Artwork & File Setup Guide
What to send us, in what format, and why it matters. Most print problems are artwork problems, and almost all of them are visible before production — if someone looks.
File formats, in order of preference
| Format | Good for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| AI, EPS, PDF (vector) | Everything | Scales to any size without losing quality. Always best. |
| PNG at 300dpi | Photographic artwork, DTF, DTG | Must be at the size you want it printed, transparent background |
| PSD, TIFF | Layered artwork | Send the layers; do not flatten before sending |
| JPG | Last resort | No transparency, and compression artefacts show in print |
| Screenshot or website logo | Starting point only | We will tell you honestly whether it can be used or needs redrawing |
The rule that catches most people
Resolution is relative to print size, not absolute. A 1000-pixel-wide logo is plenty for a 50mm left-chest embroidery and nowhere near enough for a 300mm back print. When people say a file is 'high resolution', they usually mean it looked sharp on their screen.
So tell us how big you want it printed, and send the file at 300dpi at that size. If you have a vector file, none of this applies — vector scales indefinitely, which is why we ask for it first.
What each decoration method needs
| Method | Artwork requirement |
|---|---|
| Embroidery | Vector or clean high-contrast image. Fine detail below 3mm will not stitch — small text, thin lines and gradients get lost. |
| Screen printing | Vector, with colours separated. Each colour is a screen, so colour count drives cost. |
| DTF | 300dpi PNG with transparent background, at print size. Full colour, no separation needed. |
| DTG | 300dpi PNG or PSD. Best on cotton; photographic work is its strength. |
| Sublimation | Vector or 300dpi at full garment size for all-over prints. Polyester only. |
| Vinyl | Vector only. Each colour is cut separately, so keep the colour count low. |
Colour
Send Pantone references rather than colour names. 'Navy' covers a hundred shades; 19-4024 TCX covers one. If you do not have Pantone references, send us the closest thing you have and we will match and send a lab dip for approval before bulk.
Screens and printed fabric do not match. A colour that glows on a backlit monitor sits differently on cloth, and that difference is not a fault — it is physics. Which is why we approve a lab dip on custom colours rather than trusting a screenshot.
Frequently asked questions
- I only have a JPG of my logo. Is that a problem?
- Send it. We will tell you whether it works at your print size. Often we can redraw a simple logo as vector quickly; complex artwork takes longer and we will quote it.
- Can you redraw my artwork?
- Yes. Simple logos are usually redrawn at no charge as part of the order. Detailed illustration work is quoted separately, and we will tell you before doing it.
- What is digitising, and do I pay for it?
- Digitising converts artwork into stitch instructions for the embroidery machine. It is a one-off per design, and it is why the first embroidery order carries a setup cost that repeat orders do not.
- Why does my design cost more in screen printing than DTF?
- Screen printing needs a screen per colour, so a four-colour design is four screens and four passes. DTF prints full colour in one pass. Past a certain colour count DTF is simply cheaper, and we will say so.
- Will you show me before printing?
- Always. A digital mockup goes to you for approval before anything is produced, and a sample follows with any production order.
Send us your artwork
Any format. We will tell you what works, what needs changing, and what it will cost.
Get a quote