers, artists or creative people are you enjoying at the moment?

Loving what the Mirador team are doing with their textiles and knits

What has been your proudest achievement to date, creative or otherwise?

That changes, I had so many amazing moments working with Mokum and Warwick, travelling to international mills and textile trade fairs. But I do get a huge buzz when someone buys one of my designs.

Margot Warre Design_digital fabrics_custom fabric_fabric printingIf you could spend a day in another artist’s studio shoes who would that artist be?

Ahhhh that is SO hard – Sonia Dealunay

In another life what natural talent would you wish for?

I would love to be a dancer….. Another way of using my energy and being creative

If you could only use one colour in your work what would it be?

PINK! And all is shades.

Love your Locals:

City/Town/Village where you currently reside:

Sydney

Favourite spot for a bite:

Love Supreme, Oxford Street

Secret Inspirational spot:

Swims at Bronte pool on a winters day

Margot Warre Design_digital fabrics_custom fabric_fabric printing 2You can follow what Margot is upto: Website, Instagram, Facebook

Snippets: Chats With Creatives – Series 1, Snippet 5

Snippets’. Chats with Creatives. Here at Digital Fabrics we love everything print, pattern and colour and we love to know what makes designers tick. This series is all about asking some fun and different questions and learning about the inspirations and ideas behind the artist and their work. We hope to inspire others by sharing snippets of these creative stories. We gave the artists and designers featured a varied list of questions to choose from so we will learn something new from everyone involved, should be fun!

Today on Snippet’s we are talking to Lauren Bower from Lauren Skye Studio, a Textiles and homewares brand making unique cushions featuring original artwork ideal to brighten up your home and garden.

Lauren Skye Studio_digital fabrics_custom fabric_fabric printing 6The Snippety Snips:

Tell us a bit about yourself and what your creative practice is, how and when you began: 

Lauren Skye Studio is a handmade textile homewares brand creating both indoor and outdoor cushions as well as personalised name cushions.

From around the age of 7 I knew I wanted to be a fashion designer. It was all I was ever interested in and would spend hours cutting pictures from magazines (I bought my first issue of Vogue when I was 12) to make endless collages. I studied Fashion Design at TAFE and then started working as a Design Assistant and ultimately a Fashion Designer for various brands for about 10 years. After leaving fashion to start and raise a family, I desperately missed working with fabrics and colours so I started buying fabrics and making cushions (a task perfectly timed to a babies nap!). It didn’t feel authentic enough to be using a fabric that someone else had designed so drawing on my skills acquired during my years in fashion, I started creating my own fabric designs and quickly found that it is my favourite thing ever! I feel so fortunate to live in a time where digital fabric printing has made textile design so accessible for small businesses. Even during my fashion years it was outrageously expensive to have an artwork made, get a screen cut and get a strike-off printed.

Which part of the creative process is your favourite and why?

I live for design, particularly the search for inspiration. I love starting from nothing and just allowing my eye to be led and tell me where I should be. If inspiration is not coming then it is not the right time. I never force it.

Lauren Skye Studio_digital fabrics_custom fabric_fabric printing 4

Lauren Skye Studio_digital fabrics_custom fabric_fabric printing 3Which five words best describe you?

Determined, thoughtful, conscientious, friendly, chaotic.

How would you describe your work, and what influences your style?

I would describe it as unique and colourful. I think my biggest influence is my years in fashion. To counteract the things I didn’t like about fashion design, particularly the copycat aspect, I am purposefully different to other designers. I don’t follow trends and will go out of my way to ensure my work is unique. Also colour, I am always inspired by colour.

Lauren Skye Studio_digital fabrics_custom fabric_fabric printing 7What does a typical day look like for you? I have one child in school and one at pre-school three days a week, so the juggle is a little crazy right now. My three days with no kids have to be efficiently managed. From the minute I get home from drop-off to the very last minute I have to leave to pick them up I am like a woman possessed. Sometimes I’m enjoying my work so much I forget to eat! Then when the kids are home I spend time with them doing homework and just hanging out. After they are both in bed I start working again until late. Weekends are spent either selling at the local markets, or trying to juggle work and family time. It sounds terrible but I love it really!

If you could only use one colour in your work what would it be?

I’m drawn to pink always, and I have a sneaking suspicion it has something to do with having two sons!

