Method for the production of printed items of clothing made from textile material

Abstract

Example methods and apparatus including a method of making a printed article of clothing of fabric are described herein. A customer computer is connected for data exchange with a production computer, wherein the customer sets the design of a desired article of clothing via the computer connection by setting design parameters for a respective selection target from several possible selection targets. Based on the design setting, several print parts are printed on a printing medium by means of a printer, said printing medium being either directly a fabric panel, or an intermediate medium the print of which is transferred to fabric later, Fabric pieces are cut out from a fabric panel. The fabric panel either originates from direct printing, or from the prim transfer from the intermediate medium. Otherwise, the fabric panel is unprinted and the cut fabric pieces are subjected to the print transfer later. Finally, the fabric pieces are sewn together to form the article of clothing.

1 . A method of making a plurality of sets of printed fabric pieces with fabric piece dimensions confined by respective cutting lines, each set for use in a respective one article of clothing from a plurality of articles of clothing, wherein the printed fabric pieces each are provided with a print having a print-size corresponding, or nearly corresponding to one of (i) the dimensions of the respective printed fabric piece, and (ii) the dimensions of the respective printed fabric piece minus seam allowance, wherein at least some of the printed fabric pieces having the print sizes each are provided with a multi color print composed of a plurality of color areas, the method comprising:
 transmitting data, by a producer computer having a data memory, wherein the data enables a customer to set, for each set of the plurality of sets of printed fabric pieces, respective selection targets for a plurality of design parameters of a design of the respective article of clothing, wherein the data transmitted by the producer computer includes data to enable the customer to visualize a plurality of possible basic designs for the article of clothing, the basic designs having different configurations for the boundaries of the color areas within the multi color prints, wherein the data transmitted by the producer computer further enables the customer to set a selected basic design by selecting from the plurality of possible basic designs, and wherein the data transmitted by the producer computer further enables the customer to set selected colors for the prints, including colors for the color areas of the multi color prints by selecting from a plurality of possible colors;   further transmitting data, by the producer computer, to enable a customer to make, concerning at least one design parameter, a selection that is the same for all sets of printed fabric pieces for all articles of clothing, and to make, concerning at least one further design parameter, at least two selections that are different for two different sets of printed fabric pieces for two different articles of clothing;   receiving by the producer computer data representing the set respective selection targets for the plurality of design parameters set by the customer, including data representing the selected basic design, including data representing the selected colors associated with the prints including colors associated with the color areas of the multi color prints, including data concerning the at least one design parameter with the same selection for all sets of printed fabric pieces, and including data concerning the at least one further design parameter with at least two selections that are different for two different sets of printed fabric pieces;   generating at least one graphics file based, in part, on graphics information of possible basic designs stored in the data memory of the producer computer, and further based, in part, on the data representing the set selection targets for the plurality of design parameters set by the customer;   printing, based on the at least one graphics file, prints for the sets of printed fabric pieces on a printing medium, the printing being effected with the selected colors, including the selected colors for the printed color areas of the multi color prints, and the printing being further effected to produce the print sizes corresponding, or nearly corresponding to one of (i) the dimensions of the respective printed fabric piece, and (ii) the dimensions of the respective printed fabric piece minus seam allowance, wherein the printing medium is one of (i) fabric, and (ii) an intermediate medium, from which the prints are then transferred to fabric; and   cutting out fabric pieces for the sets of printed fabric pieces from a fabric, either before or after the fabric pieces have been provided with the prints.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, for each set of the plurality of sets of printed fabric pieces, sewing at least the printed fabric pieces together to form the respective article of clothing. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting data to further enable the customer to visualize the plurality of possible colors, and/or to visualize, for at least one further design parameter, a plurality of setting options on a display. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting data to further enable, for at least one design parameter, a graphical representation to the customer on a display, the graphical representation corresponding to what the respective article of clothing looks like with the respective selection for the at least one design parameter. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the design parameters further comprise at least one of:
 dimensions;   cut;   shape of neck opening;   type of collar;   wristband;   script object;   placement of script object;   typeface of script object;   logo;   placement of logo;   size of the article of clothing; and   type of fabric.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the printing medium is paper and the print is transferred to a fabric web or to each fabric piece by sublimation. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the producer computer is further configured to receive an order by the customer. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a design setting of the customer is transmitted to the customer to allow the customer to confirm the design setting and to transmit an order to the producer computer. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein cutting out the fabric pieces comprises cutting out the fabric pieces by an automated cutter. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the automated cutter is controlled by data from the producer computer. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the automated cutter is optically controlled based on the outline of the respective print on the fabric. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein printing is electronically controlled with respect to the prints. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein printing is performed using an ink jet printer. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the respective article of clothing comprises the printed fabric pieces of the respective set of printed fabric pieces and further comprises at least one additional fabric piece. 
     
