---
title: "Close-Up Photos of Cushion Fabric: Free Before You Order"
url: "https://cushionguide.com/answers/close-up-fabric-photos-before-ordering/"
section: "The Cutting Table"
author: "Élodie Marchand, The Colorist of New Orleans"
author_url: "https://cushionguide.com/masters/elodie/"
published: "2026-07-29"
updated: "2026-07-29"
keywords: "close-up photos of cushion fabric, fabric swatch photos before ordering, cushion fabric color comparison, fabric code close-up, custom bench cushion fabric"
---

# Can I see close-up photos of a fabric before I order?

*A thumbnail is a rumor about a color. Ask for the close-up, and the rumor becomes a portrait.*

Also asked as: Can I see a close-up of P-60?; Better photos of the linen colors L-18, L-19, L-20

> **The quick answer:** Yes, close-up photos of any fabric code are free and sent on request in your message thread. Name the codes and you often get a studio shot beside a real-light shot, side-by-side comparisons of similar shades, sometimes a short video, and finished cushions in that fabric when they exist. Phone cameras shift tone, so order physical samples when color is critical.

![Slate gray velvet cushion on a pale oak entryway bench below a black coat, leather satchel and snake plant](https://cushionguide.com/media/bench-cushions/slate-gray-velvet-entryway-bench-cushion-oak-928.webp "A slate gray velvet cushion on a pale oak entry bench: practical against street dust, soft next to concrete.")

## Key facts

- Close-up photos of any fabric code are free and sent on request.
- Studio and real-light photos are often sent side by side.
- Similar shades, such as pink and dried rose, can be compared in one photo.
- Photos of finished cushions or past orders in that fabric are shared when they exist.
- Patterned fabrics sit on the last page of the PDF color chart.
- Larger close-ups are not available for every code.
- A photo of the actual fabric is sent when production starts.
- The soft fabric chart alone runs from 901 to 946, about 46 colors, and neighboring codes can differ only in tone, so close-ups settle the shortlist.

## What each kind of photo can tell you

| What you ask for | What arrives | Best for judging |
|---|---|---|
| A close-up of one code, e.g. linen L-18 | An unedited studio shot, often beside a real-light shot | Weave, texture and tone |
| Two near shades, e.g. pink and dried rose | A side-by-side comparison photo | Which one runs warmer, which grayer |
| Finished cushions in that code | Photos of past orders, when they exist | How the cloth sits on a real cushion |
| A patterned fabric | The PDF color chart (patterns on the last page) or a link to larger images | The scale of the repeat |

## Why the studio shot and the daylight shot disagree

Put a studio photo of slate gray velvet beside a window-light photo of the same velvet and they will argue. Neither is lying. Studio light flattens the pile; daylight finds every shadow in it. The workshop sends both, unedited, so you can read the fabric between them.

Phone cameras add their own opinion, often a shade lighter or darker than the cloth, so treat the close-ups as your color reference. The [screen versus daylight Pattern](https://cushionguide.com/guides/cushion-color-screen-vs-daylight/) explains the drift.

## Ask by fabric code, and ask for everything at once

Name the [fabric codes](https://cushionguide.com/glossary/#fabric-code), not the colors. 'L-18, L-19, L-20' brings back three photos; 'the beige linen' brings back a question. For a [velvet](https://cushionguide.com/fabrics/velvet/) cushion on an [entryway bench](https://cushionguide.com/cushions/mudroom-and-entryway-bench-cushions/), ask for finished-cushion photos too; a row of past orders in one code says more than any chart.

Two honest limits. Larger close-ups aren't available for every code, and when no cushion exists in your exact combination, you get swatch close-ups instead. If color is critical, order [physical swatches](https://cushionguide.com/guides/fabric-swatches-before-ordering/) as well. Which two shades are you torn between, my friends?

> **Tailor's margin:** Ask for fabric close-ups by code, not by color name: 'L-18, L-19, L-20' brings back three photos you can compare side by side.