Lauren Skye Studio_digital fabrics_custom fabric_fabric printing 5

Lauren Skye Studio_digital fabrics_custom fabric_fabric printing 2Love your Locals:                                       

City/Town/Village where you currently reside:

Roseville NSW

Favourite spot for a bite:

Salt Pepper Nutmeg or Sous le Soleil, both at Roseville

Secret Inspirational spot:

Swain Gardens, Killara. It is almost literally a secret garden.

Lauren Skye Studio_digital fabrics_custom fabric_fabric printingYou can follow what Lauren is upto here: Website, Instagram, Facebook

Snippets: Chats With Creatives – Series 1, Snippet 4

Snippets’. Chats with Creatives. Here at Digital Fabrics we love everything print, pattern and colour and we love to know what makes designers tick. This series is all about asking some fun and different questions and learning about the inspirations and ideas behind the artist and their work. We hope to inspire others by sharing snippets of these creative stories. We gave the artists and designers featured a varied list of questions to choose from so we will learn something new from everyone involved, should be fun!

Today on Snippet’s we are talking to Gabby Malpas, an artist with a flair for painting detailed still life of Australian grown flora and fauna with a hint of what Gabby calls ‘chinoiserie.’

Gabby Malpas_digital fabrics_custom fabric_fabric printingThe Snippety Snips:

Tell us a bit about yourself and what your creative practice is, how and when you began:

I’m Chinese, I was born in NZ and adopted into a white family of 9 children making me #10. I trained as a potter in Dunedin, after Art school I started using inks and watercolour on paper – as it is very much like liquid glaze. I left NZ in 1988, lived in the UK until 2003 and arrived in Sydney later that year. I’ve been a professional artist since late 2014 but exhibited and painted the whole way through since leaving art school.

I’ve been a digital project manager in agency and corporate since around 1992 – girl’s gotta eat and pay for holidays! These days I license my work, exhibit regularly, work with clients on creative stuff and get involved in a lot of adoption and community causes.

I am still learning how not to be a dick.

Which five words best describe you? 

Most can’t be repeated in public but how about: scary, mad, loyal, loud, and dependable.

Gabby Malpas_digital fabrics_custom fabric_fabric printing 3How would you describe your work, and what influences your style?

My work is figurative watercolours. It has been dismissed as purely decorative but a lot of my work actually communicates my life experiences as a trans racial, Chinese adoptee.  Some of the messages are a little hard to swallow – which is why I temper these with lavish and engaging imagery. I am influenced by a lot of artists and things: from Paul Klee, Matisse and Elizabeth Blackadder as European artists, to Japanese woodcuts and traditional SE , Central and West Asian imagery, textiles and ceramic designs.

What would your dream creative project look like?
Anything that gives me free rein to do what I like and I get paid for it… hang on – that’s a lot of what I do now.

Creative Interview with Gabby MalpasWhich other Australian designers, artists or creative people are you enjoying at the moment?

Well I discovered Cressida Campbell when I got here and she’s my idol but there are a heap of fabulous designers I follow on Instagram and Facebook  – I appreciate artists who just do their thang and are not worried about fashion or what’s hot. Oh and I’ve loved Ken Done since 1988 when I went to Brisvegas expo.

What has been your proudest achievement to date, creative or otherwise?

There have been a few: Getting some artwork into Liberty of London in the 90s, getting into the Affordable art Fair Sydney in 2009 was the first step to getting somewhere in Oz but finally calling myself a professional artist in Dec 2014 has got to be up there after nearly 30 years of slog.

Gabby Malpas_digital fabrics_custom fabric_fabric printing 2In another life what natural talent would you wish for?

It would be infinitely cool to be good at math.

If you could have your portrait painted by any artist dead or alive, who would you choose?

Not one for portraits but would love to see what Robert Crumb would do.

If you could only use one colour in your work what would it be?

PINK!

Love your Locals:

City/Town/Village where you currently reside:

Alexandria Sydney – yep, a local

Favourite spot for a bite:

Fratelli Fresh, Mitchell Road or Tuki Kanuki Erko. Fave pho place is Phd in Marrickville

Secret Inspirational spot: can I have 3?

The Asian Galleries at the AGNSW, the lotus pond in the botanic gardens and Kinokunya bookshop though I wish they’d let you sit on the step stools.

