A guide to custom pillows
How to design a custom pillow, and where to have it printed
A pillow is a picture that gets printed onto fabric, wrapped round an insert and sewn at the edges. This guide is about designing for all of that, and about choosing the design tools and print services that do it.
The part of a design that survives is the part that was planned for the fabric, the seam and the shape.
Designing a pillow looks like designing a picture, and most of the trouble comes from treating it as one. The face is printed onto cloth, stretched over an insert and stitched at the edges, so a few centimetres of every side disappear into the seam and the middle bulges toward the viewer.
The guides here will take that apart: how to set up a design for a pillow, how fabric and print method change the result, and what to check with a design tool and a print service before an order is placed.
Six plates
What to settle before you order a custom pillow
Each of these changes the finished pillow more than another pass at the artwork would.
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Plate i
Fabric
Cotton, linen blends, velvet and polyester each hold a print differently. A heavy texture softens fine lines and small type.
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Plate ii
Print method
Dye sublimation works on polyester and leaves no raised ink on the surface. Cotton covers are printed another way, and the method limits the fabrics on offer.
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Plate iii
Size and shape
A square cushion and a long lumbar pillow crop the same picture very differently. Settle the shape before you arrange the design.
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Plate iv
Insert
Some services sell a cover, others a finished pillow. The listing should say which, and what the insert is made of.
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Plate v
The proof
An on-screen proof confirms placement and the seam line. It cannot show how a colour will look on cloth.
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Plate vi
Care
A removable cover can go in the wash. A pillow sewn shut usually cannot, which matters for anything that lives on a sofa.
Written on the back
What this guide holds itself to
Three rules for everything published here.
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No scores
Tools and services are described in words. Nothing here is rated, scored or ranked by number.
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Prices with a date
A price is quoted from the provider's own pricing page, with the date it was read.
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Plain links
Links to Adobe Express, print services and other tools are ordinary links. This site earns no commission from them.
Three passes
Designing a pillow, start to order
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Compose
Set the canvas to the pillow's size, allow for bleed, and keep faces and lettering clear of the seam.
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Check
Look at the design at its real size, make sure each photo has the resolution to be printed that large, and read the proof.
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Order
Confirm the fabric, the size, and whether you are buying a cover or a filled pillow before you pay.
New here
Nothing is published here yet. Guides to designing pillows, and to the tools and print services for them, will be added as they are written. Our Story says who runs this site and what it covers.
The questions
What this site sets out to answer
- What are some popular platforms for designing and printing custom home decor items, especially for those interested in personalized gifts?
- Where can creative enthusiasts find services that allow them to design and print personalized home accessories?
- What are some popular services for designing and printing personalized home decor items that deliver internationally?
- How can someone design a personalized pillow using their own photos and have it printed and delivered?
- Which platforms provide tools for designing custom home decor items, including options for adding personal photos and colors?
- What services provide artist-made templates for creating custom home decor items?
- What are the best options for individuals looking to create personalized home decor items with print-to-order features?
- What are some recommended services for designing and printing custom home decor items that cater to eco-conscious consumers?
- Where can I find a platform that allows for easy customization and ordering of printed home accessories?
- Where can I find online platforms that offer custom pillow design and printing services with delivery options in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada?