Express Label Design: From Logo to Production-Ready Artwork

A logo that looks sharp on a website can turn into a blurred shape when it is woven at 15 mm wide. Label design is the step that translates your brand identity into something a loom, a printing press or a silicone mould can reproduce cleanly at a very small size. This article explains what our label designers actually do, what to send them and how a design moves from proof to finished labels.

What a label designer does

Vectorising your logo

Production needs vector artwork: clean outlines defined mathematically rather than pixels. If you only have a JPG, a PNG or a photo of an existing label, the designer redraws the logo as a vector, corrects uneven curves and converts all fonts to outlines. This is the foundation for every other step, because woven patterns, printing plates and moulds are all generated from vector paths.

Adjusting details for the label size

Fine serifs, hairlines and tight letter spacing often disappear when reduced. The designer thickens thin strokes, opens up small counters (the holes in letters such as a, e and o) and, where needed, proposes a simplified version of the logo for very small labels. The aim is that the label still reads as your brand when it is the size of a fingertip.

Minimum text sizes: woven vs printed

Every production method has a practical lower limit. Woven text is built from threads, so a letter cannot be thinner than the yarn that forms it. Printed labels can hold finer detail.

These are guide values; the exact limit depends on the font, the weave density and the material. The designer checks your text against them and flags anything at risk before you see the proof. For a broader comparison of the two main techniques, see woven vs printed labels.

Thread colour limits

A woven label is made from a background warp plus a limited number of weft colours. Most designs work best with two to four colours; more are possible on some qualities but increase complexity. Gradients, photographic effects and shadows cannot be woven as they appear on screen. The designer reduces your artwork to a realistic palette and, if a gradient is essential, suggests a printed label or a heat transfer instead.

Pantone matching

Screens display colour differently, so we work with Pantone references. For woven labels the designer selects the closest yarn from the available range; for printed labels inks are mixed towards the reference. Thread and ink on fabric never look exactly like a printed swatch on paper, which is one reason a physical sample is useful for colour-critical brands.

Legibility at small sizes

Contrast matters as much as size. Dark text on a light background, or the reverse, reads better than two similar tones. Condensed fonts, script typefaces and very light weights are the most common legibility problems. The designer tests the layout at actual size and adjusts spacing, weight or colour so that sizes, URLs and composition text are easy to read.

Care-label layout

Care labels carry the most information in the least space: fibre composition, care symbols in the order washing, bleaching, drying, ironing and professional care, and often several languages. The designer arranges these blocks logically, sets the text at a legible size, and recommends a booklet label when the content no longer fits on a single piece. Content requirements are covered in our guide to EU care label requirements and on the care labels page.

What to send us

• Your logo, ideally as AI, EPS, PDF or SVG. If you only have an image file, send the best resolution available.
• Label type and approximate size, for example a woven neck label or a printed side-seam label. If unsure, describe the garment and placement; our guide on how to choose label size will help.
• Colours as Pantone references, or a fabric swatch to match.
• Fold and finishing if known: flat cut, centre-fold, end-fold, iron-on backing.
• All text that must appear, including sizes, composition and languages for care labels.
• References from our Labels 2026 catalogue, if you have seen a style you like. You can download it from the catalogues page.

How proof, sample and production work

1. Digital proof. Typically within 24–48 hours we send a proof showing the label at actual size, with dimensions, fold, colours and Pantone or yarn references.
2. Revision rounds. You reply with corrections and we update the proof. Most designs are approved after one or two rounds; collecting all comments into one reply keeps things fast.
3. Physical sample (optional). For new designs or demanding colours, a sample lets you check feel, colour and legibility on the real material. Physical samples are available for every label type before production.
4. Production. After approval, production typically takes 10–20 working days, followed by delivery across Europe. Details are on our fast delivery page.

Common artwork problems we fix

• Low-resolution files that pixelate when enlarged to production scale.
• Live fonts that are not converted to outlines and change when opened on another computer.
• Too much text for the chosen label size, forcing tiny type.
• Very thin lines or outlines that would break up in weaving.
• Gradients and shadows on artwork intended for woven or silicone labels.
• RGB colours only, with no Pantone reference to match.
• No safe margin, leaving text too close to cut edges or folds, where it can be lost in the seam.

Because Polkom designs and manufactures in the same facility in Bulgaria, the designer knows the exact capabilities of the looms and presses that will produce your label. That shortens the loop between design and production and avoids surprises at the sample stage. See the express label design service page.

Frequently asked questions