How to Print Your Own Fabric: Files, Repeats and Base Fabrics

Printing your own design is simpler than it looks. There are three parts, the file, the repeat and the base fabric, and the uploader helps you with the first two as you go.

Each part is covered below, in the order you'll meet it on the Custom Upload page. For bases, print methods and ordering at a glance, see our custom fabric printing page.

Start a Custom Upload Order the swatch pack

How it works

From file to fabric, in five steps

Prepare your file

A JPG or PNG, sharp at the size you want it printed.

Upload and set the repeat

See a live preview of your design on the fabric as you set the scale.

Choose your base

Pick the fabric that suits your project. The guide below helps.

Order your metres

From 1m, in 0.5m steps. Keen to see the colour on the fabric first? Start with a 25 x 25cm swatch.

We print and send

Printed to order, checked against your artwork, then packed and sent to you.

The file

What makes a clean print

JPG or PNGFlattened, with no layers

300 PPIAt the size you want it printed

RGB colourWe set up the print colour

Up to 30 MBLarger files by email

Quick guide: a file 3,000 px wide prints sharply up to 25.4cm across. The uploader checks this for you as you set the scale.

TFS

From our team

If anything in your file needs a second look, we'll be in touch before we print, so your fabric comes out just the way you pictured it.

The repeat

Choosing how your design repeats

The repeat sets how one tile fills the metre. You'll find five on the Custom Upload page, and Simple suits most files drawn to tile.

TilePrints your image once as a placed picture, with no repeat.Photographs, panels, a one-off image

SimpleRepeats your tile in a straight grid, side by side and top to bottom.Files drawn to tile

MirrorFlips alternate tiles so the edges always meet themselves.Borders, damasks, kaleidoscopes

Half-brickShifts every second row by half a tile, which hides the grid.Scattered motifs, all-over prints

VerticalShifts every second column by half a tile, down the length.Trailing florals and vines

We print your file exactly as you send it, so set the repeat up in your artwork and it will carry through to the fabric.

The base

Which fabric for your design

Match the base to what you're making.

Shirts and kidswearCotton Poplin115 GSM, crisp

Summer dressesLight Linen Cotton140 GSM, light and airy

Quilts and craftSignature Cotton150 GSM, presses flat

Flowing dressesSignature Viscose170 GSM, soft drape

Cushions and bagsCotton Canvas330 GSM, holds its shape

Scarves and blousesCrepe de Chine65 GSM, silky

Happy Dance fabric by Rachel Parker, printed — **Happy Dance** by Rachel Parker

Peaches and Cherries fabric by Catherine Marion, printed — **Peaches & Cherries** by Catherine Marion

What arrives

Printed to your length

We print your fabric to the length you ordered, on the base you chose, and check it against your artwork before it's cut and packed.

It's printed and packed in 7 to 10 business days, then tracked all the way to you.

Happy Dance by Rachel Parker printed on Light Linen Cotton

On our Instagram

Six prints, on their way to makers

Each maker chose the design, the scale, the colourway and the base. See them on the fabric, from Cotton Lawn to Cotton Canvas.

Watch on Instagram Follow @thefabricshop.au

Questions

Custom printing questions

Is there a minimum order for custom fabric printing?

Order from 1m, in 0.5m steps, all printed to order. You can also start with a single 25 x 25cm swatch.

What resolution do I need to print my own fabric?

300 PPI at the size you want it printed. The uploader checks it as you set the scale.

Can you adjust my repeat?

We print your file exactly as supplied, so set the repeat up in your artwork. If anything needs a look, we'll be in touch before printing.

What if my file is larger than 30 MB?

Email it to customdesigns@thefabricshop.com with the fabric and length you want. We reply within 48 hours and set the order up by hand.

Can I print artwork I found online?

You can print any artwork you've created or have the rights to use, from your own drawings and photos to your brand pattern. You confirm this when you upload.