Category: Artwork Preparation

From Original Artwork to Printed Tea Towel: How to Send Your Image for the Best Result

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From Original Artwork to Printed Tea Towel: How to Send Your Image for the Best Result

If you have an original painting, drawing, recipe card, handwritten note or children’s artwork, the first step is getting a clear digital version of it. The better the scan or photograph, the better the final print result will be.

 

For flat artwork, scanning is usually the best option. Please scan at 600 dpi where possible, or choose the highest quality / maximum resolution setting available on your scanner. A high-resolution scan captures detail, texture and colour more evenly than a quick phone photo, and gives me the best file to work from.

 

If scanning is not possible, a well-lit photograph can also work beautifully. Use natural light, avoid shadows, keep the artwork flat, and take the photo straight-on rather than at an angle.

 

It’s important to remember that print reproduction is not always exact. Colours can shift between screens, scanners, cameras and fabric, and printing onto cotton or linen will never look exactly the same as an image glowing on a screen. I always do my very best to prepare your file carefully and achieve the loveliest result possible.

 

If exact colour matching or fine detail is very important, I recommend providing a physical approved reference or ordering a printed sample before committing to a larger run. Sampling is the best way to check colour, scale, fabric feel and overall finish before your full order is printed.

Base Colour Difference – White vs Natural

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Base Colour Difference – White vs Natural

Having trouble deciding which base fabric to choose for your artwork? Each design is unique, and the fabric colour can make a noticeable difference to the final printed result.

White fabric offers a clean, fresh and modern finish. It is usually the best choice for artwork with bright colours, fine details, pale tones or areas of white space. Colours tend to appear clearer and more vibrant on white, making it a great option if you want your artwork to feel crisp and true to the original.

Natural fabric has a warmer, linen-look finish with a more rustic and earthy feel. It works beautifully with softer palettes, vintage-style artwork, botanical illustrations, recipes, line drawings and designs that suit a more natural handmade look.

Because the natural fabric has its own warm tone, very pale colours, soft yellows, light pinks and subtle details may appear less bright than they do on screen or on white fabric. If your artwork is full of vibrant colour, white is usually the safest choice to help those colours pop.

If you are unsure, I’m always happy to offer guidance. For colour-sensitive projects, ordering a sample is the best way to see how your artwork responds to the fabric before committing to a larger print run.