A graphic designer usually chooses the ink colours used to reproduce the graphic images, and they are all Pantone specified. Pantone coated or noncoated color types are selected to clarify the ink hues of the pattern. Used in publishing, printing and design whereby each colour is identified by a unique pantone name and number, the Pantone matching system is an international colour reference.

When colour identity and uniformity is an issue, for example in branded promotional garments or a large selection of products, this method of spot color printing works very well.

"4 Colour Process" is another method of screen printing. This is the best way to print photographs and illustrations which contain broad colour ranges, tones, and graduations. All magazines and books use this four-color printing process as well.

These inks allow light to flow through and then merge together on white backgrounds to make all the hues and tones of the orginal one. It is a lot harder to process on fabric than it is on paper. But the method used is about the same. If you are going to use this kind of printing it will obviously only work on white garments and will not work for coloured fabrics. The print set up costs are higher than that of simple spot colour designs and as such only suitable for larger print runs of 100+.

When garment screen printers reproduce such full colour images onto coloured fabrics a method called 'Simulated Process' is used.|The cost for the print set up is going to be a lot higher than that of simple spot colour designs and is only good for the bigger print runs of 100+. When the garment screen printers make full coloured images and put them on coloured fabrics this is called 'Simulated process'.|When garment screen printers reproduce such full colour images onto coloured fabrics a method called 'Simulated Process' is used. The print set-up costs are higher than that of simple spot colour designs and as such only suitable for larger print runs of 100+|This type of printing is only right for use in print runs of one hundred or more. This is because it simply costs more to set it up. A process called "Simulated Process" is used in cases where garment screen printers copy full colour pictures using coloured cloths.|'Simulated Process' is a method used to reproduce full colour images onto colour fabrics. The costs associated with setting up the print are greater than those of simple spot colour designs. Therefore, they are only useful for larger print runs numbering more than 100.} The artwork is divided into different hues and tones utilising a process that resembles spot colour, as used by any t-shirt printer in order to obtain the overall appearance and style of the original picture.

This is a standard method used by all printers and most popular for example with the reproduction of heavy metal and fantasy imagery taken from CD cover artwork and reproduced onto black t-shirts for band merchandise. This is the most expensive form for a t-shirt printer and as such used only on larger print runs due to the higher set up costs involving the colour separations and larger number of colours used to print the images.

Stikins label Appearance:
The most attractive labels are printed fabric or woven labels which need to be sewn into clothes, second position is shared by iron on labels and stikins and last place has to go to laundry markers and biro where the name is written into the garment.

Labelling Speed:
The fastestway of personalisingclothing is a laundry marker followed by stikins and then iron on labelling. Sewing in labels comes last in terms of speed particularly if one is a non sewer, or have many children.

Name Label Durability:
Washing machines are designed to remove dirt from clothes, and have harsh environment for labels. Labels can fail because they fall off or because the print fades. A well sewn in woven name label is the most durable solution and it should survive the life of the garment. Mixed results come from iron on labels in terms of staying in; some are very good and some are poor, the kind of fabric they are ironed on to is also a factor, but they tend not to fade. Stikins school name labels generally survive extremely well if applied correctly and the print does not fade. Laundry markers do tend to fade with time but there is no issue regarding falling off.

Name Label Cost:
Laundry markers are the lowest cost and there are also some low priced label sew in tapes. Woven and embroidered labels have a range of prices and are often more expensive than iron in labels and stikins. The most expensive name labels are the ones that do not work, or need replacing often so buying cheap may not be good value in the end.

Which Name Label Is the Best?
None of the labels above is an outright winner, all have pros and cons and the best labels for you will depend what is most important to you. If appearance overrides everything go for the best woven labels, if cost is vital buy a marker pen, if you want a good all round performer buy Stikins. A referral from a friend or samples first is a good way of making sure of the quality of iron on labels, which can also be good all rounders. So good luck choosing iron on labels for your clothes.

Introduction

Swimwear is the term used for garments designated for swimming and beach wear. It has gradually changed over the years from the bulky garments used to completely cover the body into the selection of brief pieces of fabric arranged to expose as much as possible of the body.

Finding the right sort of swimwear is not always that easy especially if you do not have a large budget. There is an enormous variety of body sizes and shapes for both men and women and correspondingly there are an enormous variety of outfits ranging from the very cheap to the very expensive.

