How to Create Your Own Wallpaper and Fabric Collection: A Practical Guide
If you’re an artist or designer looking to create your own wallpaper and fabric, the process can feel daunting and difficult to navigate. From file setup to seamless repeats and professional production, there are many steps involved – but with the right knowledge and tools, it becomes an exciting and rewarding creative journey.
This guide outlines the key stages of turning your artwork into a bespoke wallpaper and fabric collection, with practical tips to help avoid common mistakes and produce professional results.
Start with High-Quality Artwork
(Almost) Every design begins with a piece of original artwork. As a personal rule, I scan everything in at 600 DPI. This allows me to reduce the DPI down to the required amount, whilst ensuring sharpness and print clarity.
From there, the artwork is transformed into a seamless repeat pattern using specialist software, such as Adobe Photoshop or AVA CAD/CAM. If you’re unsure how to navigate this step, get in touch and find out how I can help to technically set up your design, ensuring your pattern is repeat-ready and scaled perfectly for production.
Creating Seamless Repeats
One of the fiddliest – but essential – parts of the process is crafting a balanced and seamless repeat. Good design means not only creating a layout with your artwork, but also making sure the negative space is just as considered. When tiled across a larger area, the design should flow naturally and cohesively – without any harsh banding appearing. Repeats should be created with the final product dimensions in mind, especially when working with standard wallpaper widths or fabric bolt sizes.
Preparing the Design for Production
Once the pattern is perfected, the design should be colour separated. This allows for accurate colour reproduction and easy creation of multiple colour ways.
Files are usually supplied in AVA or Photoshop formats – both widely accepted by professional manufacturers. If you’re unfamiliar with separation and file formatting, a technical designer can help convert any flat design into a separated, print-ready file.
At this stage the manufacturer proofs are created. These test prints are essential to review colour accuracy, scale, and overall print quality.
It’s also important to develop labels and selvedges, which include branding and the relevant technical information, for both wallpapers and fabrics. These both contribute to the finesse and professionalism of the final product.
Choosing the Right Tools and Support
You don’t necessarily need specialist software to get started – designs can be created in Adobe Photoshop or equivalent, more accessible software. More advanced work, including colour separations, can be outsourced to technical designers – like me!
Many of my clients benefit from a hybrid workflow. This allows them to be involved in the areas best suited to their creative minds, whilst leaving the technical expertise and preparation to me. My adaptive approach means we can work together in a way that suits you.
Creating a Cohesive Collection
To create your own wallpaper and fabric as a curated collection, rather than just individual designs, think in terms of unity. Pull together a series of patterns that share a common element – whether through colour, theme, or style.
A strong collection feels intentional and well-curated, and that becomes more impactful when shown to clients, buyers, and customers.
Laying the Foundation for Marketing
While branding, marketing, and promotion warrant their own post, there are a few essentials to touch on. A strong brand identity should run consistently through your labels, website, social media, and other marketing materials.
Mock ups are crucial – they help to shown how the design looks in an interior and how it repeats at scale. Printed samples are key for presenting colour accuracy and material quality to customers.
Ready to Create Your Own Wallpaper and Fabric?
If you’re ready to create your own wallpaper and fabric, start by gathering designs that align with your creative identity. Choose patterns you genuinely love and build a colour palette that ties them together. Whether you need help with technical setup, repeat creation, file formatting, or production preparation, expert support can make the process smooth and more professional from start to finish.
Need Help Bringing Your Designs to Life?
As a freelance technical designer specialising in decorative print, I offer end-to-end support – find out more about my services here – for artists and designers who want to turn their ideas into professionally prepared wallpaper and fabric collections.
Get in touch to chat about your project – I would love to help!
