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Wax printing process
It can only be Vlisco if every yard is truly unique. Uncover the craft of our age-old wax printing process that brings the perfect imperfections to our designs and authenticates every piece of Wax Hollandais and Super-Wax.
![A Vlisco fabric depicting a creative designer sketching out patterns for a new fabric](http://images.ctfassets.net/bjecz9mob0ae/3sHV0WHPHTyMH5DWscRReF/006701883385ddb860469eb7d730d4da/WP-Step-1.webp?fm=webp&fit=fill&f=center)
1. The Designers
The creative minds behind Vlisco designs sketch out their ideas.
![A Vlisco digital designer adapting the patterns digitally for printing](http://images.ctfassets.net/bjecz9mob0ae/1iJb848hsm2tRfRpgJIi6i/2ff4b8dc3b2ba271e24c28fa78c4ddb6/WP-Step-2.webp?fm=webp&fit=fill&f=center)
2. Design Support
The people who make the creative ideas of the designers technically executable.
![A copper printing roller being engraved with the digital Vlisco pattern](http://images.ctfassets.net/bjecz9mob0ae/62WwDSk1yHAdwFnYlAhNdm/cce7f7f33ee0d3170e266ebbd2a3dae1/WP-Step-3.webp?fm=webp&fit=fill&f=center)
3. The Printing Rollers
Where the design is transferred from digital information on to two copper printing rollers.
![Printing rollers dipped in wax printing Vlisco patterns on both sides of a long cotton fabric](http://images.ctfassets.net/bjecz9mob0ae/5c9usfWjajMqULVBlhmwfP/d533136a77ee3ebbeb58030b850acb44/WP-Step-4.webp?fm=webp&fit=fill&f=center)
4. The Wax printing machine
Dripping in wax, the rollers transfer the design onto both sides of the cotton cloth.
![A long roll of Vlisco printed cotton fabric being dipped in a bath of indigo ink for dyeing](http://images.ctfassets.net/bjecz9mob0ae/1UX4bq30WmHbPwjSABqGWB/ab6800bb7e2c3566e0cfafa479b43d53/WP-Step-5.webp?fm=webp&fit=fill&f=center)
5. Indigo bath
The wax printed cloth is dyed in indigo baths and the parts without wax become a deep, intense blue.
![A Vlisco factory machine twisting the roll of cloth to remove part of the wax on the fabric](http://images.ctfassets.net/bjecz9mob0ae/17J3uyoCnsjswgXvjrChKn/564f99d12ec70deb17a1a9322e04f069/WP-Step-6.webp?fm=webp&fit=fill&f=center)
6. The Wax Breaking Machine
This machine is unique – by swinging the cloth in containers, random parts of the Wax are removed, revealing the white cloth underneath.
![A long roll of Vlisco fabric is being dyed in the factory with its first colour](http://images.ctfassets.net/bjecz9mob0ae/1HaUzDXDQBfbtluC4BynyW/d4c027bc22e1c0c54e18066f4b0f3fbc/WP-Step-7.webp?fm=webp&fit=fill&f=center)
7. First Colour
The cloth is dryed and the first colour is printed on top of the remaining Wax.
![A long roll of Vlisco fabric is being dyed in the factory with a second colour](http://images.ctfassets.net/bjecz9mob0ae/71mf2TNjA37UP39eNachbu/c8472d123c0c81d566bdf5a531f99a59/WP-Step-8.webp?fm=webp&fit=fill&f=center)
8. Second Colour
The Wax is now completely removed. When the cloth is dry, a second colour is printed.
![A long roll of printed Vlisco fabric is being washed in the factory to remove excess dyes](http://images.ctfassets.net/bjecz9mob0ae/dZSyp8bdGfWvOvyzckNiE/502fd213d109e8f18632ab92e02f3e7d/WP-Step-9.webp?fm=webp&fit=fill&f=center)
9. Washing
The cloth is washed to remove all extra colours.
![An expert is inspecting a long roll of printed Vlisco fabric to certify its quality](http://images.ctfassets.net/bjecz9mob0ae/ReIdzq2keXrUKGRLG31AZ/06cc4c8ebd76e85c7fc4ee5983aecb8c/WP-Step-10.webp?fm=webp&fit=fill&f=center)
10. Final by-eye inspection
As the fabric whiz passed their eyes, our highly trained experts inspect that all the fabrics are of Vlisco certified quality.
![Several long packages marked for Lagos filled with Vlisco printed fabrics](http://images.ctfassets.net/bjecz9mob0ae/73S17Gi2Hiw5hl47GMkjep/5ce1a99da992e48bb79ccf7c59c87bce/WP-Step-11.webp?fm=webp&fit=fill&f=center)
11. Shipping
The fabrics are packed into bales and are ready to be shipped from Holland to Africa.