Fashion Dictates

If it was just a case of having a bathing costume to wear when going swimming and replacing it when it had worn out, life would be relatively easy. But there is the matter of fashion. Every year the manufacturers come up with a different style so that the previous year's model suddenly looks old fashioned and we feel compelled to buy a new one. As purchasers we are confronted with one piece swimsuits, two piece swimwear, some with long tops, some with skimpy tops, high leg cut, high waist cut, different cup sizes, in a variety of fabrics, colours, patterns, two tone and so on. The choice is endless.

History of Swimwear

The earliest recorded bathing costume was in 350 BC in Greece which was a toga-like garment for bathing. During the 18th century people visited spa resorts for their health where they spent time in the spa waters. Naturally they needed something appropriate to wear, other than their day clothes, when they were engaged in public bathing. Later the recreation of beach bathing demanded a specially made outfit to maintain decorum and decency, so the bathing suit was developed.

Initially the swimwear was rather like ordinary daywear, and the dresses worn by the women sometimes had lead weights sewn into the hems to prevent the skirts from floating up. As the expansion of the railways enabled the masses to spend time at the seaside a more practical type of outfit was required. By the early 1900's the swimsuit consisted of bloomers with black stocking and shoes, and the top was like a jacket belted at the waist. Swimming was considered suitable for men, while women were assisted into the water for a short dip.

Over the century attitudes changed and swimming became an Olympic sport for both men and women. Gradually the swimming costume changed to adopt short capped sleeves and more ankle was exposed beneath the bloomers. As women became more active in the water the swimming costume needed to be less cumbersome so the neckline was lowered and the tops became sleeveless. Eventually the Princess cut was introduced which consisted of the trousers attached to a blouse in one piece.

In 1909 Annette Kellerman, the Australian swimmer, film star and author, wore what is considered to be the first ladies swimwear costume consisting of only one piece, which actually got her arrested for indecency back in the 1900's, but by 1910 "Annette Kellermans" became the new accepted ladies swimwear.

From then on the swimsuits became lighter and briefer. By the 1920's the women wore figure hugging tank suits made from wool Jersey and by 1928 they had evolved into the swimsuit we would recognise today. In the 1930's cotton was introduced for bathing suits sometimes with little overskirts to conceal bulky thighs, but film stars wore fashionable figure hugging costumes with higher cut legs sealing the fate of the fashionable swimwear.

The corset manufacturers in the 1940's saw that women with less than perfect figures needed swimsuits to hide or control the bulges, so seeing a gap in the market they produced costumes which had control panels for the tummy and bra cups and bones to give support to the bust. Using the methods applied in corset making they introduced the stretch factor to bathing costumes so that they were more flattering than ever before.

With the development of modern fabrics, Nylon and Lycra became the fabric of choice for swimwear because of their stretch properties. This meant that the costume could be pulled on without openings or fastenings and gave a firmer cleaner line to the figure. Women continued to wear all in one swimsuits until the 1950's when the bikini became popular.

Leisure Swimming or Sunbathing

Although certain costumes are called swimwear, in fact some never get near the water. They are solely for sunbathing which usually means they are as small as possible, just barely covering the essential bits so that the skin gets maximum exposure to the sun and such a design would be classed as a bikini.

Two Piece or Bikinis

Over two thousand years ago early mosaics and pottery from Greece show what in fact looks like an early version of a bikini. These garments were used by women performers and acrobats and were in two pieces to cover the breasts and the lower part of the body, much like the current style of Bandeau tops. Modern day runners and athletes wear something very similar when competing. Paula Radcliffe when running the Marathon last year, wore a garment almost identical to those worn thousands of years ago!!

The bikini resembles women's underwear and has been described as a scanty two piece bathing suit. The lower part may be two small triangles attached together with a string tie at either side, or even a thong. The upper part may also be two small triangles attached together with a string tie but arranged in a slightly different order. Louis Reard patented the contemporary version of the bikini in 1946; his design was similar to the skimpy string 1970's bikini and it shocked the world when it appeared on French beaches in 1947.

The very first bikini shown in the cinema was in the Bond film Dr No when Ursula Andress rises out of the sea in a white bikini. This created the iconic Bond girl and made her world famous. When being interviewed on television recently she revealed that the bikini had been constructed out of a bra covered with the fabric to give her the required lift of the bosom. This actual bikini sold at auction for £35,000 in 2001.

Fashions dictated that swimwear bikinis should be as small as possible by the 1990's as the desire for a near all over tan peaked.