     
         15 . A system for making a plurality of sets of printed fabric pieces with fabric piece dimensions confined by respective cutting lines, each set for use in a respective one article of clothing from a plurality of articles of clothing, wherein the printed fabric pieces each are provided with a print having a print size corresponding, or nearly corresponding to one of (i) the dimensions of the respective printed fabric piece, and (ii) the dimensions of the respective printed fabric piece minus seam allowance, wherein at least some of the printed fabric pieces having the print sizes are each provided with a multi color print composed of a plurality of color areas, the system comprising:
 a producer computer, having a data memory, operable to exchange data with a customer computer, the producer computer configured to transmit data that enables a customer to set, for each set of the plurality of sets of printed fabric pieces, respective selection targets for a plurality of design parameters of a design of the respective article of clothing, wherein the producer computer is further configured to transmit data to further enable the customer to visualize a plurality of possible basic designs for the article of clothing, the basic designs having different configurations for the boundaries of the color areas within the multi color prints, wherein the producer computer is further configured to transmit data that further enables the customer to set a selected basic design by selecting from the plurality of possible basic designs, and wherein the producer computer is further configured to transmit data that further enables the customer to set selected colors for the prints, including colors for each of the plurality of color areas of the multi color prints by selecting from a plurality of possible colors;   wherein the producer computer is further configured to transmit data to further enable the customer to make, concerning at least one design parameter, a selection that is the same for all sets of printed fabric pieces for all articles of clothing, and to make, concerning at least one further design parameter, at least two selections that are different for two different sets of printed fabric pieces for two different articles of clothing;   wherein the producer computer is further configured to receive data representing the set respective selection targets for the plurality of design parameters set by the customer, including data representing the selected basic design, including data representing the selected colors associated with the prints including colors associated with the color areas of the multi color prints, including data concerning the at least one design parameter with the same selection for all sets of printed fabric pieces, and including data concerning the at least one further design parameter with at least two selections that are different for two different sets of printed fabric pieces; and   wherein the producer computer is further configured to generate at least one graphics file based, in part, on graphics information of possible basic designs stored in the data memory of the producer computer, and further based, in part, on the data representing the set selection targets for the plurality of design parameters set by the customer;   a printing device coupled to the producer computer, the printing device configured to print, based on the at least one graphics file, prints for the sets of printed fabric pieces on a printing medium, the printing being effected with the selected colors, including the selected colors for the printed color areas of the multi color prints, and the printing being further effected to produce the print sizes corresponding, or nearly corresponding to one of (i) the dimensions of the respective printed fabric piece, and (ii) the dimensions of the respective printed fabric piece minus seam allowance, wherein the printing medium is one of (i) fabric, and (ii) an intermediate medium, from which the prints are then transferred to fabric; and   a cutter configured to cut out fabric pieces for the sets of printed fabric pieces from a fabric, either before or after the fabric pieces have been provided with the prints.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the printing medium is the intermediate medium, and wherein the system further comprises a station for a print transfer from the intermediate medium to fabric. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a station for sewing together a plurality of printed fabric pieces so as to form the article of clothing. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the cutter is an automated cutter. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the automated cutter is controlled by data from the producer computer. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the automated cutter is optically controlled based on an outline of the respective print on the fabric. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the printing device is electronically controlled with respect to the prints. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the printing device is an ink jet printer. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the respective article of clothing comprises the printed fabric pieces of the respective set of printed fabric pieces and further comprises at least one additional fabric piece. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the design parameters further comprise at least one of:
 dimensions;   cut;   shape of neck opening;   type of collar;   wristband;   script object;   placement of script object;   typeface of script object;   logo;   placement of logo;   size of the article of clothing; and   type of fabric.   
     
