Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
High-definition (HD) woven labels are woven with finer yarns and denser interlacing than ordinary damask. This way the loom "draws" with smaller dots and can reproduce small text, thin lines and smooth curves that would merge in a standard weave. HD is the solution for logos with a lot of detail; for simple logos, ordinary damask is perfectly sufficient.
What exactly are high-definition woven labels
The detail of a woven label depends on two parameters: the thickness of the yarns and the number of yarns per centimetre in both directions. Imagine the label as a grid of pixels – each crossing of warp and weft is one "dot". With HD weaving, the dots are smaller and there are more of them per unit of area, so the image is sharper.
The result is a label with a very smooth surface, almost like print, but with all the advantages of weaving: durability, texture and resistance to washing.
When an HD woven label is worth it
- Small text – a website, slogan, address or text in several languages on a small label.
- Thin lines – logos with outlines, frames, hatching or fine ornaments.
- Serif fonts – the thin serifs of the letters get lost in a coarser weave.
- Very small labels – labels for underwear, childrenswear or accessories where the logo is tiny.
- Illustrations – stylised drawings, crests, detailed emblems.
When HD is not needed
If the logo is made up of large, solid shapes and has no text under 3 mm, standard damask will give an excellent result. HD weaving is slower and requires more yarn, which is reflected in the price. So there is no point paying for resolution the design does not use.
| Design | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Large logo, 1–2 colours, no small text | damask or taffeta |
| Logo with text of about 2–3 mm | damask; if in doubt, a sample in HD |
| Text under 2 mm, thin outlines, serif | high definition |
| Photograph, gradient | printed label |
The values in the table are approximate – the real result depends on the font, colour contrast and text direction. That is why, in borderline cases, the safest route is a sample: if you can read the text with the naked eye at a normal reading distance without having to squint, the resolution has been chosen correctly.
Limits of HD weaving too
High definition does not mean unlimited possibilities. Some things remain beyond the reach of any woven label:
- Number of colours – still limited by the number of weft yarns the loom can alternate.
- Gradients and halftones – cannot be woven smoothly; only stepped transitions or a dithered effect are possible.
- Low contrast – light grey text on a white base loses legibility even with HD.
- Microtext – even with the finest weave there is a minimum letter size below which letters merge.
Text direction and detail
Even with high definition, the direction of the text matters. The density of warp and weft is usually not the same, so lines in one direction come out sharper than in the other. With very small text, the technician may suggest rotating the design relative to the tape or slightly thickening thin vertical or horizontal elements. These corrections are barely noticeable to the naked eye but make the text considerably more legible.
Typical uses of HD labels
- Premium brands with a logo set in a thin serif font.
- Labels with a website or slogan in small letters under the main logo.
- Underwear labels, where the logo is tiny.
- Emblems and crests of clubs, schools and uniforms.
- Small side-seam flag labels with text on several lines.
Softness and feel
A big plus of HD labels is that the finer yarns and denser structure make them smooth and thin. This also makes them suitable as neck labels in T-shirts and underwear. However, comfort also depends on how the edges are finished – ultrasonic cutting or a woven selvedge are preferable for labels that touch the skin.
How to prepare a design for an HD label
- Send the logo in vector format with fonts converted to outlines.
- State the actual size of the label – detail is assessed relative to it.
- Use clear contrast between text and base.
- Specify the colours by Pantone.
- Ask for a sample in HD and, if in doubt, one in standard damask in parallel, to compare.
HD woven or printed label
When the detail is extremely fine or there are halftones, printing is sometimes the better choice. Printed labels reproduce photographs and gradients, but they lack the texture and density of weaving. A compromise is an HD woven label for the brand logo and a printed label for the detailed information. You can see the whole range in the labels section.
What affects the price of an HD label
The price is determined by the size, the number of colours, the type of cut and fold and the quantity. HD weaving is usually more expensive than standard damask because of the finer yarns and slower process. Instead of guessing, ask for a quote for both options – with larger runs the difference is often smaller than you expect.
HD woven labels from Polkom
Polkom produces woven labels in standard and high definition to your design. As a manufacturer with over 30 years of experience, we will review your logo and tell you whether HD is really needed. Send an inquiry with the file and size and you will receive a sample and a quote.
