Preparing artwork that prints well
Most printing problems start with the file. A few checks before you upload save reprints and disappointment.
Resolution: aim for 300 DPI at print size
For raster images (PNG, JPG), what matters is how many pixels you have for the size you're printing. Printers work at about 300 pixels per inch. 150 is the practical minimum. Below that, edges look soft or blocky.
| Print width | Pixels wide at 300 DPI | Minimum (150 DPI) |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5" (left chest) | 1,050 px | 525 px |
| 10" (full front) | 3,000 px | 1,500 px |
| 12" (large front/back) | 3,600 px | 1,800 px |
Enlarging a small image in an editor doesn't add detail. Start from the largest original you have.
Vector vs. raster
Vector files (SVG, AI, PDF, EPS) are made of shapes, not pixels. They stay sharp at any size, and they're ideal for logos, text, vinyl cutting and screen printing. Raster files (PNG, JPG) are fine for photos and painted art, as long as the resolution is high enough.
Use a transparent background
Save designs as a PNG with a transparent background. A JPG always has a solid background, usually white, which prints as a white box. That looks especially bad on a colored shirt.
Watch fine detail
- Vinyl (HTV): keep lines and gaps about 1.5 mm or wider so they can be cut and weeded.
- DTF: avoid isolated specks and hairlines under about 0.5 mm. They can lift after washing.
- Embroidery: text under about a quarter inch tall gets hard to read.
Soft edges and semi-transparency
Glows, drop shadows and faded edges are made of partly transparent pixels. DTG and DTF can reproduce them. Screen printing needs them turned into halftone dots, and vinyl can't do them at all. If a method gets a caution in the Mockup Studio, soft edges are often the reason.
Colors
- Screens can show colors a little differently than print. Very bright RGB colors, like neon green, may print duller.
- For screen printing and vinyl, fewer solid colors means a lower cost and a cleaner result.
- On dark shirts, pure black parts of your design will simply disappear.
Rights
Only upload art you made or have the rights to use. Logos, characters and team marks belong to their owners.