Gabby Malpas_digital fabrics_custom fabric_fabric printing 5

You can follow what Gabby is upto: Website, Instagram, Facebook

Snippets: Chats With Creatives – Series 1, Snippet 3

Snippets’. Chats with Creatives. Here at Digital Fabrics we love everything print, pattern and colour and we love to know what makes designers tick. This series is all about asking some fun and different questions and learning about the inspirations and ideas behind the artist and their work. We hope to inspire others by sharing snippets of these creative stories. We gave the artists and designers featured a varied list of questions to choose from so we will learn something new from everyone involved, should be fun!

Today on Snippet’s we are talking to Darren Church, graphic designer behind ‘Raw Inc’ a street design division based in Australia. Inspired by graffiti and street culture they design and create unique apparel, cushions and accessories.

Darren Church_digital fabrics_custom fabric_fabric printing The Snippety Snips:

Tell us a bit about yourself and what your creative practice is, how and when you began:

I’m currently based out in Penrith in Sydney’s lower Blue Mountains, but personally I enjoy the days out into the city and other areas I have to go, walking between stores and checking out what’s new on the streets in the graffiti scene catching up with shop owners.

How would you describe your work, and what influences your style?

I base 99% of our designs around graffiti and the classic sneaker culture, and we’re all about bold clean lines with fresh colours, using illustrations and different elements in photographs to create for that next cushion design. It’s our little niche and very different to what is out there in the industry.

We find people can relate to our different types of cushions, by bringing out what they grew up with a twist and purely for the love of the novelty of the item. We get contacted all the time by paint companies asking when are we going to do a cushion of their design.

Darren Church_digital fabrics_custom fabric_fabric printing 3What does a typical day look like for you?

Always finding myself sketching up new designs and redrawing artwork ready for print for clients. And always hunting around Sydney fabric stores to find that perfect fabric to match artwork being printed. Cutting and sewing up fabric for those store orders.

It does get chaotic sometimes and a little stressful but very satisfying and it’s worth it in the end to see people loving the products.

Darren Church_digital fabrics_custom fabric_fabric printing 6What has been your proudest achievement to date, creative or otherwise?

After many years of Managing retail stores here in Sydney and while living in the UK for 10 years, I got to the point of having enough and had to do something I enjoyed. So I studied Diploma in Graphic Design and a quick 12 month course in Screen Printing and realized I had so much to artwork and ideas I could do.

Now I have people coming up to me here in Sydney and in other states, that don’t even know me and treat me with a lot of respect. When we get emails weekly from European and US stores asking for order forms, it makes your day.

Darren Church_digital fabrics_custom fabric_fabric printing 5Tell us something people may not know about you

I’ve been doing graffiti since the late 80’s and I like to combine the elements and influences into my work and whilst living in the UK I studied fashion and design for 2 years.  It really opens up your eyes to how things are designed and so easily produced.

Love your Locals:

City/Town/Village where you currently reside:

Sydney West

Favourite spot for a bite:

I don’t really have a favourite food spot, I like to try new things all the time and sometimes catch up with friends for lunch or drinks and talk about new projects and ideas.

Secret Inspirational spot:

I’m always out and about in the city. I like to walk around the city and look at all the different graffiti, art, stickers, advertisements and t-shirts people wear, I carry around a little sketch book and I’m always stopping and sit down somewhere doodling ideas down.

Darren Church_digital fabrics_custom fabric_fabric printing 2You can follow what Darren is upto: Website, Instagram,  Facebook

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Snippets: Chats With Creatives – Series 1, Snippet 2

Snippets’. Chats with Creatives. Here at Digital Fabrics we love everything print, pattern and colour and we love to know what makes designers tick. This series is all about asking some fun and different questions and learning about the inspirations and ideas behind the artist and their work. We hope to inspire others by sharing snippets of these creative stories. We gave the artists and designers featured a varied list of questions to choose from so we will learn something new from everyone involved, should be fun!

Today on Snippet’s we are talking to Jasmin Owen, the designer behind Jazminbell, a homewares brand that designs and creates heat packs from fabrics she designs and prints.

Jasmin Owen Creative InterviewThe Snippety Snips:

Tell us a bit about yourself and what your creative practice is, how and when you began:

Hi there, my name is Jasmin Owen and I am the founder of the jazminbell® brand. The dream of running my own business all started at the age of 4 when I decided that I would work within Australia’s creative industry. After completing my design degree I went on to deliver my products to the world. I never realised how much there is to learn in the world of business and it has been the most amazing journey.

