Frequently Asked Questions

  

Fabric Studio

Fabric Studio is an online fabric design customization tool that helps you instantly create downloadable and printable images for you to turn into truly custom fabric creations.  Each of our more than 200 templates can be personalized and printed instantly to an inkjet printer using printable fabric sheets sold in the Fabric Studio Store or via one of our preferred third party Custome Fabric Printers.  Customize any template using your favorite selections from our 700+ pattern designs organized into either themed categories or 45 unique coordinated patterns.  If you like you can upload your own personal images to create a unique craft project.  Additionally, our color paint box contains 100 custom colors that coordinate with our patterns our text tool offers dozens of unique fonts and our unique collection of charms top offer you the ability to create your own pattern from scratch.  Altogether, our online tool provides the most unique way to customize fabric in an infinite number of ways.  

 

 

What am I purchasing from Fabric Studio?

When you make a purchase using Fabric Studio's online fabric customization tool, you are purchasing a custom design template image, but not the final fabric that your image will print on.  The final step of your order process will prompt you to generate and download your custom fabric images.  When you select download files, you will receive a zip folder containing one or more image.png files which can be printed onto the fabric of your choice using one of two available print methods.  The first option is to purchase printable fabric sheets that your design(s) can be printed on using an inkjet printer.  These are sold in ourFabric Studio Store and come in several fabrics and sizes.  The second print option is to upload your image.png file(s) onto one of our preferred third party custom fabric printer websites accessible here or via your order confirmation page.  Fabric types, widths and prices vary with each recommended custom fabric printer, so be sure to check their websites to confirm your options prior to ordering with them.  Fabric Studio is not responsible for the print results using a recommended print partner, but we stand behind the quality of our image files as being within the recommended resolution of 150 dpi and file type (png) stated in  the recommended print guidelines of both preferred custom fabric print companies.  If you have any questions regarding printing your custom design file, please contact us via email at info@thefabricstudio.com

.
 

Why should I create an account on Fabric Studio?

 

There are several benefits to creating an account with the Fabric Studio.  Creating a Member account offers you the opportunity to save templates that you have customized but wish to save or purchase later.  Additionally, your fabric image purchase history is maintained and custom fabric images may be accessed and reprinted at any time once purchased.  There is no need to search for images on your computer that are conveniently stored within your member account.

 

 How do I receive my image file after purchasing?

 

Once you proceed with an order, and payment is approved, a button will appear on your order confirmation page prompting you to generate and download your image file(s).  Simply click on the generate file button and then the download file button and your computer system will download a zip folder containing two images-- the actual image file called image.png, which is 150 dpi and 100% of the final print size dimensions-- and a second file of a lower 72 dpi resolution representing the entire repeat layout you selected in our preview tool.  The image.png file is the file that will be printed onto fabric using an inkjet or uploaded onto a third party custom fabric printer website.  

 

 

What happens to my files after I purchase and download them?
 

Once your image files are generated and downloaded, you may save them locally onto your computer; however, files are maintained under your member account in the Fabric Studio website and may be downloaded anytime by visiting the Order History section in My Account and selecting the Generate Image and Download Image buttons. 

 

Additionally, the Fabric Studio system saves files that members customize and save and/or purchase using the Fabric Studio online tool.  These images are maintained within each member's account and can be accessed and edited by visiting the My Fabric tab in the My Account member section of our site. 

 

 

My Account access

 

Members may access and edit their personal account information by selecting the My Account link in the upper right section of the main site menu or via the footer menu link accessible throughout the site.  Within My Account you will find sections edit personal information, view order history, view saved template and swatch designs and change account password.  It is necessary to set up an account prior to completing a purchase to enable a backup copy of every design ordered being placed in Order History for future access.

  

Requesting a new account password

 

If you forget your account password, you may select the "Forget your password?" hyperlink under the membership sign-in fields.  Simply enter in your email and an email will be sent to you which will allow you to change your password.

 

Requested new password email has not arrived

Occasionally, password notification emails get sent into the SPAM folder of your email provider system.  Please check to see if a password reset email resides in your SPAM folder if it has not appeared in your Inbox.  If you still have not received a password reset email upon checking your SPAM folder, contact our support team at info@thefabricstudio.com

 Trouble loading images 

Under certain conditions you may experience issues loading images into the customization tool or print layout preview screen.  To diminish loading times,  check to make sure you are using the most current version of your browser.  We recommend using the Google Chrome browser for PC users and the most recent version of Firefox for Mac users.  If you continue to experience long loading times, please contact customer support at info@thefabricstudio.com.

  Creating a custom fabric swatch


Creating a custom fabric swatch of your own is easy using the Fabric Studio online customization tool.  From any page on the website, select "design your own" from the main menu toolbar.   A blank white template will appear in the customization tool.  Select a swatch by designating a category or palette from the dropdown menu displayed within the swatch menu tab in the right margin.  You may also upload a personal image of your own to customize the blank template by selecting "Upload" from the swatch menu and importing from your computer.  Several options for cropping your image are available upon accepting our terms and conditions regarding image permissions.  We recommend that images used to create custom fabric be a minimum of 150 dpi and as close to 100% print size as possible for best print results.