Ultimately the top part of the bikini was abandoned altogether when topless sunbathing became the norm in some countries and the bottom was just a G-string or thong also called a Tanga. Oliver Saillard the fashion journalist states that the bikini is the most popular female beachwear in the world, and that the emancipation of swimwear is linked to the emancipation of women.

In the 1950's there was a popular song entitled ‘In My little Itsy Bitsy Yellow Polka Dot Bikini' that indicated the acceptance of the new style of swimwear. I remember my cousin persuading me to try on a bikini and I felt very exposed but she said how fantastic I looked in it because I was so slim.

Although the bikini is now an acceptable garment whatever the size, the one piece swimsuit is still the best for serious swimmers. Some firms are well known for their skill at making swimwear and make all the garments for the Olympic team and other swimming competitions. Now swimwear is available in a wide range of bust sizes and the more expensive makes have control panels for the stomach combined with clever styling to create a good silhouette. Combined with a matching sarong, older ladies may feel more comfortable when walking around the beach area.

Helen Mirren was photographed on holiday in her substantial bikini last summer with the caption commenting on how good she looked for her age and that particular bikini was snapped up from the stores within days. Perhaps the buyers believed that they could look as good as Helen Mirren in a bikini if they had the same one.

Leg Line

Some two piece bathing suits are cut so that the waist is high and the corresponding leg line is also cut high. I believe the aim is to make the wearer look as though her legs are much longer than they are. However if you have less than the perfect shape for this style it can emphasise large hips so it's not for all women.

Another fashion style is the tankini where the bottoms look like little shorts and shows the lower curve of the bottom, which is fine if you are young with a nice pert bottom.

Swimwear tankinis comprise a long top which stops just short of the bottoms, allowing a small section of midriff to show.

The classic bikini style is still as popular as ever though, with the cut of the leg line following the natural crease between the leg and the hip.

The most recent development in fabric is the ‘tan through' swimwear. This allows the body to tan without exposing the body to the world. Some commentators on this style point to the effects of too much sun on the body and the incidences of skin cancer of which the evidence indicates an alarming increase. However, the counter argument to that is if you are wearing a bikini anyway then the extra exposure to the sun through the top and bottom garments is hardly going to make much difference.

Conclusion

Swimwear is a term used these days to cover all types of beach wear and swimming gear. It is a bit of a misnomer in that many outfits never see the water and are not used for swimming. However there is a huge range of garments available for the purchaser of different styles, sizes and fabrics. The one commonality of course is that everyone wants to look good once they don these garments. The main key to that is to make sure your new swimwear is the right fit and cut, for your body size and shape.

The importance of being properly measured for your swimwear is often overlooked but it is as important as being properly measured for your bra or other underwear, particularly if you do indeed intend to actually swim in your new swimwear! By wearing the right size and style swimwear for your body, will ensure you are really comfortable in it on the beach, in the pool or wherever else you choose to wear it.

Ink colours used in remaking graphic images, are usually Pantone, as specified by the graphic designer. In order to isolate the hues of the ink in the image, Pantone coated or noncoated references are selected. Used in publishing, printing and design whereby each colour is identified by a unique pantone name and number, the Pantone matching system is an international colour reference.

Spot colour printing is well suited to printing branded promotional garments or items in which colour identity and uniformity needs to stay the same throughout a varying range of items.

4 Color Process is an additional technique for t-shirt screen printing. This printing process is utilised primarily with photographic designs and sketches comprised of a broad variety of hues, shades and gradations. Hard covers, paperbacks and periodicals all use the same four-colour process.

The inks are translucent and merge together on a white background to reproduce all the hues and tones of the original. This is of course a rather more difficult process to achieve on a fabric than it is on paper. The methods are pretty similar. The t shirt printing that you choose will work only on white articles of clothing and will not show correctly on coloured items. When garment screen printers reproduce such full colour images onto coloured fabrics a method called 'Simulated Process' is used. The print set-up costs are higher than that of simple spot colour designs and as such only suitable for larger print runs of 100+ The artwork is separated into various colours and shades using a method similar to spot colour printing to achieve the overall look and feel of the original image.

This method is used by every printer and is very popular for reproducing heavy metal and fantasy images taken from CD artwork and reproduced on black t-shirts for band merchandising. This is the most expensive form of printing and as such used only on larger print runs due to the higher set up costs involving the colour separations and larger number of colours used to print the images.

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