Jazminbell® began as a homewares brand, offering a unique range of cushion covers. With a pile of scrap fabric I sought to make mini hand warmers and they instantly took within the market. I never really saw success until I took the brave initiative to turn the business into a cold/heat pack brand and it has thrived ever since. It is hard to imagine now that it all began with tiny hand warmers – That is the incredible and unpredictable journey of business, I guess!

Working with Digital Fabrics has given me the opportunity to deliver a unique range of textile designs for my products and also create a relationship with another local business within the Australian industry.

Jasmin Owen Creative Interview

Jasmin Owen Creative Interview

Which five words best describe you? Quirky, happy, bright, inspirational, goal-digger.

Which other Australian designers, artists or creative people are you enjoying at the moment? I am forever inspired by the creative practice of Nicola Cerini. Her beautiful studio and printed textiles are so inspirational for me and what I do.

Jasmin Owen Creative InterviewWhat has been your proudest achievement to date, creative or otherwise? Completing a Bachelor of Design Arts and Graduate Certificate in Accounting, bringing the most wonderful daughter into the world and having the opportunity to work on my business and have the freedom of my own career.

Jasmin Owen Creative Interview

If you could only use one colour in your work what would it be? Pink!

Love your Locals:

City/Town/Village where you currently reside: Canberra, Australia

Favourite spot for a bite: Canberra Yacht Club

Secret Inspirational spot: Lake Burley Giffin

Jasmin Owen Creative Interview

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You can follow what Jasmin is upto: Website, Instagram, Facebook

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Snippets: Chats With Creatives – Series 1, Snippet 1

Snippets’. Chats with Creatives. Here at Digital Fabrics we love everything print, pattern and colour and we love to know what makes designers tick. This series is all about asking some fun and different questions and learning about the inspirations and ideas behind the artist and their work. We hope to inspire others by sharing snippets of these creative stories. We gave the artists and designers featured a varied list of questions to choose from so we will learn something new from everyone involved, should be fun!

Today on Snippet’s we are talking to Shyanne Clark, the swimwear and textile designer behind ‘Printsea’ a print design brand who love to spread sparkle and magic and inspire others to do the same.

textile designer Shyanne Clark

The Snippety Snips:

Tell us a bit about yourself and what your creative practice is, how and when you began:

I’ve been a textile fabric designer for the past 5 years. My style is very mermaidy and I love tropical florals, so my business PRINTSEA has naturally progressed to helping bikini designers find their signature style and launch beautiful labels.

I am such a cheerleader for people doing what they truly love, the things that make them all sparkly inside. I was always that kid that didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up, I didn’t fit in one of the boxes. I think it’s because I didn’t know this job existed or how all my talents could come together to be something. I adore what I do so much and its always growing and changing me. I feel so grateful that I listened to my heart and followed its windy path, you learn so much along the way and I would love that for everyone. I get giddy just thinking about it.

At the moment I’m creating a signature range of beautiful hand designed, high vibrational pieces. There is such magic in colour and creativity. My hope is that each piece will add a little extra sparkle to your day and that owning a piece will feel like a precious treasure that brings you many heart swelling, quiet smiles and inspires your soul.

Shyanne Clark PRINTSEA_digital fabrics_custom fabric_fabric printing 7

Shyanne Clark PRINTSEA_digital fabrics_custom fabric_fabric printing 8

What would your dream creative project look like?

I’ve actually got a bit of a fascination with creating a print that would cover a whole aeroplane. Could you imagine a giant bunch of gorgeous flowers flying through the sky. Instant happiness I reckon. I wonder if Richard Branson would let me print wrap a Virgin plane for fun?

fabric design Shyanne Clarke PRINTSEA

In another life what natural talent would you wish for?

I’m pretty much tone deaf, sometimes I’ll sing + scare myself with how out of tune I am. I have always admired people that can make your heart swell with emotion from their singing voice. I’ve secretly wished that I could do this, but in saying that, I wouldn’t want to trade my talent of drawing flowers. Can I have two natural talents?

Shyanne Clarke PRINTSEA_digital fabrics_custom fabric_fabric printing 5

Which part of the creative process is your favourite and why?

I absolutely love the moment when the inspiration strikes + your imagination goes all bright + sparkly. You can’t wait to birth this creation that’s swirling around inside. It’s just such a rush of ecstatic excitement. I love that part. The finished piece is pretty amazing too, but the journey is the best.

