Clothing Labels Manufacturing and Color Matching Part I
If you are an experienced apparel designer, you have inevitably been frustrated with
the label color matching process, no matter which type of fabric you have sourced
for manufacturing. If you are a "newbie", you are probably very confused by your
manufacturer's request for clarification when you indicate the colors “blue” or “red”.
Matching colors for labels is a very technical art and science.
Oftentimes, fabric label manufacturers employ a technical color library called the
Pantone Color System. An analogy is the when you try to match paint colors at the
hardware store--you are overwhelmed with numbered colors samples, such is the
reality with matching colors with woven tags or printed labels for clothing.
For instance, If you contact your label manufacturer and indicate you need red, they
will request a Pantone or a RGB color because there are literally dozens of shades of
red. Even then, there are technical challenges for exact matching that will be
covered in the next section.
If you are sending a scanned sample or a graphics file for your label firm to match,
there is another challenge: Subtle digital format alterations.
For instance, what may appear to be blue #j005 on your screen using your graphics
program may appear as blue #j010 with your fabric labels supplier's graphics
program with perhaps a different screen resolution. The differences aren't large, but
if precise color matching is a must, it is imperative to obtain a physical sample of your
apparel label before you go to full production. Graphic interfacing technology has not
yet caught up with that of the human eye.
However, time can be a big downside to physical sampling. If each physical sample
takes 3-7 days to produce, and if the fabric label factory is not domestically located,
then you also have extended shipping times. There maybe substantial costs incurred
with sampling that may exceed an experimental minimum fabric label order.
If your budget and production is constrained, then it is highly recommended you allow
for a small margin of error with respect to color shading. You can always go back with
a second fabric label order to make small adjustments as needed. Just have fun and
don't sweat the small stuff!
If you are an experienced apparel designer, you have inevitably been frustrated with
the label color matching process, no matter which type of fabric you have sourced
for manufacturing. If you are a "newbie", you are probably very confused by your
manufacturer's request for clarification when you indicate the colors “blue” or “red”.
Matching colors for labels is a very technical art and science.
Oftentimes, fabric label manufacturers employ a technical color library called the
Pantone Color System. An analogy is the when you try to match paint colors at the
hardware store--you are overwhelmed with numbered colors samples, such is the
reality with matching colors with woven tags or printed labels for clothing.
For instance, If you contact your label manufacturer and indicate you need red, they
will request a Pantone or a RGB color because there are literally dozens of shades of
red. Even then, there are technical challenges for exact matching that will be
covered in the next section.
If you are sending a scanned sample or a graphics file for your label firm to match,
there is another challenge: Subtle digital format alterations.
For instance, what may appear to be blue #j005 on your screen using your graphics
program may appear as blue #j010 with your fabric labels supplier's graphics
program with perhaps a different screen resolution. The differences aren't large, but
if precise color matching is a must, it is imperative to obtain a physical sample of your
apparel label before you go to full production. Graphic interfacing technology has not
yet caught up with that of the human eye.
However, time can be a big downside to physical sampling. If each physical sample
takes 3-7 days to produce, and if the fabric label factory is not domestically located,
then you also have extended shipping times. There maybe substantial costs incurred
with sampling that may exceed an experimental minimum fabric label order.
If your budget and production is constrained, then it is highly recommended you allow
for a small margin of error with respect to color shading. You can always go back with
a second fabric label order to make small adjustments as needed. Just have fun and
don't sweat the small stuff!
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| For more information or ordering, call us at toll free at 1-888-681-8994 or 682-227-0100 or email:info@wovenlabelsource.com |
- FREE Consulting and first
class customer service
- FREE Professional artwork
assistance
- FREE World-wide shipping
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Quick Links
| Call our 24 hour toll-free hotline 1-888-681-8994 for pricing, minimums, turnaround times and rush order info |