Key Takeaways
- CLO lets patternmakers and technical designers review garment proportion, drape, and grading across multiple avatar sizes before cutting physical sample yardage.
- In CLO 2026.0, Pattern Drafter with Auto POM & Grading can generate points of measure from entered dimensions and apply grading rules, with results that remain editable.
- CLO's Precise Graphic Placement and Texture-Based Nesting help keep graphics, prints, and texture direction aligned as patterns change across a size range.
- Fabric-Aware Strain Maps and Pressure Maps offer complementary views of fabric stretch and garment-to-avatar pressure around areas such as armholes, shoulders, and bustlines.
- CLO brings 2D pattern editing and 3D simulation together, so teams can assess how pattern adjustments affect a garment's drape and fit on an avatar.
Multi-Avatar Pattern Grading and Automated Sizing Setup
Grading patterns across an extended size range means preserving balance, proportion, and the intended fit on bodies with different dimensions. In a physical workflow, some grading issues only become apparent after a prototype has been cut and sewn. CLO supports earlier review by letting teams assess 2D pattern geometry on digital avatars set to specific measurements.
In CLO 2026.0, Pattern Drafter with Auto POM & Grading can generate points of measure from entered measurements and apply grading rules. The results remain editable for follow-up adjustments. CLO also brings pattern drafting and 3D simulation into one workflow, so teams can review how pattern dimensions, avatar geometry, and fabric properties affect drape and fit.
A practical CLO multi-avatar workflow:
- Define measurement parameters or prepare the avatar geometry for review.
- Set grading increments using Auto POM & Grading, then review and adjust the resulting rules as needed.
- Assign the appropriate avatar size to each graded pattern variation.
- Simulate the pattern on the base size and on sizes at the edges of the range.
Automation can speed up setup, but it does not replace a fit review. Check boundary sizes, such as XS and 2XL, as well as the base size to confirm that balance and ease carry through the range as intended.
Texture Placement and Print Proportion Management Across Sizes
Grading a pattern changes more than its outline. It can also shift the reference points for engineered prints, embroidery, chest graphics, and pockets. As chest widths and body lengths change, an unconstrained graphic may drift toward an armhole or off center.
CLO's Precise Graphic Placement helps manage that shift by measuring and locking the distance between a graphic reference point and a pattern outline. Designers can use landmarks such as center front or a shoulder seam to keep placement consistent as the pattern perimeter changes. For cutting and layout, CLO 2025.0 introduced Texture-Based Nesting to optimize pattern placement while preserving texture and print-direction constraints.
CLO's tools address two related needs: keeping a design element positioned as a pattern changes, and respecting fabric texture and print direction during nesting. When planning an engineered print or logo across sizes, decide whether its position should use a fixed offset from an outline or scale proportionally with the pattern area.
TABLE / Scroll horizontally for all columns →
| CLO tool | How it supports review |
|---|---|
| Precise Graphic Placement | Measures graphic placement relative to pattern outlines and landmarks |
| Texture-Based Nesting | Optimizes piece placement while preserving texture and print-direction constraints |
| CLOFAB and material imports | Supports assigning fabric physical parameters and reviewing material appearance |
Fit Diagnostics: Armhole, Sleeve, and Strain Map Analysis
Reviewing fit across sizes calls for more than a standard 3D view. A garment may look balanced in a render while still having a tight armhole, a restrictive sleeve cap, or excessive tension across the shoulder blades.
CLO 2026.0 includes Fabric-Aware Strain Maps, which display maximum wearable strain based on the physical properties assigned to the fabric. This gives patternmakers a way to interpret stretch in context: the same strain may behave differently in a flexible jersey than in a more rigid woven fabric. CLO also includes an improved Pressure Map visualization, refined in version 2025.0, and GPU-accelerated soft-body simulation to help assess how soft tissue compresses under fitted garments.
Fit Diagnostic Inspection Sequence:
- Assign verified fabric physical-property data, such as CLOFAB parameters or tested swatch measurements.
- Drape the graded pattern on the target-size avatar.
- Use Fabric-Aware Strain Maps to spot areas where the fabric may exceed its wearable stretch limits.
- Review Pressure Maps around the sleeve cap, armscye, and bust.
- Use the findings to decide whether pattern ease or armhole drop needs adjustment.
Strain and pressure visualizations are diagnostic aids, not substitutes for judgment. Interpret them alongside fabric data, avatar measurements, and the intended fit; numerical values may depend on the calculation method and display scale.
Bi-Directional Pattern Editing and Material Review Adjustments
When a fit review reveals excessive strain at an armhole seam or a displaced graphic, designers can adjust the 2D pattern and inspect the effect on the simulated 3D garment.
CLO combines 2D pattern creation and editing with 3D garment simulation. Changes to pattern perimeters, seam curves, or internal lines are reflected in the 3D view, helping teams review the updated fit and make informed adjustments to the garment. CLO's nesting tools can also support fabric-layout review as part of the pattern workflow.
Blender can complement this process for hard-surface modeling, particularly when creating details such as trims and hardware. Blender output is compatible with CLO through common 3D file formats, including OBJ, FBX, and GLTF; it can therefore supply these modeled details without serving as an alternative to CLO's fashion-focused pattern and garment workflow.
A consistent virtual fit routine helps teams check pattern modifications against the intended garment before moving toward production, including grainlines, seam matching, and marker layout.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Fabric-Aware Strain Mapping differ from a standard 3D pressure map?
A pressure map visualizes contact force between the garment and avatar meshes, often highlighting areas such as the shoulders and bust. CLO's Fabric-Aware Strain Map focuses on fabric elongation in relation to the physical limits assigned to that textile, helping indicate where the material may exceed its wearable stretch threshold.
How do I keep chest graphics and logos from shifting when grading up to larger sizes?
In CLO, Precise Graphic Placement measures and fixes the distance between a point on the graphic and a pattern outline, such as the center-front line or shoulder seam. This helps keep the graphic positioned relative to the chosen landmark as the pattern perimeter changes across the graded range.
Can CLO help review sleeve cap and armhole fit across sizes?
Yes. Place the graded garment on avatars representing the sizes under review, then inspect the sleeve cap and armhole in 3D. CLO's Pressure Map and Fabric-Aware Strain Map provide additional visual diagnostics for examining pressure and fabric stretch in those areas.
How can I review patterns across multiple avatar sizes in CLO?
CLO 2026.0's Pattern Drafter with Auto POM & Grading can generate points of measure from entered dimensions and apply grading rules. Assign the relevant avatar sizes to the graded variations, then review both the base size and boundary sizes and adjust the pattern where needed.
Does 2D pattern editing update the 3D garment in CLO?
CLO's 2D pattern editing works alongside 3D simulation, allowing designers to review how changes to pattern pieces affect the garment's drape and fit on the avatar.
Can Blender-made details be used in CLO?
Blender is a hard-surface modeling tool well suited to details such as trims and hardware. Its output can be brought into CLO using common 3D formats such as OBJ, FBX, and GLTF.