Adding the to Womenswear Check out this overview of four best-selling special effects for womenswear. By Thomas Trimingham, Contributing Writer t here's an interesting push in specialeffects printing for ladies' and juniors' apparel that is more subtle. It even starts to push the boundaries of what is commonly considered special effects. Apparel decorators with a good grasp of the basics in special-effects printing have the easiest time adapting to new trends and deciding whether a specific style is worth investing in or if it should be left for the "bleeding edge" of printers who are willing to endure the pain of trying every new fad. The fundamental special effects that should be tackled first typically are best sellers because they can add perceived value to the final apparel product and excite potential buyers. This emotional appeal can be visual, tactile or both, so it is important to consider how the undecorated apparel, artwork and special effect will work together to create the final product. Some basic special effects to consider including are: water-based or soft-hand printing, glitter, foil and heat transfer rhinestones. FABRIC CHOICES Before you dive into decorating techniques, review some of the popular fabrics that are used to create ladies', juniors' and girls' apparel. Looking carefully at the 46 Impressions | March 2015 Figure 1. Water-based prints can work well either as background patterns or oversized prints on fitted apparel. impressionsmag.comhttp://www.impressionsmag.com