Frequently asked questions

Stained Textiles is a fabric printing business focused on custom polyester fabric printing. We help clients turn digital artwork, patterns, and designs into printed fabric for fashion, activewear, swimwear, decor, events, uniforms, samples, and other textile-based projects.

No. Our main focus is printing fabric. We print the fabric, and you can then use it for clothing, products, samples, decor, uniforms, or production with your own manufacturer or sewing team.

We work with designers, clothing brands, artists, schools, sports teams, corporate clients, event companies, manufacturers, decorators, and anyone needing custom printed polyester fabric.

We are based in South Africa. Orders can be submitted online, and completed jobs can be collected or delivered where applicable.

You place your order online: choose your fabric, enter the metres, pick saved artwork from your library or upload new files, review and submit. We check your artwork and email your invoice; you pay by EFT, and production starts once payment is confirmed and any proof is approved.

Yes. While you order, the website shows an estimated price based on your fabric and metres. Your invoice confirms the final amount before anything is printed.

Production only starts once your order has been submitted, your proof has been approved, and payment has been confirmed (or as agreed on your account terms).

It is an estimate. Your invoice confirms the final price.

Your price is calculated based on your fabric, metres, print options, and selections made during the order process. Additional costs may apply only if your artwork is not print-ready, requires correction, or if you request special sourcing, artwork setup, delivery, or extra services.

Production starts once your order is submitted, your proof is approved, and we have confirmed your payment (or as agreed on your account terms).

Orders with missing information, unpaid balances, unapproved proofs, or non-print-ready artwork may be delayed.

Yes. Once your order is submitted, you will receive a tracking code. You can use this code to track your job status online. If you have a client account, you can also view your jobs inside the client portal.

Yes. If you have a client account, you can view your previous jobs, artwork, and order history, making it easier to reorder.

Yes. Orders are placed from a trade account. Apply with your business details; we check every application and email you once it's approved. Your account then gives you your prices, job history, artwork library, invoices, order tracking and reordering.

We recommend high-quality, print-ready files such as PNG, TIFF, PDF, PSD, AI, or high-resolution JPEG files.

Your artwork should be prepared correctly before upload to avoid delays or additional artwork setup costs.

Print-ready artwork means your file is ready for production without needing major editing, resizing, fixing, cleaning, or setup.

For repeat patterns, your file should be seamless and prepared correctly for the repeat style and scale you want printed.

Your artwork must be high-resolution and print-ready. Low-resolution files may print blurry, pixelated, or unclear, especially when enlarged across fabric.

Clients are responsible for uploading artwork that is ready for print. If your artwork is not print-ready, your order may be delayed and additional artwork setup or correction costs may be charged.

Stained Textiles works on a print-ready artwork basis. This means your artwork should be correctly prepared before upload.

Our system may flag basic file issues, but clients remain responsible for ensuring artwork is the correct size, quality, repeat, direction, and format before approving the order. If artwork is not print-ready, the order may be delayed and extra costs may apply.

In some cases, we may be able to assist with artwork setup, resizing, repeat creation, or corrections, but this is not included as standard.

If artwork preparation is required, it may delay your order and additional charges may apply.

If your artwork is not print-ready, your order may be delayed.

Additional costs may apply if the artwork needs to be fixed, resized, repeated, reformatted, cleaned up, or prepared for print. To avoid delays and extra charges, please make sure your artwork is ready before uploading.

A repeat pattern is artwork designed to tile continuously across fabric. This is commonly used for fashion prints, activewear, swimwear, scarves, decor, and other textile applications.

Depending on your artwork, available repeat options may include straight repeat, half-drop repeat, or brick repeat.

The repeat style and repeat size you choose will affect how your design appears across the fabric.

Yes. The proofing process happens online.

After uploading your artwork, the site will generate a digital proof or repeat preview where applicable. You must review and approve the online proof before production can begin.

Once your proof is approved, production will follow the artwork, scale, repeat, direction, and details confirmed online.

Please check your proof carefully before approving. Once production has started, changes may not be possible.

Once artwork is approved and production begins, Stained Textiles prints according to the approved file and specifications.

Please check your artwork, scale, repeat, direction, colour notes, fabric choice, and metres carefully before approval.

We currently print on polyester and polyester-based fabrics only.

Our printing process is designed for polyester fabrics, which allow for strong colour, durability, and proper print results.

No. We do not currently print directly onto cotton fabric.

At this stage, Stained Textiles focuses on polyester and polyester-based fabric printing only.

Yes. We offer selected fabrics through the website. You can choose from the listed fabric options when placing your order.

