🎨 Understanding Lab Dip and Strike Off in Garment & Textile Production

 In the world of textiles and apparel manufacturing, color matching and print approval are two of the most critical quality assurance processes. Two key steps used to manage this are:

• ✅ Lab Dip – for solid dyed fabrics
• ✅ Strike Off – for printed fabrics

These pre-production samples are essential to ensure that buyer expectations are met and that mass production proceeds smoothly.

 

🔷 What is a Lab Dip?

🧵 Definition:

A Lab Dip is a test swatch of dyed fabric, produced in the dyeing lab to match a desired solid color. This is typically the first step in solid color development before bulk production begins.

🎯 Purpose:

To match and approve the color shade requested by the buyer (either from a Pantone reference, swatch, or original sample). The lab dip ensures accuracy in shade, tone, and depth of color.

 

🔄 Lab Dip Process Flow:

1. Color Requirement from Buyer:
• Pantone shade (e.g., Pantone 19-4052 Classic Blue)
• Color swatch
• Artworks or color code references
2. Color Recipe Development:
• The dyeing lab prepares 2–3 shade variations using different dye combinations.
• Samples are marked as Option A, B, C (sometimes more).
3. Submission to Buyer:
• The lab dip samples are sent to the buyer or buying office for review and comment.
4. Approval & Comments:
• Buyer selects the best-matching shade or provides feedback such as:
• "Too dark/light"
• "Too red/blue/yellow"
• "Increase depth"
• If approved → proceed to bulk.
• If not → re-dye and re-submit.
5. Final Approved Lab Dip:
• Once the buyer approves a shade, that formula becomes the standard recipe for production.

 

📝 Types of Lab Dip Approval:

Status	Meaning
✅ Approved	Go ahead with bulk dyeing
🟡 Approved with Comment	Slight changes needed in bulk production
❌ Rejected	Re-submit with corrections

 

🧪 Lab Dip Tips:

• Use the same fabric quality and GSM for accurate shade result.
• Consider lab-to-bulk shade variation.
• Ensure dye lot reproducibility.

 

🔶 What is a Strike Off?

🖨️ Definition:

A Strike Off is a small printed fabric sample developed to check print design, color combination, and placement accuracy before going into bulk printing.

🎯 Purpose:

To confirm that the print matches the approved artwork in terms of:

• Color separation
• Scale and alignment
• Print clarity and sharpness
• Ground color matching

 

🔄 Strike Off Process Flow:

1. Design Artwork from Buyer:
• Buyer submits a digital design (AI, PSD, PDF)
• May also include print placement guide
2. Engraving or Digital Setup:
• For screen/rotary print: screens or cylinders are engraved.
• For digital print: artwork is color-separated and digitally mapped.
3. Trial Printing on Fabric:
• A small portion is printed on the original fabric base.
• It simulates the actual print quality and position.
4. Submission to Buyer:
• Strike off is physically sent or shown virtually.
• Buyer checks and reviews for adjustments.
5. Approval Process:
• Approved → Start bulk printing.
• Rejected → Revise the colors/design and repeat process.

 

📝 Types of Strike Off Approval:

Status	Meaning
✅ Approved	Print is OK; proceed to production
🟡 Approved with Changes	Slight adjustments are needed before bulk printing
❌ Rejected	Major correction needed; redesign or recolor

 

🎨 Strike Off Tips:

• Always print on actual fabric to ensure accuracy.
• Confirm registration (alignment of multiple color layers).
• Double-check print size and position if placement is critical.
• For multicolor prints, ensure color separation quality.

 

🔍 Lab Dip vs Strike Off – Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature	Lab Dip	Strike Off
📌 Purpose	Solid color shade approval	Print design & color approval
🎨 Color Base	Pantone, swatch, or reference	Artwork file (PDF/AI)
🧪 Process Involves	Dyeing lab	Printing unit
📏 Sample Size	Small dyed fabric piece	Small printed fabric piece
🧵 Fabric Type	Usually plain dyed (e.g., single jersey)	Printed fabrics (woven/knits)
✅ Approval Confirms	Bulk dyeing can begin	Bulk printing can begin
❗ Common Issues	Shade variation	Misalignment, wrong scale, color mismatch

 

💡 Why Are Lab Dip and Strike Off Important?

🛑 Avoid Costly Mistakes:

• Prevents rejection after production
• Reduces wastage of time and fabric

✅ Ensures Buyer Satisfaction:

• Builds buyer confidence in supplier capability
• Increases chance of repeat orders

📊 Quality Assurance Tool:

• Forms part of QC inspection
• Maintains standardization in color and print production

 

📌 Conclusion

In the textile and garment production process, lab dips and strike offs are not optional—they are essential. They act as visual confirmations between the buyer and the manufacturer, ensuring that expectations are aligned before large-scale fabric dyeing or printing begins.

✍️ “Color is not just a detail—it’s a decision.”
That’s why lab dips and strike offs are key milestones for every merchandiser and supplier to get right.