  Saving a custom fabric swatch

You may save a swatch you have created in the online customization tool by selecting the Save button.  The system will prompt you to login so that it can place the swatch in the My Fabric section under My Account for future access.  Swatches that you have printed in the past are also present in the My Fabric section for your convenience.  To proceed with printing a saved swatch, simply select Customize under the swatch and it will populate into the customization tool.  If no further changes are necessary to the swatch, select the Next button to be taken to the print layout preview screen.   
 

 Image specifications for personal uploads

We recommend that members upload personal images that are 150 dpi resolution and no larger than 12" in length or width.  For example, if you are uploading an image to place into a 4" x 4" photo frame template, then the recommended size upload would be a minimum of 4" on its narrowest side and a resolution of 150 dpi.  Our online tool includes a scaling feature; however, the most optimal print results occur when a minimal amount of enlarged scaling is utilized.

 Fabric Studio Template Library - Overview

 Each of the template designs accessible via the main toolbar categories across the top of every Fabric Studio website page is assembled into 1-16 customizable layers that can be highlighted and altered using images from our swatch library (under Swatch menu tab), colors from our paint box, layers of personalized text (under Text menu tab), or with uploaded personal images of your own (Upload menu button).  To customize a specific layer of a template, click on it so that the highlighted red outline appears.  Then select your image to apply to the highlighted layer.  Note:  to apply a color from the paint box, you may need to "empty" that particular layer of any image you previously applied because color paints reside beneath swatch and personal images.   Simply click on the Delete handle of any imported image in a layer and then select a paint color to see it appear.

 Fabric Studio Swatch Library -- Image size and resolution

All of the images in our swatch library are a standard 8" x 8" and 150 dpi resolution.  A majority of the imagery in our swatch collection is sized to seamlessly repeat across the majority of our design templates, so that no scaling is required.  If you experience issues with creating a desired repeat, please contact our customer support at info@thefabricstudio.com and one of our customer representatives will answer questions and assist you with your project.

 Fabric Studio Swatch Library -- Image categorization

Our swatch library is searchable both by category (baby shower, birthday, florals, etc.) and by color palette family (Jest, Creative, The Woods, None) to give members the option to search our 700+ image collection easily with both theme and color palette in mind.  To access a category, select the Swatch menu tab and click on the Category dropdown menu, which is organized alphabetically.  To view swatches according to color palette, click on the Palette dropdown menu (this will disable the Category menu) and scroll through our 40+ color palette options for coordinating prints that compliment one another.

 Fabric Studio Printing -- Options

Within the Fabric Studio Print Preview Tool, there are several options from which to choose when deciding how to print your custom fabric image.  Below are some guidelines to follow when selecting your printer type, fabric width and final layout.

  Printing Method 

  

 Fabric Studio enables two different printing methods when creating custom fabric files: 

• Inkjet Printer using Printable Fabric Sheets (sold on our Store page).
• Recommended Third Party Custom Fabric Printer (read more on our Third Party Printer page).

Giving our members the utmost choice in both the fabric type and method allows infinite possibilities when printing your custom fabric image. 

 Print Size

Within the Print Preview tool, there is a dropdown menu from which the desired print size can be selected.  This provides an accurate portrayal of what your image will look like repeated (or centered) across the fabric selected for printing.  Whether you wish to print on an 8.5" x 11.0" printable fabric sheet from your home inkjet printer, or across three yards of 60" wide fabric using a third party custom fabric printer, Fabric Studio provides a preview of how your image will look in over 14 fabric size variations. 

Print Layout

 The following options are available layouts for printing designs:

Centered - Maintaining the original dimensions of your customized image, the system will print it centered on the fabric selection of your choice. Note: currently this is the only available option for inkjet printers.

Basic Repeat - Tiling your design across and down the fabric of your choice, the system will produce a basic repeat fitting as many of the originally sized images as possible across the fabric width of your choice. Note: crops will occur on the right/bottom edge of your fabric choice.

Half-Drop - Using a half vertical step, the system will create a repeat with alternating rows of images offset down the fabric length by one half of the vertical dimension. For example, if the original image is 8 inches in length, the second row will begin at the 4 inch mark and alternate down and across the fabric.

Half-Brick - Using a half horizontal step, the system will create a repeat with alternating rows of images offset across the fabric width by one half of the horizontal dimension. For example, if the original image is 8 inches in width, the second row will begin at the 4 inch mark and alternate across and down the fabric.

Mirrored - Beginning at the bottom edge of an image, the system will create a reverse replication of an image by folding it over and out across the fabric. This often produces an abstract image or edgeless seam where lines will not be as noticeable. Test this option out and see if the results suit the purposes of your finished fabric.

Each of our repeat options creates a unique result so feel free to experiment with the preview tool and have fun seeing the interesting results!

COMING SOON: repeat options on the inkjet printer

  Fabric Studio Shopping Cart --

Purchasing custom fabric images on Fabric Studio is simple.  We've created this step by step tutorial video to walk you through the process.  Watch it on our Tutorials page.