Printtilehden

Printtilehden is an open-source software library and workflow for generating tiled print layouts intended for large-format printers and textile printers. It accepts raster or vector input and partitions the content into a grid of printable tiles, applying color-managed rendering, seam handling, and assembly data so that the final mosaic can be printed and reassembled with minimal misalignment.

The project originated as a community effort among digital print studios and researchers seeking a reproducible method for producing large images through tiling. Development has been hosted on public repositories with contributions from designers, engineers, and printers, and it is documented for users and developers alike.

Key features include configurable tile size, overlap (bleed), and seam blending to minimize visible joins; color management through ICC profiles; support for common input formats (SVG, PDF, PNG, TIFF) and tile outputs that include metadata, cut lines, and a tile assembly map; cross-platform support and a modular architecture that allows plugins for specific printers or workflows.

Typical workflow: import artwork, select tile grid and bleed, choose a printer profile, run the tiling process, and export the tile set along with assembly instructions. The tiles are then printed and reassembled according to the map, enabling accurate color reproduction and alignment on large surfaces.

Licensing and reception: printtilehden is released under an open-source license compatible with MIT/Apache-style terms. It is used by independent studios, education programs, and archival projects. Some criticisms point to a learning curve and the need for careful printer calibration to achieve optimal results.