     
         25 . A computer system for making a plurality of sets of printed fabric pieces with fabric piece dimensions confined by respective cutting lines, each set for use in a respective one article of clothing from a plurality of articles of clothing, wherein the printed fabric pieces each are provided with a print having a print size corresponding, or nearly corresponding to one of (i) the dimensions of the respective printed fabric piece, and (ii) the dimensions of the respective printed fabric piece minus seam allowance, wherein at least some of the printed fabric pieces having the print sizes are each provided with a multi color print composed of a plurality of color areas, the computer system comprising:
 a producer computer, having a data memory, operable to exchange data with a customer computer, the producer computer configured to transmit data that enables a customer to set, for each set of the plurality of sets of printed fabric pieces, respective selection targets for a plurality of design parameters of a design of the respective article of clothing, wherein the producer computer is further configured to transmit data to further enable the customer to visualize a plurality of possible basic designs for the article of clothing, the basic designs having different configurations for the boundaries of the color areas within the multi color prints, wherein the producer computer is further configured to transmit data that further enables the customer to set a selected basic design by selecting from the plurality of possible basic designs, and wherein the producer computer is further configured to transmit data that further enables the customer to set selected colors for the prints, including colors for each of the plurality of color areas of the multi color prints by selecting from a plurality of possible colors;   wherein the producer computer is further configured to transmit data to further enable the customer to make, concerning at least one design parameter, a selection that is the same for all sets of printed fabric pieces for all articles of clothing, and to make, concerning at least one further design parameter, at least two selections that are different for two different sets of printed fabric pieces for two different articles of clothing;   wherein the producer computer is further configured to receive data representing the set respective selection targets for the plurality of design parameters set by the customer, including data representing the selected basic design, including data representing the selected colors associated with the prints including colors associated with the color areas of the multi color prints, including data concerning the at least one design parameter with the same selection for all sets of printed fabric pieces, and including data concerning the at least one further design parameter with at least two selections that are different for two different sets of printed fabric pieces; and   wherein the producer computer is further configured to generate, for use in printing the prints for the sets of printed fabric pieces on a printing medium. at least one graphics file based, in part, on graphics information of possible basic designs stored in the data memory of the producer computer, and further based, in part, on the data representing the set selection targets for the plurality of design parameters set by the customer, the printing being effected with the selected colors, including the selected colors for the printed color areas of the multi color prints, and the printing being further effected to produce the print sizes corresponding, or nearly corresponding to one of (i) the dimensions of the respective printed fabric piece, and (ii) the dimensions of the respective printed fabric piece minus seam allowance,   wherein the printing medium is one of (i) fabric, and (ii) an intermediate medium, from which the prints are then transferred to fabric.   
     
     
         26 . The computer system of  claim 25 , wherein the computer system is further configured to allow, for at least one additional design parameter beyond the basic design, a setting of a selection target with the aid of a graphical representation of several possible selection targets on a display. 
     
     
         27 . The computer system of  claim 25 , wherein the design parameters further comprise at least one of:
 dimensions;   cut;   shape of neck opening;   type of collar;   wristband;   script object;   placement of script object;   typeface of script object;   logo;   placement of logo;   size of the article of clothing; and   type of fabric.   
     
     
         28 . The computer system of  claim 25 , further configured to utilize a space-saving arrangement of the set of prints on the printing medium. 
     
     
         29 . The computer system of  claim 25 , further comprising a cutting device coupled to the producer computer, the cutting device configured to cut out the printed fabric pieces for the sets of fabric pieces from a fabric, either before or after the fabric pieces have been provided with the prints. 
     
     
         30 . The computer system of  claim 29 , wherein the cutting device is an automated cutter. 
     
     
         31 . The computer system of  claim 30 , wherein the automated cutter is optically controlled based on an outline of the respective print on the fabric. 
     
     
         32 . The computer system of  claim 25 , wherein the article of clothing comprises the printed fabric pieces of the set of printed fabric pieces and further comprises at least one additional fabric piece. 
     
