The most common textile printing mistakes (and how to avoid them)

Textile personalisation is a powerful tool for reinforcing a brand image, marking an event or uniting a team. 

But beware: personalised textile printing is not something you can improvise. The wrong choice of fabric, a badly prepared file or poor colour management can seriously compromise the result. 

Here's a complete guide to the most common mistakes - and above all, how to get your textile printing right first time.

The wrong design

A good visual is the key to a quality personalised T-shirt. All too often, poorly thought-out designs detract from the visual impact.

• Fancy fonts: They may look original, but they quickly become illegible. To personalise textiles, it's better to opt for sober fonts that can be read from a distance.
• Overloaded visuals: Too much text or elements distract attention. A clear, concise message is much more effective.
• Poorly adjusted visual size: A design that's too big gets in the way, a visual that's too small goes unnoticed, especially on children's sizes.

💡 Tip: make a mock-up or ask for a 3D visual to assess legibility and balance.

🔗 Also read: Minimalist logo or bold logo: which should you choose for your brand?

Poor colour management

One of the most common pitfalls in textile personalisation is poor colour management.

• RGB vs CMYK: What you see on the screen (RGB) doesn't always match what you see in print (CMYK). This can lead to surprises on delivery.
• Palette too limited or badly chosen: Fewer colours doesn't mean less impact... but you still need to choose them wisely.

💡 Tip: use a Pantone colour chart or a CMYK simulator to validate the shades.

🔗 Read also: The impact of colour in branding: the example of Heinz

Files that don't comply

A poorly prepared file is the most avoidable error, but also the most common.

• Insufficient resolution: 300 DPI minimum for sharp rendering.
• Wrong format: a vector file for textile printing (.AI, .SVG, .PDF) is strongly recommended.
• Poorly managed background: Transparent preferred, unless otherwise intended.

💡 Tip: have your files validated by a professional or test them with a preview tool.

🔗 Find out more: Textile printing: How to send files to production like a pro.

Unsuitable choice of fabric

Textiles are more than just a support: they are a strategic choice.

• Embroidery: Avoid fabrics that are too thin.
• Screen printing & DTF: Ideal for cotton or cotton-polyester.
• Sublimation: Reserved for 100% white polyester textiles.

💡 Tip: adapt the textile to the end use (events, sport, corporate) and the technique used.

🔗 Find out more: Mistakes to avoid when personalising textiles

The wrong printing technique

Every visual, every textile, every need has its own method.

• DTG: ideal for details and small runs.
• Screen printing: cost-effective for large quantities.
• Embroidery: elegant, but requires a suitable fabric.
• Sublimation: perfect on clear polyester.

Ignoring the proof

Validating a proof is a crucial stage.

• It centralises all the information (size, quantity, visuals, colours, etc.).
• Its absence can lead to costly production errors.

💡 Tip: reread every detail of the proof and, if possible, ask for a sample.

Neglected maintenance

Even an eco-responsible personalised garment needs a minimum of care.

• Wash inside out at 30°C
• Do not tumble dry
• No ironing directly on the visual

💡 Tip: educate your end customers about care.

🔗 Read our guide: How to care for and extend the life of your personalised clothing?

Lack of planning

No budget, no schedule = stress and extra costs.

• Allow a surplus for mistakes or shortcomings
• Define a clear schedule

💡 Tip: anticipate every stage - from creation to delivery - for smooth textile personalisation.

To sum up

From preparing the files to selecting the textile and choosing the colours and technique, every step counts. 

Whether you're making a personalised t-shirt in Belgium for a festival or eco-friendly clothing for a company, avoid the classic pitfalls with these tips.