Key Takeaway
- In CLO, edits to a 2D pattern sync with the 3D window, where you can simulate the updated garment and review the result.
- CLO combines pattern synchronization with fabric-property controls and a Fitting (Accurate Fabric) mode that shows a more defined simulation and expresses fabric stretch more realistically.
- Editing a 2D line during an active simulation stops the calculation; simulate again when your pattern change is finished.
A small pattern change can alter where fabric falls, pulls, and folds on a garment. CLO keeps that review connected: adjustments in the 2D pattern window automatically sync with the 3D window, where you can simulate the revised garment and assess its drape. CLO simulates garment fit and drape using garments, avatars, patterns, and fabric properties.
Turning Flat Patterns Into 3D Drape Previews
If you are starting from measurements or a 2D drawing rather than an existing CAD block, CLO Pattern Drafter lets you create or edit parametric patterns from entered measurement values and generate patterns from flat sketch images.
Arrange the flat pieces around an avatar in the 3D viewport and simulate the garment to see how the cloth falls. For a closer look at material behavior, CLO’s Fitting (Accurate Fabric) mode shows a more defined garment simulation and expresses fabric stretch more realistically.
CLO’s Help Center guidance on virtual fabric accuracy says CLO Library fabrics and fabrics created with the Fabric Kit have about 90% accuracy; accuracy may differ if their physical properties are modified arbitrarily. Combined with 2D-to-3D pattern sync, these materials let you revise a pattern and check the resulting drape in one workflow.
Comparing CLO, Browzwear VStitcher, and Marvelous Designer
CLO is optimized for fashion, while its sibling software Marvelous Designer is geared toward animation and gaming. The comparison below focuses on how each tool connects pattern edits, 3D drape simulation, and material-property setup.
| Software | 2D Pattern Revision Workflow | 3D Garment Drape Simulation | Material & Physical Property Setup |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLO | Adjustments in the 2D window automatically synchronize with the 3D window. Pattern Drafter creates or edits parametric patterns from entered measurements and generates patterns from flat sketch images. | Simulates garment fit and drape using garments, avatars, patterns, and fabric properties. Fitting (Accurate Fabric) mode shows a more defined simulation and expresses stretch more realistically. | CLOFAB creates fabric entries, works with map images, records fabric information and physical properties, and saves fabric files. Controls include adjustable weft/warp stretch and shear. |
| Browzwear VStitcher | Supports design in 2D drafting and 3D draping environments for garment visualization and refinement. | Simulates how fabrics stretch, drape, and move; during Dress simulation, fabric drape and thickness can be checked for a true-to-life appearance. | Selected fabric data populates a physical-properties dialog for editing and pattern assignment; Restore From Database resets altered physics values to the original library values. |
| Marvelous Designer (CLO’s sibling software for animation and gaming) | Its pattern-based workflow lets artists edit panels and seams before simulating the cloth. | The Simulate command applies gravity so 3D garments drape over avatars and collision objects, using selected material, forces, and collision settings. | Uses a ZFAB fabric file with Physical Properties and Visual Properties/Texture; physical-property controls include weft/warp stretch and shear adjustments. |
Based on CLO Official Site (clo3d.com), CLO Help Center (support.clo3d.com), Browzwear Official Site (browzwear.com), Browzwear Help Center (help.browzwear.com), Marvelous Designer Official Site (marvelousdesigner.com, s3.marvelousdesigner.com), and Marvelous Designer Support (support.marvelousdesigner.com).
What Happens When Editing 2D Patterns Mid-Simulation
When you edit a 2D pattern piece during an active CLO simulation, the calculation stops. Once the edit is complete, simulate the updated garment to review the change. Knowing this sequence helps keep pattern adjustments and fit reviews moving.
Setting Up Material Properties for a CLO Drape Review
To test how a garment behaves when you change its stretch or shear, CLO’s fabric property controls let you adjust stretch in the weft and warp directions as well as shear.
For teams building their own digital material libraries rather than relying solely on default presets, two dedicated workflows handle fabric creation and digitization:
- Within CLOFAB, you can create fabric entries, work with map images, enter fabric information alongside physical properties, and save the resulting fabric files. If your texture map images follow the applicable naming conventions, CLOFAB allows you to load those map images together at once.
- When digitizing a physical swatch from your mill or fabric table, the CLO zFab Kit captures both a fabric's physical and visual properties from a single circular sample, outputting a digital fabric complete with PBR maps and physical-property data.
For a digital material library, CLOFAB and the zFab Kit offer two ways to prepare fabric assets for garment reviews.
FAQ
How can I get a more realistic simulation of fabric stretch during a fit review?
CLO’s Fitting (Accurate Fabric) simulation mode shows a more defined garment simulation and expresses fabric stretch more realistically.
Where should I start when digitizing my own materials for a 3D drape review?
For a physical swatch, the CLO zFab Kit captures its physical and visual properties from one circular sample and outputs a digital fabric with PBR maps and physical-property data. If you’re working from existing data and textures, CLOFAB lets you create fabric entries, load map images that follow applicable naming conventions, enter fabric information and physical properties, and save the fabric files.