Strike-off
A strike-off is a sample textile made before mass production using the planned textile, screen, color, and processing conditions, and approved after checking the printed pattern, color tone, texture, and other details.
Contents6 sections
Definition and Overview
A strike-off is a prototype made before mass production, mainly for printed textiles. It is used by printing the pattern under conditions close to full production so that planning, production, dyeing and finishing, and printing factory personnel can check the finished result.
The colors and patterns in the design can look different once processed on the actual textile. For that reason, production decisions are based not only on data on a screen or a paper printout, but also on the actual strike-off as the reference.
Uses in Textile Trading
In custom print production, the usual flow is to create a strike-off after submitting the design, then proceed to mass production after approval. If revisions are needed, the color, pattern position, screen, and processing conditions are adjusted and checked again.
At approval time, record when and on which textile and specifications the checked sample was made. Keeping the approved sample and using it for inspection of the mass-production roll and for comparison after delivery helps reduce misunderstandings.
- Textile product number or quality, blend ratio, and color name
- Artwork, pattern direction, and repeat size
- Ground color and the tone, lightness, and bleeding of each color
- Whether processing was applied and the check points including front, back, and selvedge
- Approval date, approver, and details of revision instructions
Key Check Points and How to Handle Numbers
When checking, in addition to pattern reproducibility, look at how well it matches the ground color, color overlap, line thickness, and any loss of detail or blur. Since colors can look different depending on the light source, the lighting conditions used for evaluation should also be standardized among the people involved.
Items managed by numbers, such as repeat size, pattern placement, number of colors, and tolerances, should be agreed before ordering or when checking the strike-off. It is important not to leave the tolerance range as a verbal agreement only, but to state it clearly in the specification sheet and approval record.
Mass-produced goods are not always completely identical to the strike-off. Differences can arise depending on the textile lot, dye, processing conditions, machine status, and other factors, so the acceptable color difference and pattern deviation for mass production should also be decided in advance.
Differences from Similar Terms
A lab dip is mainly a color sample for dyeing. It focuses on checking the shade of solid-dyed goods, whereas a strike-off focuses on checking the printed pattern, color scheme, screen reproduction, and how it looks after processing.
Swatch and sample roll broadly refer to samples used for selecting and presenting textiles. Strike-off is often used to mean a prototype sample made for pre-production approval of a custom pattern.
Points to Prevent Miscommunication
When requesting a check, make it clear whether the strike-off is for color confirmation or for final approval including pattern placement and processing. If the purpose of the check is unclear, it can lead to a situation where only the color, or only the pattern, is requested to be revised after approval.
Before mass production, confirm how the approved strike-off corresponds to the production specifications. If there is a textile change, color change, screen correction, or additional processing, do not apply the previous approved sample as is; recheck it if necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a strike-off and a lab dip?
A lab dip is a dyeing sample mainly used to check the shade of solid-dyed goods. A strike-off is a prototype sample mainly used for printed textiles to check, before mass production, the pattern, color scheme, reproduction of lines and details, combination with the ground color, and how it looks after processing.
What should be kept when approving a strike-off?
In addition to the approved physical sample, record the textile quality, design number, color name, pattern direction, repeat size, processing details, approval date, and approver. Documenting revisions and the acceptable range for mass production also helps prevent differences in judgment between the factory and the buyer.
Can there be differences between an approved strike-off and the mass-produced product?
Yes. Differences in shade, texture, and pattern appearance can occur depending on the textile and dye lot, processing conditions, equipment condition, and other factors. It is important to agree in advance on the items to be controlled in mass production and the acceptable range, and to compare them again at the start of production.