     
         33 . A method of making a plurality of sets of printed fabric pieces with fabric piece dimensions confined by respective cutting lines, each set for use in a respective one article of clothing from a plurality of articles of clothing, wherein the printed fabric pieces each are provided with a print having a print size corresponding, or nearly corresponding to one of (i) the dimensions of the respective printed fabric piece, and (ii) the dimensions of the respective printed fabric piece minus seam allowance, wherein at least some of the printed fabric pieces having the print sizes each are provided with a multi color print composed of a plurality of printed color areas, the method comprising:
 providing a producer computer, the producer computer having a data memory, and a customer computer, wherein the producer computer and the customer computer are connected and configured to exchange data;   transmitting data, by the producer computer, wherein the data enables a customer to set for each set of the plurality of sets of printed fabric pieces, respective selection targets for a plurality of design parameters of a design of the respective article of clothing to create a design setting, wherein the design setting includes setting a basic design by selecting from a plurality of possible basic designs provided on a display device, the possible basic designs having different configurations for boundaries of the printed color areas within the multi color prints, wherein the design setting further includes setting colors for the prints, including colors for each of the plurality of printed color areas of the multi color prints by selecting from a plurality of possible colors, and wherein the design setting includes making, concerning at least one design parameter, a selection that is the same for all sets of printed fabric pieces for all articles of clothing, and making, concerning at least one further design parameter, at least two selections that are different for two different sets of printed fabric pieces for two different articles of clothing;   generating at least one graphics file based, in part, on graphics information of possible basic designs stored in the data memory of the producer computer, and further based, in part, on the data received by the producer computer that represents the design setting created by the customer;   providing a printer and producing the sets of printed fabric pieces by controlling the printer based on the at least one graphics file, to print the sets of prints for the sets of printed fabric pieces on a printing medium, wherein producing the sets of printed fabric pieces includes printing with the selected colors, including the selected colors for the printed color areas of the multi color prints and the printing being further effected to produce the print sizes corresponding, or nearly corresponding to one of (i) the dimensions of the respective printed fabric piece, and (ii) the dimensions of the fabric piece minus seam allowance, wherein the printing medium is one of (i) fabric, and (ii) an intermediate medium, from which the prints are then transferred to the fabric; and   cutting out the fabric pieces for the set of printed fabric pieces from a fabric either before or after the fabric pieces have been provided with the prints.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising, sewing at least some of the printed fabric pieces together to form the article of clothing. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising transmitting data to further enable, for at least one design parameter, a graphical representation to the customer on a display corresponding to what the respective article of clothing looks like with the respective selection for the at least one design parameter. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the design parameters further comprise at least one of:
 dimensions;   cut;   shape of neck opening;   type of collar;   wristband;   script object;   placement of script object;   typeface of script object;   logo;   placement of logo;   size of the article of clothing; and   type of fabric.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the act of providing a producer computer for exchanging data with a customer computer further comprises placing an order by the customer effected via an internet connection. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the design setting of the customer is transmitted to the customer to allow the customer to confirm the design setting and to transmit an order to the producer computer. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the printer is electronically controlled with respect to the prints. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the printer is an ink jet printer. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the respective article of clothing comprises the printed fabric pieces of the respective set of printed fabric pieces and further comprises at least one additional fabric piece. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the cutting is performed by an automated cutter that is controlled by data from the producer computer. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the cutting is performed by an automated cutter that is optically controlled based on the outline of the respective print on the fabric. 
     
     
         44 . A method comprising:
 enabling, using a computer having a data memory storing graphics information of a plurality of possible basic designs for an article of clothing comprising a set of printed fabric pieces, a customer to visualize a selected one of the plurality of possible basic designs, wherein at least some of the printed fabric pieces are provided with a multi color print composed of a plurality of color areas and wherein the possible basic designs have different configurations for boundaries of the color areas within the multi color prints;   generating data representing a design setting by the customer, the design setting including setting respective selection targets for a plurality of design parameters of the design of the article of clothing, including setting both a selected basic design and selected colors for the printed fabric pieces, wherein the selected colors include colors for each of the plurality of color areas of the multi color prints by selecting from a plurality of possible colors;   the data further representing design settings for a plurality of articles of clothing by the customer, wherein concerning at least one design parameter, a selection is the same for all sets of printed fabric pieces for all articles of clothing, and wherein concerning at least one further design parameter, at least two selections are different for two different sets of printed fabric pieces for two different articles of clothing;   generating at least one graphics file based, in part, on the data and further based, in part, on graphics information of possible basic designs stored in the data memory of the computer;   printing, based on the at least one graphics file, prints for the sets of printed fabric pieces on a printing medium, the printing being effected with the selected colors, including the selected colors for the printed color areas of the multi color prints, wherein a print size corresponds, or nearly corresponds to one of (i) dimensions of the respective printed fabric piece, and (ii) dimensions of the respective printed fabric piece minus seam allowance.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising cutting out fabric pieces for the respective set of printed fabric pieces either before or after the fabric pieces have been provided with the prints. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein cutting out the fabric pieces comprises cutting out the fabric pieces by an automated cutter. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the automated cutter is optically controlled based on the outline of the respective print on the fabric. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising, for each of the plurality of sets of printed fabric pieces, sewing at least some of the printed fabric pieces together to form the respective article of clothing. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the printing medium is one of (i) fabric, and (ii) and intermediate medium, from which the prints are then transferred to fabric. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the plurality of design parameters further comprise at least one of:
 dimensions;   cut;   shape of neck opening;   type of collar;   wristband;   script object;   placement of script object;   typeface of script object;   logo;   placement of logo;   size of the article of clothing; and   type of fabric.   
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the printing medium is paper and the print is transferred to a fabric web or to each fabric piece by sublimation. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein printing is electronically controlled with respect to the prints. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein printing is performed using an ink jet printer. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the respective article of clothing comprises the printed fabric pieces of the respective set of printed fabric pieces and at least one additional fabric piece. 
     
