Artwork Guidelines & Care

File Formats

Vector files print sharpest at any size and are best for screen printing and embroidery. We also accept high-resolution images.

• Best: vector AI, EPS, SVG, or PDF, with fonts converted to outlines.
• Good: PNG or TIFF at full print size, with a transparent background where the garment should show through.
• Usable with care: JPG, WebP, or GIF. These cannot hold a transparent background and often show compression artefacts when enlarged.
• If your logo only exists as a small web image or a photo of a printed item, send it anyway and tell us; we can often recreate it, and we will tell you up front if that costs extra.

Resolution and Size

Raster images should be 300 DPI at the size they will be printed. A design 12 inches wide needs to be about 3600 pixels wide. Below about 150 DPI at print size, edges look soft or pixelated. We flag low resolution on your proof, and if you approve it anyway the result is not a defect.

As a rough guide, a full-front print on an adult shirt is up to about 12 inches wide and a left-chest logo about 3.5 to 4 inches wide. Your proof shows the exact size.

Colour

Screens display colour in light (RGB) and garments carry it as ink, thread, or film, so some colours shift, especially bright neons and deep blues. For an exact brand colour, give us its Pantone (PMS) number.

• Screen printing prints each colour separately, so the number of colours affects the price. Gradients and photos are reproduced with halftone dots.
• Direct-to-garment (DTG) and DTF transfers print full colour, including photos and gradients, at no extra cost per colour.
• Embroidery uses thread colours matched as closely as possible to your art. Gradients and photos cannot be embroidered.
• On coloured garments, ink colours look different than on white. Your proof shows the garment colour you chose.

Fine Detail

Very thin lines and small text may not hold up. Keep lines at least about 1 point thick and printed text at least about 6 points. For embroidery, keep text at least 1/4 inch tall and avoid very small details; we simplify them during digitizing.

Rights to Your Artwork

Only send artwork you own or have permission to use, including team, school, and brand logos. Our Artwork and Proofs terms explain your responsibility for the artwork you submit and how proof approval works.

Washing

• Turn garments inside out before washing.
• Wash cold on a gentle or normal cycle, with similar colours.
• Use mild detergent. Do not use bleach, and avoid fabric softener on printed areas.
• Wait 24 hours after receiving DTF pieces before the first wash.

Drying

• Tumble dry on low, or hang to dry for the longest life.
• Remove promptly to limit wrinkles and shrinkage. Cotton garments may shrink slightly in a hot dryer.

Ironing and Cleaning

• Never iron directly on a print or transfer. Iron inside out on low heat, or place a cloth between the iron and the decoration.
• Do not dry clean printed garments.
• For embroidery, press from the back on a towel so the stitches are not flattened. Trim any loose thread rather than pulling it.

What to Expect Over Time

Some softening and fading of prints after many washes is normal, and soft-hand and DTG prints wear in faster than plastisol screen prints. Damage from hot washing, bleach, or direct ironing is not covered as a defect.