Textile Design, Surface Ornamentation and Printing
This domain tests design elements, repeats, coloration and surface ornamentation methods.
Design and repeat
Elements include line, shape, colour and texture. Principles include balance, rhythm, proportion, emphasis and unity. Repeats include straight, half-drop, brick and mirror. Registration is the alignment of screens and colours. Dyeing colours the whole fabric; printing applies colour locally.
Methods
Printing methods include block, screen, roller, transfer and digital. Surface ornamentation includes embroidery, appliqué, patchwork, quilting, tie-dye, batik and flocking. Binders thicken print paste. Steaming fixes reactive dyes on cotton, while pigment prints are often cured.
Worked example
A screen has a 30 cm repeat. An order needs 120 m of printed fabric. Number of repeats along the length = 120 divided by 0.30 = 400. If the design uses four colours, the line needs four screens or colour stations, and each colour must register to the same repeat. Reasoning: repeat length controls motif placement; colour count controls screen count, not fabric length.
Traps
Do not confuse repeat size with motif size. Do not call dyeing printing. Do not assume digital printing needs no repeat matching; placement still matters. Do not ignore colourways and registration. Do not order a large repeat without extra fabric allowance.