Before bulk production starts, brands approve colour and print on small samples. Getting this stage right avoids costly shade and print problems later.
Lab dips
A lab dip is a small swatch of your fabric dyed to match a colour standard. Suppliers usually send two or three options (A, B, C) so you can pick the closest. Always judge lab dips in a light box under the agreed light source, such as D65 daylight.
Strike-offs
A strike-off is a short printed sample of your design on the actual base fabric. It confirms colours, scale, repeat and print quality.
Tips for faster approvals
- Share physical colour standards, not just screen colours.
- Agree the light source and tolerance up front.
- Give clear comments: "slightly greener" or "reduce red" helps more than "not right".
- Approve in writing and keep the approved swatch as the bulk reference.
After approval
Bulk is matched to the approved sample. Ask for a shade band or bulk swatch with each lot.
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