     
         55 . A system comprising:
 a first computer configured to enable a customer to visualize a plurality of possible basic designs for an article of clothing comprising a set of printed fabric pieces, wherein the plurality of possible basic designs have different configurations for boundaries of color areas within a plurality of multi color prints, and wherein the first computer is configured to allow the customer to set, for each set of a plurality of sets of printed fabric pieces, each set for use in a respective one article of clothing from a plurality of articles of clothing, respective selection targets for a plurality of design parameters of a design of the respective article of clothing, wherein the first computer is operatively associated with a data memory storing-graphics information of a plurality of basic designs for the article of clothing;   a second computer, operatively associated with the data memory, operable to exchange data with the first computer and configured to generate data representing a design setting by the customer, the design setting including setting respective selection targets for a plurality of design parameters of the design of the article of clothing, including setting both a selected basic design and selected colors for the printed fabric pieces, wherein the selected colors include colors for each of the plurality of color areas of the multi color prints by selecting from a plurality of possible colors, the data further representing design settings for a plurality of articles of clothing by the customer, wherein concerning at least one design parameter, a selection is the same for all sets of printed fabric pieces for all articles of clothing, and wherein concerning at least one further design parameter, at least two selections are different for two different sets of printed fabric pieces for two different articles of clothing, wherein the second computer is further configured to generate at least one graphics file based, in part, on the generated data and further based, in part, on the graphics information of possible basic designs stored in the data memory;   a printing device coupled to the second computer, the printing device configured to print, based on the graphics file, prints for a plurality of sets of printed fabric pieces on a printing medium, wherein the printing is effected with the selected colors, including the selected colors for the printed color areas of the multi color prints, wherein the printing is further effected to produce a print size corresponding, or nearly corresponding to one of (i) dimensions of the respective printed fabric, and (ii) dimensions of the respective printed fabric piece minus seam allowance.   
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 55 , further comprising a cutter configured to cut out fabric pieces for the respective set of printed fabric pieces either before or after the printed fabric pieces have been provided with the prints. 
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 56 , wherein the cutter is an automated cutter. 
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 57 , wherein the automated cutter is controlled by data from the second computer. 
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 57 , wherein the automated cutter is optically controlled based on a basis of the outline of the respective print on the fabric 
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 55 , wherein the printing medium is one of (i) fabric, and (ii) an intermediate medium, from which the prints are then transferred to fabric. 
     
     
         61 . The system of  claim 55 , wherein the printing medium is an intermediate medium, and wherein the system further comprises a station for a print transfer from the intermediate medium to fabric. 
     
     
         62 . The system of  claim 55 , further comprising a station for sewing together a plurality of printed fabric pieces so as to form the respective article of clothing. 
     
     
         63 . The system of  claim 55 , wherein the printing device is electronically controlled with respect to the prints. 
     
     
         64 . The system of  claim 55 , wherein the printing device is an ink jet printer. 
     
     
         65 . The system of  claim 55 , wherein the article of clothing comprises the printed fabric pieces of the respective set of printed fabric pieces and further comprises at least one additional fabric piece. 
     
     
         66 . The system of  claim 55 , wherein the design parameters further comprise at least one of:
 dimensions;   cut;   shape of neck opening;   type of collar;   wristband;   script object;   placement of script object;   typeface of script object;   logo;   placement of logo;   size of the article of clothing; and   type of fabric.