> If cushion color is critical, treat the close-up photo as the reference and a physical swatch as the proof; phone photos can run a shade darker.
>
> — Élodie

## Buyer questions

**A common question:** Can you send sharper close-ups of the fabrics I'm deciding between?

**The workshop's answer:** Yes. Name the codes and you get unedited close-ups of those exact fabrics, often a studio shot plus a casual real-light shot, and sometimes a finished cushion made in that code. Any tone difference between the photos comes from light and camera, not the cloth.

**A common question:** Is there a bigger image of a patterned fabric so I can see the repeat?

**The workshop's answer:** Yes. The workshop sends its PDF color chart, where the patterns sit on the last page, or a link with larger images of the pattern, so you can judge the repeat without ordering a physical sample.

**A common question:** Your finished-cushion photos look darker than the swatch. Which one do I trust?

**The workshop's answer:** Trust the close-ups. Finished cushions photographed on a phone in poor light can look darker than the real fabric. For full certainty, order physical samples. When your order goes into production, you also get a photo of the actual fabric your cushion will be made in.

**A common question:** How big are the swatches if I order samples?

**The workshop's answer:** Standard swatches are small, about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 in (3 to 4 cm) square, enough to judge color and texture. Velvet can be sent as 4 in (10 cm) squares on request; otherwise ask for finished-cushion photos.

## Questions buyers ask next

### Do fabric close-up photos cost anything?

No. Close-up photos of any fabric code are free and usually arrive in the same message thread soon after you ask. List every code you are weighing in one message, so the photos come back together and you can compare them side by side.

### Can the workshop name the fabric on a cushion from a review photo?

Yes. Point to the review photo and the workshop can identify which fabric code was used on that cushion, then send close-ups of the code so you can check it against the other fabrics on your shortlist.

### Will my finished cushion match the close-up exactly?

Close-ups are the most reliable photo reference, but lighting and phone screens can shift tone slightly. The physical fabric is the final word, which is why a swatch is suggested for color-critical rooms and a photo of your actual fabric is sent when production starts.

## Related at the atelier

- [Can I get fabric samples for the floor sofa before ordering?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/modular-floor-sofa-fabric-samples/): Yes, you can get floor sofa fabric samples before ordering: buy one fabric sample and write in the order note that it's for the sofa and which colors you want.
- [Can you mock up my cushion in the fabric I picked before I order?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/cushion-mockup-rendering-before-ordering/): Yes, the workshop can send a digital mockup of your custom cushion in the fabric you picked, once your colors are chosen.
- [Are fabric samples free, or do I have to pay for them?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/are-fabric-samples-free-sample-fee/): The fabric swatches themselves cost nothing; you pay one small flat fee that covers shipping, charged per sample order rather than per swatch.
- [Window Seat Cushion in Blue-Gray Stripe: Ties, Grip and Zippers](https://cushionguide.com/readings/blue-gray-stripe-window-seat-cushion-gray-panel-closeup/): A fitted window seat cushion seldom needs ties when walls hold it at the back and both ends; a non-slip base helps on a smooth painted seat, and the zipper belongs on the long back side, facing the…
- [Custom cushions for Italian terraces, loggias and city apartments](https://cushionguide.com/places/custom-cushions-italy/): Custom cushions in Italy should be chosen by where they live, with UV-resistant, water-repellent outdoor fabric for terraces, balconies and pergola seats.
- [Custom cushions for Belgian townhouses, bay windows and gardens](https://cushionguide.com/places/custom-cushions-belgium/): Custom cushions in Belgium should be chosen for soft, gray northern light: warm neutrals or clear mid-tones instead of chilly pale grays, velvet or a linen blend for tall-ceilinged rooms, and…
- [How to order fabric swatches that actually settle the decision](https://cushionguide.com/guides/fabric-swatches-before-ordering/)
- [Why the color on your screen isn't the cushion you'll get, and how to choose](https://cushionguide.com/guides/cushion-color-screen-vs-daylight/)

*With color and care — Élodie*

---

Written by Élodie Marchand (https://cushionguide.com/masters/elodie/) for CushionGuide (https://cushionguide.com/about/). The site explains made-to-measure cushions and the partner workshop makes them; measurements are in inches first. This Markdown mirrors the page at https://cushionguide.com/answers/close-up-fabric-photos-before-ordering/