Custom Printing
Custom printing is a post-process applied to products that have been shaped through sewing or other processes, or to materials that have completed the primary process, in order to add decoration, functionality, or changes in appearance.
Definition and Overview
Custom printing is a general term for post-processing in product manufacturing. In apparel, it often refers to processes such as embroidery, printing, garment dyeing, and garment washing applied to sewn garments, adding design, texture, and functionality.
However, the scope of custom printing varies by customer and industry. In some cases, it refers to processes after fabric dyeing and finishing, so when placing an order, it is important to confirm the target item, processing details, and the sequence of steps to be performed.
Position in the Process
In typical garment production, custom printing is performed after planning, material and accessory selection, pattern making, cutting, and sewing, followed by inspection, finishing, and packaging. However, some specifications call for printing or embroidery on fabric before cutting or on hardware after cutting.
Garment washing and garment dyeing can create the desired look including seams and accessories when performed after sewing, but processing shrinkage, color variation, and twisting can affect dimensions and appearance. For that reason, patterns and accessories are designed with processing in mind.
- Processing before sewing: fabric printing, hardware embroidery, etc.
- Processing after sewing: garment washing, garment dyeing, post-processing embroidery and printing, etc.
- Pre-shipment steps: inspection, repair, finishing, packaging, etc.
How to Proceed and Practical Points
When placing work with a processor, clearly communicate the product specifications, processing location, dimensions, color, sample of the intended appearance, quantity, and desired delivery date together with the processing instructions. For embroidery and printing, agreeing in advance on the data format, pattern orientation, reference position, and acceptable tolerances helps prevent misunderstandings.
Before mass production, confirm prototypes or processing samples in a condition close to the actual fabric, accessories, and sewing specifications. Depending on the type of processing, the finish may change based on the material, color, seam allowance overlap, and whether interfacing is used, so it is best to review it together with the sewing factory and the processor from the planning stage.
Ordering and Quality Considerations
In custom printing, quantity control and product control before and after processing are important. Manage the number shipped to the processor, processing defects, reserved quantities, and returned quantities, and after processing check the specified position, pattern and color, stains, damage, and dimensional changes. If necessary, also determine the sequence for needle detection within the process.
Whether processing is possible depends not only on the material, but also on the accessory composition such as buttons, zippers, interfacing, and printed labels. For processing involving heat, pressure, water, chemicals, or friction, there is a risk of discoloration, peeling, migration, or damage, so pre-testing and post-wash confirmation are necessary.
Differences from Similar Terms
Product processing often refers to processing applied to finished or nearly finished garments, and may be treated as part of custom printing. On the other hand, custom printing can also broadly refer to all additional processing applied after the primary process, not limited to product processing.
Piece dyed refers to dyeing fabric after it has been woven or knitted, while garment dyeing refers to dyeing garments after sewing. Garment washing is also the specific name for a wash processing step applied after sewing, and custom printing is the process-level term that includes these methods.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is custom printing a process that is always performed after sewing?
Not always. When referring to processing applied to a product, it mainly comes after sewing, but some operations also include embroidery or printing on cut hardware. Please confirm with your company and the processor the scope of steps included in custom printing.
What information is needed when ordering custom printing?
Basic information includes the processing details, target item, quantity, processing position, reference dimensions, color and pattern samples, specification data, and delivery date. It is also easier to manage if you agree in advance on post-processing inspection standards, acceptable position and color differences, and whether needle detection is required and when it will be performed.
What points should be noted for garment washing and garment dyeing?
Be careful of dimensional changes due to shrinkage and twisting, color differences, discoloration or damage to accessories, and changes in the appearance around seams. Before full production, confirm the processing sample and the condition after washing using prototypes made under conditions close to the actual mass production material, accessories, and sewing specifications.
