How to Choose the Right Fabric for Digital Fabric Printing: A Guide for Every Project

How to Choose the Right Fabric for Digital Printing

When it comes to digital fabric printing, your design is only part of the story. The fabric base you choose is just as important — it determines how your design looks, feels, and performs in real life.

The same artwork can look completely different depending on whether it’s printed on a soft cotton voile, a structured polyester, or a textured linen.

At Digital Fabrics, we’ve spent over a decade helping creatives, brands, and makers bring their artwork to life on fabric. In this guide, we’ll share expert tips to help you choose the best fabric for your project, whether you’re designing apparel, homewares, or creative displays.

Best Fabrics for Apparel – Comfort and Style

When designing for fashion, comfort is just as important as colour vibrancy.

Polyester bases like London, Chiffon, and Vesna are some of the most popular choices in our fashion fabric range. Each one offers softness, versatility, and excellent colour reproduction — but they also differ in weight, finish, and performance, making them suitable for very different types of garments.

• London – A mid-weight twill with stretch and a soft off-white base. Its polished look makes it ideal for dresses, skirts, tailored jackets, and trousers.

• Vesna – A recycled Eco Lycra with smooth, four-way stretch. Featuring UPF 50 sun protection and chlorine resistance, it’s perfect for activewear and swimwear designed to last.

• Chiffon – Light, sheer, and graceful with a matte finish. Its soft drape works beautifully for dresses, skirts, blouses, and flowing scarves.

These fabrics are favourites for fashion projects because they combine comfort, style, and durability, while ensuring your designs print with vibrant colour and clarity.

If you prefer the natural touch, our Cotton Voile and Poppy fabrics are excellent options for fashion and accessories. Both are 100% cotton, but each offers a unique finish, weight, and character that can transform your designs.

• Cotton Voile – Light, soft, and breathable, this semi-sheer fabric has a floaty drape that’s perfect for scarves, tunics, kaftans, and breezy garments. Its natural texture and soft hand feel make it a favourite for summer pieces.

• Poppy – A luxurious organic cotton with a sateen weave and subtle sheen. Its bright white base prints beautifully, capturing detail and colour with clarity. Perfect for skirts, dresses, shirts, pants, and accessories.

Tip: Think about the end use. A flowing dress, a crisp shirt, or a draped scarf each require different qualities — and the right fabric base ensures both comfort and style.

Best Fabrics for Homewares – Durability and Function

When it comes to home and lifestyle projects, you need fabrics that are as durable as they are beautiful. Two of our most popular bases for cushions, upholstery, and decor are Cooper and Cotton Linen, each with its own strengths.

• Cooper – A heavyweight polyester with a stunning linen-look texture. At 380 gsm and with abrasion resistance (Martindale 50,000), it’s built for long-lasting use in furniture and upholstery. Its crisp white base ensures vibrant colour reproduction, making it perfect for standout homewares like wall hangings, cushions, or statement pieces.

• Cotton Linen – A beautiful natural blend (97% cotton, 3% linen) with a soft linen texture and bright off-white base. Cotton Linen strikes the perfect balance between durability and drape. Versatile enough for both cushion covers and curtains, this fabric is a true all-rounder for creative home projects.

Tip: Consider not just the look of your fabric, but also the handling it will endure — whether that’s daily use on a sofa cushion or occasional use as a statement curtain.

Fabrics for Creative Displays – Texture and Impact

If your project is all about making a visual statement — like an installation, event branding, or a promotional display — the texture of the fabric can completely change the effect.

Fabrics such as Chiffon or Pure Linen add interesting drape and structure, enhancing the sense of artistry and uniqueness in your design.

A textured base can make an artwork feel more dynamic, while a smooth polyester will highlight sharp details.

Tip: Think about the environment your design will live in — an art gallery, a retail display, or a public space. Choose a fabric base that elevates your concept.

Printing Fine Details and Text

Not all fabrics are created equal when it comes to sharp detail.

If your design includes small text, fine lines, or intricate patterns, smooth, flat fabrics are your best choice. They ensure clean, crisp results.

Flat, non-textural fabrics produce excellent detail fidelity, making them perfect for technical or graphic designs.

Tip: Avoid heavily textured fabrics when sharp detail is critical, as the weave may cause designs to print less clearly.

Printing on Natural Fabrics – Soft, Organic Tones

Sometimes, less is more.

If you’re aiming for subtle, organic hues, our natural fabrics are your best options. Cotton Voile, Cotton Linen, and Pure Linen all produce soft, muted colours that lend a timeless and sophisticated feel to your print.

Tip: Natural fibres absorb inks differently than polyester. Colours often appear softer and less saturated compared to polyester, which delivers bold, vibrant results. Both can print crisp details, but natural bases give a more organic, understated finish that works beautifully for certain design styles.

Why Fabric Testing Matters Before Digital Printing

Every fabric behaves differently under heat and ink. Even the most carefully prepared artwork will look different depending on the fabric it’s printed on.

That’s why testing is essential:

• Order a Sample Pack – See and feel different fabric bases with real swatches.

• Print a Strike-Off – A 20 x 20 cm test print lets you check colour, handle, and print quality before committing to larger orders.

And don’t just look at your samples — test them! Wash them, sew them, stretch them. Make sure the fabric performs the way you need before bulk printing.

Tip: A little testing upfront avoids disappointment later and gives you confidence before placing larger orders.

Important to Note

At Digital Fabrics, we only print on pure polyester or natural fabric bases — not blends. Why? Because this ensures the best print quality and consistency across every project.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right fabric is more than just picking a surface for your design — it’s about bringing your vision to life in the best possible way. With the right fabric base, your artwork will not only look stunning but also feel and perform exactly how you intended.

Ready to get started? Explore our Fabric Range or order a Sample Pack today and print custom fabrics made right in Sydney.