How to Prepare Artwork for TShirt Printing

Read our quick guide on how to prepare artwork for tshirt printing. Our aim is to make your order process as quick and simple as possible. We have provided the following artwork guidelines to help you supply the correct files in order to achieve the best results for your print job. However if this is all new to you simply fill in our quick quote form and upload whatever artwork files you have and one of our experienced team will be in touch.

FILE TYPES

When it comes to preparing artwork for tshirt printing there are 2 main file types – Vector and Raster/Bitmap which will be dependent on the software that was used to create it.

VECTOR

Vector images are the best file type for printing logos and non-photographic artwork, as they do not contain pixels they can be re-sized without any loss of quality. For screen printing and vinyl transfer our preferred file type is vector, most commonly vector files will end in the file extension .ai, .eps, .pdf or .svg. Don’t worry if you have been supplied these files but can’t open them – we can!!. Vector files also give us the ability to edit the artwork if you need any colours changing. If the artwork contains text please convert this to lines or supply the original font file.

BITMAP

Bitmap images contain pixels (squares of information) and therefore aren’t as crisp as vector files. In most cases Bitmap files are great for Digital Printing and anything containing photographic images. For best results the files should be saved as 300dpi at print size (see below). Bitmap images will end with the file extension – .jpg, .psd, .png or .pdf

Long Sleeves
9cm x 38cm

Hat Front
9cm wide

Tote Bags
22cm wide

Screen Printing
36cm x 46cm

Digital Printing
30cm x 42cm

Embroidery
22cm x 22cm

Transfer/Supacolour
29cm x 42cm

* Maximum print size will be dependent on the smallest size garment in the order to ensure the design can be printed across the full range of sizes ordered.