If you need a specific fabric that is not listed, please contact us. We can try to source the fabric for you, depending on availability, suitability, quantity, and lead time.

This may be possible, but only if the fabric is suitable for our printing process.

Client-supplied fabric must be polyester or polyester-based and may need to be checked before production. Stained Textiles is not responsible for issues caused by unsuitable or inconsistent client-supplied fabric.

Our maximum printable fabric width is 1.5 metres.

The fabric width affects the layout, repeat, metres required, and final result. When placing your order online, select the available fabric width that matches your project.

The maximum printable width is 1.5 metres.

If your fabric or artwork is wider than this, it may need to be adjusted, split, or reviewed before production.

Our minimum order is 1 metre.

You can order from 1 metre upward, depending on the fabric and print options available online.

A strike-off is a small test print used to check artwork, colour, scale, repeat and fabric before full production. Ask us if your job needs one.

Not always. Colours can look different on screen compared to printed fabric due to screen settings, file setup, fabric type, ink, print method, and finishing.

We aim to produce a strong print result, but exact screen-to-fabric colour matching cannot always be guaranteed.

If colour is very important, tell us in your order notes and ask about a strike-off (test print) before a larger run.

Colour matching may require testing, and results can vary depending on the fabric and artwork.

Each fabric reacts differently to print. Texture, stretch, weight, weave, finish, and fabric composition can all affect the final colour and print appearance.

Yes. Jobs go through quality checks before completion. We check for obvious production issues and job accuracy based on the approved online proof and specifications.

If there is a production issue, we will review the job details, approved proof, artwork file, production notes, and quality control records.

If the issue is caused by non-print-ready artwork, incorrect specifications, client-supplied fabric, or an approved file, reprints may be charged. If the issue is caused by our production process, we will work to resolve it fairly.

Pricing is calculated based on your selected fabric, metres, print options, and order details.

Any additional services, such as artwork preparation, special sourcing, urgent production, delivery, or extra handling, may be charged separately.

By EFT against your invoice. After you submit an order we check it and send your invoice. It is also available to download under My documents in your account. Card payments are not taken on the website.

Use your invoice number as the payment reference. We confirm payments manually and your job status updates once it is received.

After you submit your order and receive your invoice. Account customers with agreed terms pay according to those terms.

Your job will not move into production until your proof has been approved and payment has been received (or as agreed on your account terms).

No. We do not currently charge VAT.

The price shown online is the price payable, unless additional services, artwork correction, sourcing, delivery, or special requests are added.

Yes. Once your order has been checked your invoice appears under My documents in your account, ready to download, and we email you when it is there. Can't see it? Open the job and press Request invoice.

Our standard turnaround time is 5 to 7 working days. Need it sooner? Set a deadline when you order and it becomes a rush job.

Turnaround depends on proof approval, payment, fabric availability, production capacity, and the order details selected online.

Turnaround starts once your online order has been submitted, your proof has been approved, payment has been confirmed, and all required production information is ready.

Orders with artwork issues, missing details, unpaid balances, or special fabric sourcing may take longer.

Urgent jobs may be possible depending on production capacity.

Rush fees may apply and will be shown or confirmed where applicable.

Yes. Collection may be available once your job is completed and ready.

You will be notified when your order is ready for collection.

Yes. Courier can be arranged where applicable.

Tracking details will be shared once the order is dispatched.

Once an order is handed over to the courier, delivery timelines depend on the courier service.

We will provide tracking where available and assist where possible, but courier delays are outside of our direct control.

Changes after proof approval may delay your order and may result in additional costs.

If production has already started, changes may not be possible.

Cancellation depends on the stage of your order.

If artwork preparation, fabric sourcing, printing, or production has already started, cancellation may not be possible or may be subject to costs.

Custom printed fabric is made to order, so refunds are generally not available once production has started.

Refunds, credits, or reprints are reviewed case by case and depend on the issue, approved proof, production records, and order status.

Please contact us with your job number, photos, and a clear description of the issue.

We will review the approved proof, artwork file, job specifications, production notes, and quality control records before advising on the next step.

You can view your jobs, track statuses, approve proofs, view invoices, see tracking details, access previous artwork, and reorder past jobs.

Use the forgot-password option on the portal login page to reset your password.

This may be available for approved company accounts. Contact us if your team needs shared access or multiple users.

Trade pricing may be available for repeat clients, brands, designers, agencies, manufacturers, or clients printing higher volumes.

Yes. Our system is built to support repeat orders, artwork libraries, batching, stock tracking, and ongoing production workflows.

Approved repeat clients may be able to receive statements showing invoices, payments, credits, and outstanding balances.

Credit terms may be available for approved repeat clients. This is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.