Every rug tells a story. As a designer, you can let a carpet tell your story. Depending on the production method, you need to consider different possibilities and limitations.
FIRST CHOOSE THE RIGHT PRODUCTION METHOD
Do you already have an idea how your design should look like? The first thing you need to think about is the production method you wish to use to translate this design. The manufacturing method does not only determine the look, but also the number of possible colors as well as the yarn count of the design.
Along with the creative aspects also other parameters like the budget, minimum quantity or required fire safety certifications are important. Therefore, the choice of the perfect production method is not always easy. But manufacturers do have specialists who can support you in making the right choice. They can also inform you about certifications, possibilities regarding refitting the fire safety and its effects on the material.
Below you will find an overview over popular production methods:
| Price | Number of Colours | Minimum Quantity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hand Tufting | very high | medium | none |
| Machine Tufting | low | low | very high |
| Axminster | high | medium | high |
| medium | high | medium |
You also need to pay specific attention to where and how the carpet is going to be used. Depending on whether it will cover areas such as corridors or entry halls, or in quiet lounges, hotel rooms, in the restaurant or in front of the bar, a carpet is going to be strained differently. Special requirements due to bathrooms or outdoor areas also need to be clarified early, as rugs can be purpose-built and adapted to damp locations.
The manufacturer can advise you which colors and materials are the most suitable for which area. Here, combinations of different materials are very popular. They combine the beautiful visual characteristics of a finer material with the resilience of a stronger one. This way, the required functionality and desired look of your carpet can be fulfilled.
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CARPET DESIGN WITH SPECIAL SOFTWARE
You can use your usual programs like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator for your first drafts. For the production, these drafts need to be adapted to production files with specific programs such as Texcelle by NedGraphics. When creating the production data, the colors will be reduced following the possibilities of the chosen production method. Before production, the design has to be converted into pixel files.
Therefore it is important to know that vector graphics cannot be used, since vectors cannot be transferred onto textiles. One pixel of a raster graphic often corresponds to one knot or loop, together with an associated color value for the thread at this point. Often, designs need to be adjusted manually in order to achieve an optimal result, which is very time-consuming.
FROM FIRST LAYOUT TO FINAL CARPET
The manufacturer can now create the first layouts and adjust them, if needed. Here, the designer wants to be able to choose from a broad color spectrum. The color guide Pantone TPX is a common color system for fashion, home & interior. In addition, NCS, RAL and ARS are important communication media between design and production.
After approval of the layouts, small samples are produced. Then, the carpets for the mock-up room are manufactured in order to see if the carpet design resonates with the overall composition of the room, or if you wish to make adjustments. Only when the carpet for the mock-up room meets your conceptions and is to 100 % perfect, you should start the complete production for the hotel.
Photos: Stine Østby for _IARK / DNO Oslo
Wohnidee / Radisson Blu Frankfurt