How to Design Custom Printed Window Shades

Designing custom printed window shades is a straightforward four-step process that starts with measuring your window and ends with a professionally printed shade delivered to your door. Whether you are creating a single statement piece for a home office or outfitting an entire commercial building, the design workflow is the same. This guide walks through each step in detail, including image resolution requirements, fabric selection, and how to use the OrangePiel Design Studio to preview your shade before ordering.

Step 1: Measure Your Window

Accurate measurements are the foundation of a well-fitted shade. You need to decide between an inside mount (shade fits within the window frame) and an outside mount (shade covers the frame and mounts to the wall above). Inside mounts create a clean, integrated look but require precise measurements since there is no margin for error. Outside mounts are more forgiving and can make windows appear larger.

For inside mounts, measure the width at the top, middle, and bottom of the window opening — use the narrowest measurement. Measure the height on the left, center, and right — use the longest measurement. For outside mounts, add 2 to 3 inches on each side and 3 to 4 inches above the frame to ensure full coverage and allow room for the roller mechanism.

Step 2: Choose Your Fabric

The fabric you select determines how the shade controls light, and each type serves a different purpose. Light-filtering fabric diffuses natural light into a soft, even glow. It blocks UV rays and direct sun but allows gentle ambient light to fill the room. This is the most popular choice for living rooms, offices, and any space where you want daylight without harsh glare.

Blackout fabric blocks 100 percent of incoming light. The room goes completely dark when the shade is lowered. This is essential for bedrooms, nurseries, home theaters, and presentation rooms. The printed image faces the room interior while an opaque backing faces the window. Solar screen fabric is an open-weave mesh that reduces glare and solar heat while maintaining outward visibility. It is the best choice for sun-facing commercial windows where occupants want to see outside.

Step 3: Upload Your Image and Use the Design Studio

The OrangePiel Design Studio is an online tool where you upload your image, set your shade dimensions, and see a realistic preview of the finished product. You can adjust image position, zoom level, and orientation until the composition looks exactly right. The studio includes a real-time quality indicator that tells you whether your image resolution is sufficient for the shade size you have selected.

For optimal print quality, images should be at least 100 to 150 DPI at the final shade size. For a 6-foot wide shade, this means your image should be at least 7,200 pixels wide. High-resolution photographs, vector logos, and professional graphic design files all produce excellent results. If your image resolution is borderline, the Design Studio will highlight areas that may appear soft and give you the option to adjust the layout.

Step 4: Preview, Proof, and Order

Before your order goes to production, you receive a digital proof showing your shade at actual proportions with your image positioned exactly as it will print. Review the proof carefully — check image orientation, color appearance, and ensure no important elements are hidden behind the roller mechanism at the top or the bottom bar at the base. Approve the proof and your shade enters production.

Standard production time is 2 to 3 weeks from proof approval. Rush orders are available for an additional fee. Each shade is printed using dye sublimation, which embeds ink directly into the fabric fibers for vivid, permanent color. The finished shade is quality-inspected, rolled, and shipped in protective packaging. Installation requires only basic tools and takes about 15 minutes per shade.

DPI Requirements and Image Tips

Resolution matters because shades are viewed from close range, unlike billboards or banners. We recommend 100 to 150 DPI at the final print size. This means a 36-inch wide shade needs an image at least 3,600 pixels wide, and a 72-inch shade needs at least 7,200 pixels wide. Smartphone photos from recent devices (iPhone 12 and newer, Samsung Galaxy S21 and newer) typically have enough resolution for shades up to 4 feet wide.

Vector files like SVG, AI, and EPS from Adobe Illustrator scale to any size without quality loss — ideal for logos and graphic designs. For photographic images, avoid upscaling low-resolution files. It is always better to start with a high-resolution original. The Design Studio accepts JPEG, PNG, TIFF, PDF, AI, and SVG formats.