A beautiful design can only become a beautiful label if the artwork is prepared correctly. This guide, straight from our pre-press technicians, will ensure your files are “factory-ready,” preventing delays and ensuring the final woven label matches your vision pixel-perfectly (or rather, thread-perfectly).
Golden Rule #1: Vector, Vector, Vector!
- Use: Adobe Illustrator (.ai), .eps, or .pdf with embedded fonts.
- Avoid: Raster images (.jpg, .png, .psd). Even high-resolution files will pixelate when converted for weaving. Logos and text must be created as vector paths.
Golden Rule #2: Understand the “Weaving Canvas”
- Simplicity is Strength: Woven labels excel at clean logos, typography, and geometric shapes. Avoid photorealistic gradients or ultra-fine, hairline strokes.
- Minimum Stroke/Text Width: Any line or character stroke should be at least 0.25 pt (or 0.1mm). Thinner lines may fill in or break during weaving.
- Space It Out: Ensure clear spacing between lines of text and design elements. Crowded details can become muddled.
Golden Rule #3: Color Management for Thread
- Think in Solid Colors: We weave with solid threads. Specify colors using Pantone (PMS) codes. This is the universal language for color matching.
- Limitations & Opportunities: While we can weave many colors, each additional color adds complexity. Consider simplifying a 6-color logo to a impactful 3-color version. Use simulated gradients by ditching two similar colors (e.g., light blue and dark blue threads woven in a pattern to create a gradient effect).
- Metallics are Special: Specify “Pantone Metallic” threads (e.g., PMS 871C for gold, 877C for silver). They add brilliant accent but have a different sheen.
Golden Rule #4: Provide Context & Specs
Send a layout mockup (.jpg is fine here) showing the label’s exact dimensions (in mm or inches) and how the design sits within it. Indicate:
- Final label dimensions (e.g., 60mm x 25mm)
- Any fold lines (center-fold, end-fold)
- Which side is the “face”
- Your Pantone list with clear reference (e.g., “Logo Blue: PMS 3005C”)
What Happens After You Send Us the File?
Our technicians convert your vector file into a specialized weaving file. We may suggest minor, manufacturability-driven optimizations and will always send a digital proof for your approval before any thread is loaded.
Download Our Free Artwork Template & Checklist.
To make it foolproof, we’ve created an Illustrator template with common label sizes and a pre-flight checklist. Contact us to request your free copy, and ensure your next design translates perfectly from screen to seam.