Glossary for textile printing
In textile printing you come across a lot of jargon. Below we explain the most commonly used terms so you can read a quote more easily or have a proper conversation.
General terms
Pantone (PMS)
Pantone Matching System, a global colour standard. Each colour has a unique code (e.g. PMS 021). We mix our inks to Pantone codes for an exact colour match.
CMYK
Four-colour printing: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key (black). Used for full-colour photo prints. Produces less pure colours than Pantone spot colours but is suitable for photos and gradients.
DPI
Dots Per Inch, image resolution. For print you need at least 300 DPI at actual size. Upscaling a 72 DPI internet image to 300 DPI in Photoshop doesn't work, the quality won't come back.
GSM (g/m²)
Grams per Square Metre, weight of the textile. Higher GSM = thicker and heavier shirt. Standard T-shirt 150-180 gsm, premium 180-220 gsm, heavy workwear 220-300 gsm.
Vector vs raster
Vector (AI/EPS): mathematical lines, scalable without loss of quality. Raster (JPG/PNG/PSD): pixels, loses quality when enlarged. For textiles always supply vector where possible.
Outlines (letter contours)
Converting text in a vector file into shapes, which prevents our system from using the wrong fonts. Required when supplying files. Read more: /aanleveren/
Proof
One copy that we print before production starts, so you can assess colours and position for real. Digital as standard, physical on request. Only after approval do we start the bulk run.
Printing technique terms
Plastisol
Classic oil-based screen printing ink. Robust, sharp, long-lasting. Standard for T-shirt printing. Contains no phthalates in our versions.
Water-based ink
Water-based ink, penetrates the fabric, feels softer. A more sustainable alternative to plastisol. Good for light textiles; less opaque on dark.
Discharge
A screen printing technique that bleaches the dye out of the textile instead of adding ink on top. Feels 100% like unprinted textile. Only works on specific textiles with reactive dye.
DTF (Direct-to-Film)
The print is made on a special film and then heat-pressed onto the textile. Works on almost anything, from 10 pieces, full-colour.
Sublimation
Ink vaporises through heat and becomes part of the polyester fibre. Imperceptible, colourfast, perfect for sportswear. Only works on 100% polyester and light colours.
Tagless print / neck-label print
Printing on the inside of the garment where the care label normally sits. For brands that want to show their own branding without a sewn-in label.
Specialty inks
Reflective / retroreflective
Ink or transfer that reflects light — almost invisible during the day, brightly visible in headlights at night. We can make reflective transfers for sportswear and workwear.
Glow-in-the-dark
Contains phosphorescent pigments that charge up with light during the day and glow in the evening. Looks best on dark textiles.
Glitter
Ink with metallic or shiny particles. For festival merch, children's clothing, statement prints.
Puff (3D)
Ink that swells when heated, creating a 3D relief effect. For a playful look.
Foil printing / hot foil stamping
Metallic foil on paper or textile, giving a shiny metallic effect (gold, silver, holographic).
Debossing
Relief in paper or leather, where the design is pressed down into the material. No ink, no foil, just form. A premium look.
File and delivery terms
EPS (Encapsulated PostScript)
Vector file format for logos and illustrations. A global standard for print work.
AI (Adobe Illustrator)
Native file format of Adobe Illustrator. Our preference for vector designs.
PDF/X
Print-ready PDF with all fonts, images, and colours correctly embedded.
TIFF
High-quality raster format for photos. No loss of quality through compression (unlike JPG).
WeTransfer
Free service for sending large files. Our preference for files > 10 MB. Read more: /aanleveren/
Didn't find what you were looking for?
If you come across a term in our quote or in the printing world that isn't listed here: email us. We're happy to explain.