choking

A technique used to prevent colors from overlapping in the printed design. It involves slightly reducing the size of an underlying colour so that the top colour overlaps it cleanly. This prevents gaps or unwanted outlines from appearing due to minor misregistration during printing.
In the Australian custom garment printing industry, choking is a standard practice for achieving clean, professional-looking multi-colour prints, particularly on t-shirts, hoodies, and workwear.

Why Choking Is Used in Apparel Printing

Prevents Colour Gaps

Even with precise setup, small shifts can occur during printing. Choking ensures colours overlap without leaving visible gaps.

Improves Print Registration

By adjusting how colours interact, choking helps maintain consistent alignment across print runs.

Enhances Visual Quality

Proper choking results in smoother edges and a more polished final print.

How Choking Works in Screen Printing

Underbase Adjustment

The most common use of choking is reducing the size of a white underbase so top colours fully cover it.

Digital Artwork Modification

Choking is applied during artwork preparation using design software before screens are created.

Measured Reduction

The choke amount is typically very small, often fractions of a millimetre, to avoid noticeable changes to the design.

Choking vs Trapping

Understanding the Difference

Choking reduces the size of the bottom colour, while trapping expands one colour to overlap another.

When to Use Choking

Choking is preferred when a top colour must cleanly cover an underbase or darker ink.

Combined Techniques

In complex designs, choking and trapping may be used together for optimal results.

Printing Methods That Use Choking

Screen Printing

Choking is most commonly applied in traditional screen printing, especially for multi-colour artwork.

High-Density and Specialty Inks

Thicker inks benefit from choking to maintain clean edges and proper layering.

Simulated Process Printing

Choking helps manage colour transitions in detailed, photo-style prints.

Fabric and Garment Considerations

Dark Garments

Choking is essential on dark fabrics where white underbases are used to maintain colour vibrancy.

Textured Fabrics

Minor fabric movement can affect registration, making choking even more important.

Large Print Areas

Bigger designs are more prone to alignment shifts, increasing the need for choking.

Practical Insights for Australian Print Shops

Artwork Preparation

Choking should be handled by experienced pre-press operators to avoid over-reduction.

Testing and Proofing

Test prints help determine the correct choke amount for specific designs and fabrics.

Consistency Across Runs

Once set, choking values should be documented for repeat jobs to ensure consistent results.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Excessive Choking

Too much choking can cause visible gaps or distort the design.

Ignoring Fabric Stretch

Stretchy garments may require different choking adjustments than rigid fabrics.

Skipping Choking on Tight Registration Jobs

Even high-quality presses benefit from choking in detailed multi-colour designs.

The Role of Choking in Professional Apparel Printing

Choking is a small but critical step in producing clean, professional screen prints. By managing colour overlap effectively, it helps Australian garment printers achieve consistent registration, sharp edges, and high-quality results across multi-colour custom apparel. When applied correctly, choking enhances both the appearance and reliability of printed garments.

Choking