Buyer terminology
Print Repeat vs Motif Size: Specify the Pattern Interval, Not Just the Drawing
For this print brief, motif size means the dimensions of one named graphic element; repeat interval means the distance between corresponding positions in the repeating layout. Record both axes and the arrangement with a diagram. A motif can be resized without preserving its spacing, and a larger motif does not necessarily mean a larger repeat interval.
For designers briefing an allover print pattern.
Name the graphic element and its measurement box
Identify the motif in a marked artwork view and state how its width and height are measured. If the artwork contains several elements, name the relevant one rather than calling the whole tile the motif. Distinguish the visible element boundary from an exported canvas that contains empty margin. Keep units explicit so a file pixel count is not mistaken for a production dimension.
Measure the repeat between corresponding landmarks
Mark the same anchor point on two repeated instances and show the horizontal and vertical interval in the proposed layout. State whether adjacent rows align or use a defined offset; have the printer confirm the terminology used in its workflow. Do not derive the interval by measuring only the empty gap between two irregular shapes. The gap and the anchor-to-anchor distance answer different questions.
Approve a tiled view before a garment placement decision
Request a view containing enough neighboring instances to expose the horizontal and vertical joins. Check the intended spacing and any abrupt boundary before approving the repeat file. Keep this decision separate from scaling artwork across garment sizes or matching motifs at seams. Those later decisions need their own landmarks and sample review; a seamless digital tile does not settle them.
Decision and evidence checklist
| Decision | Include in the brief | Review evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Motif size | Named element, bounds and units | Marked single-element view |
| Repeat interval | Corresponding anchors on both axes | Dimensioned layout and row offset |
| Tile review | Neighboring instances and boundaries | Approved repeated view and file revision |
What this brief does and does not establish
These are explicit working definitions for the inquiry, not a claim that every printing workflow uses identical terminology. No print-process capability or repeat dimension is promised.
Send MyOwnWear the marked motif, interval diagram and tiled view; ask the proposed printer to confirm the layout terms before sample approval. Open the MyOwnWear RFQ form.
Buyer questions
Is repeat size the same as motif size?
Not in this brief. One describes the graphic element; the other describes its repeated interval. Confirm the printer’s terms.
Does a visible gap measure the repeat?
Not by itself. Identify corresponding anchors and measure their interval.
Does repeat approval also approve garment-size scaling?
No. Cross-size artwork scale and seam placement are separate decisions.