Shyanne Clarke PRINTSEA_digital fabrics_custom fabric_fabric printing 3

Which other Australian designers, artists or creative people are you enjoying at the moment?

I adore Annie Everingham. Her paintings evoke so much feeling. They are so happy and beautiful. I could stare at their gorgeousness for hours.

Love your Locals:                                      

 City/Town/Village where you currently reside:

I live on the beautiful Sunshine Coast, some people say, it’s like what Byron Bay was 20 years ago.

Favourite spot for a bite:

There is a gorgeous cafe at Rosemount called ‘GURU Life.’ The brother sister team roast their own beans + it truly is enlightenment in every cup, they have delicious raw treats and the staff are super friendly.

Secret Inspirational spot:

Well if I told you, it wouldn’t be a secret! … I actually adore the Noosa National Park, it’s a stunning feast for your eyes and soul (and a good workout if you walk all 8kms.) On a great day you’ll see turtles, whales + koalas.

Shyanne Clarke PRINTSEA_digital fabrics_custom fabric_fabric printing 2

Feeling inspired by Printsea to start a swimwear brand? You can buy her E book here.  AND she is currently running a promo where you can purchase 1 print and get one for free with the code: PRINTME until August 17th, then you can print it onto lycra here at Digital Fabrics and start YOUR creative journey.

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You can follow what Printsea is upto:  Website, Instagram, Facebook.

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Colourful Bunch by Sharon Wilson

floral design Sharon WilsonNot going to lie it’s very nice getting sweet notes of appreciation from our customers, but more than anything we love receiving photos of makes and completed projects. We just love seeing what fabrics that we have printed has become. Sharon Wilson surprised us recently with images of her amazing colourful creations, box pleated skirt & boxer shorts, she used her photo to create this beautiful floral fabric. Her honest feedback and tips and tricks on working with Aerocorp fabric are truly appreciated and we are sure will be really helpful and inspiring to other sewers. Here is what Sharon wrote:

About 7 years ago I took a digital photo of this colourful bunch of flowers in Switzerland.  After seeing what Digital Fabrics could offer with their range of fabric types, I couldn’t wait to order the Aerocorp fabric and make a knee length box pleated skirt with waist yoke.  It turned out beautifully and there was even enough remnant to make a pair of boxer shorts .

print your own fabric, make your own skirt, fabric printingmaking shorts, sewing project, make your own clothes

  • I found the Aerocorp not difficult to work with.  As the website said, it did have a soft handle and cotton look and feel, however it was resilient, as 100% polyester is, but with a good press, it is easy to tame into place or make a crisp line where necessary.
  • Aerocorp fabric has a tendency to unravel immediately after being cut.  So don’t over handle it, and make sure that raw edges are tamed as soon as possible. 
  • The skirt has a lovely drape and swing to it.
  • I probably would not make a top out of it unless it was for a cooler climate and a dressier look.  
  • If the print is very busy (as this one was) you could even possibly get away with not ironing it – great for traveling. 

The fabric order delivery was on time and well packed.  Inside was also a sample pack which I really appreciated because sewers really need to feel a fabric to gain good judgement on what to use.  I would definitely recommend this service and am tempted to order again some time in future.

If you are like Sharon have a creative project in mind and would like to print your own fabric, you can upload your design and start creating right away here.

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How to prepare a layout legging pattern for fabric printing in Photoshop

Garment making and production can be daunting and a complicated process especially placement or engineered printing. A lot of time and effort goes into research and understanding where to start. We have put together tutorials on how to design, work with and prepare legging pattern for digital placement fabric printing. For this tutorial  you need to be proficient in Illustrator or at least have basic knowlage. Our tutorial is based on industry standards. This technic can be applied to printing other products such as bikinis, t-shirts, singlets , dresses etc.

How to prepare a layout/mark up legging pattern for fabric printing in Photoshop

Once you’ve completed the steps in the tutorial ‘How to use legging pattern in Photoshop’ You may want to print more than 1 design or more than 1 size, the most economic way to do this is to create a mark up/placement layout to have printed.

The following are instructions on how to set up in Photoshop, but could easily be done in Illustrator.

Start off by renaming the pattern layers to insure that you always have a pair of leggings.

layer_photoshop_markup_design_fabric_legging_printing

If you are only wanting the same size with different designs you can just Duplicate the leg layers. If you’d like to bring in different sizes you will need to repeat the steps in ‘How to use legging pattern in Photoshop’

In this tutorial we will be using the same size 10 but printing in new designs.

On the same artboard move files to the left hand side. you will notice that you can only comfortable fit 1 pair within the 147cm width with the current orientation; however there is a lot of wastage as illustrator below.

legging_layout_printing_fabric_design

Like a Jigsaw puzzle you will now need to start moving the patterns, you will need to make sure that you keep in mind that your grain line is parallel to the selvage. To do this, select the leg you’d like to rotate (select both layers) press Ctrl+t to open up the transform tool and while holding down shift rotate the image 360′ and make sure to move the pattern piece as close as possible to other leg (zoom in to make sure it is not overlapping)

tutorial_layout_markup_printing

markup_fashion_layout_tutorial_leggings_bold_rose

You can now start bringing in the other size 10 designs and play around with the layout. It’s best that you make the art board slightly longer than needed and once you’ve set up all the designs crop the excess.

Make sure you zoom in and double check that you haven’t overlapped any areas, when you are happy with the layout save as a JPG, TIFF or PDF.

layout_legging_tutorial_polish_abstract_orchid_black_white_bold_rose_floral_sports_luxe

You’re now on your way to have custom printed fabric which you will be able to make into comfy leggings.

design-your-own-leggings-digital-fabrics-class create-your-own-activewear-design-leggings-digital-fabrics-classes

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Designing Fabric: How To Make A Repeat Pattern – Full Drop Repeat in Illustrator

Get your math skills ready for this fabric repeat pattern tutorial in Illustrator. We would recommend to start with repeating simple objects first to understand the concept of repeating pattern in Illustrator, once it is understood nothing will stop you to create!

Full Drop Repeat in Illustrator

Either open up an existing illustrator file or begin by developing your vector image that you desire to repeat. We have started with a basic spot, varying the size and colour to add variety and this will form the base of the repeat.

full drop 1

Set up your art board to your desired repeat size. This depends on your end product, but to start off with, work with squares to help with calculations. We have set up my repeat to be 32 x 32 cm. For interested sake, this is a standard rotary repeat set up. Place your initial artwork to the top left corner of the art board, letting it hang over the edge.

full drop 2

Select all objects (sometimes helpful to group them so you don’t miss any when duplicating). Double click on the black selection tool in the tools panel and a dialogue box will appear.

full drop 3

This is how you can move objects an exact amount i.e. the repeat size and know that all objects within that repeat will align perfectly.

First duplicate the selected objects the repeat size down or vertically. This repeat is 32 cm, so they are moved 32 cm vertically.

Make sure the horizontal value is 0. Click COPY.

full drop 4

full drop 5

Now repeat horizontally by selecting both groups of objects along the left side. When in the move dialogue box make sure the horizontal value is the repeat size and the vertical value is 0. Click COPY.

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Now is the time to fill in the blank space in the middle with additional objects.

Tip: Lock the three extra sides of the repeat or put them on a separate locked layer so they can be easily deleted in a following step. This may require some more advance knowledge of illustrator, but don’t let this deter you if you are new, it could be helpful in mastering the program! The level of difficulty here will greatly depend on the style and type of original artwork you are using and will call into play several design elements and principles such as space, balance and unity. Watch out for anything that forms a definite line or track mark through your design. You may need to shift or adjust parts of your original artwork to make the repeat work, in which case is can be a good idea to work in layers (with a copy of the original locked) in case you want to jump back to the beginning.

Work towards filling in the edges, duplicating them down/across to the repeat edges, till all you have is the middle to fill.

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Continue until you are happy with the flow and feel of the design.

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Now delete the three extra sides that were locked or moved to another layer. Then repeat the duplicating sequence with all the added areas/dots of the design. This will help you check anything that may have doubled up or just doesn’t look right in the repeat.

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When you are satisfied with your repeat tile, you can set it up for digital fabric printing. Position two repeat tiles (vertically) so they hang over the left side of the art board. Increase the artwork WIDTH to the width of the fabric (in this case 147cm), keep the height of the art board as the repeat size.

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Duplicate the selected objects across the width of the art board so it is covered completely. Tip: Once you have used the move tool to move the exact repeat size and clicked copy, ctrl D to duplicate the exact last action.

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Save As a PDF. Even though there are objects hanging off the edge of the art board, because they have been moved the exact repeat size, they will all meet up when printed seamlessly. This is now your Full Width Repeat Tile which repeats top and bottom you can use it for digital custom fabric printing.

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