Reflective Print Explained: How It Works in Performance Sportswear
Reflective Print is best understood as glass bead or silver layer for visibility. This entry explains how it behaves inside a finished garment rather than only in the laboratory.
What the term means
glass bead or silver layer for visibility, which is why the value appears on almost every technical data sheet. Working figures for Reflective Print normally sit around above 100 cd/lx/m2 retroreflection in mainstream production. Note EN ISO 20471 retroreflection on the tech pack so nobody tests against an older revision.
Why it matters in practice
it needs durable flexible binder to avoid cracking, so it influences buying decisions more than most buyers expect. Record elastane content alongside Reflective Print, because blends shift the measured value. A result outside above 100 cd/lx/m2 retroreflection usually points to process drift rather than to the fibre itself.
Typical values seen in activewear
above 100 cd/lx/m2 retroreflection. Ranges vary by construction, so compare like with like. Keeping reference values for Reflective Print lets suppliers quote without extra sampling rounds. Ask for conditioning details together with EN ISO 20471 retroreflection, since both affect the reading.
How it is measured
EN ISO 20471 retroreflection is the reference normally quoted on a test report. Working figures for Reflective Print normally sit around above 100 cd/lx/m2 retroreflection in mainstream production. Note EN ISO 20471 retroreflection on the tech pack so nobody tests against an older revision.
Frequent mistakes
Comparing results from different standards, testing unwashed fabric, and writing the target without tolerance are the common errors. Record elastane content alongside Reflective Print, because blends shift the measured value. A result outside above 100 cd/lx/m2 retroreflection usually points to process drift rather than to the fibre itself.
