You have a logo. You need it on 50 tees. You send the file to your decorator and they come back asking for a "vector file" or a "high-res PNG" and suddenly a straightforward order feels complicated.
It doesn't have to be. Here's exactly what you need to know about artwork for custom printing — no design background required.
Why artwork quality matters more than you think
Every decoration method has a resolution threshold. Below that threshold, the printed result looks blurry, pixelated, or soft — regardless of how sharp it looked on your screen. This is because screens display images at 72–96 pixels per inch, while commercial printing processes require 300 pixels per inch or higher at the final print size.
A logo that's 200 pixels wide looks fine as a small image on a website. Scaled to 30cm wide for a chest print, it's a blurry mess. The file hasn't changed — it's just that you've asked it to cover a much larger area than it was ever designed for.
This is why decorators ask for specific file formats and specifications. They're not being difficult. They're trying to protect you from receiving a product that doesn't look like what you approved.
The two types of image files
Understanding the difference between vector and raster files solves most artwork problems immediately.
Raster files are made of pixels — tiny coloured squares arranged in a grid. The more pixels, the higher the resolution, the sharper the image. Common raster formats: JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP, TIFF. The problem with raster files is that they have a fixed resolution. Scale them up past their native resolution and they degrade. A raster logo pulled from a website is almost always too low-resolution for print.
Vector files are made of mathematical paths and shapes rather than pixels. They can be scaled to any size — from business card to billboard — without any loss of quality. Common vector formats: AI (Adobe Illustrator), EPS, PDF, SVG. Professional logos are almost always created as vectors. If your logo was professionally designed, a vector file exists somewhere.
For most custom apparel decoration, vector is what your decorator needs. It's the gold standard. If you have it, use it.
What file to provide for each decoration method
Screen printing: Vector file (AI, EPS, or PDF) with colours specified as Pantone references. Each colour in the design needs to be separated into its own layer. Most decorators can handle this step if you provide a clean vector file and specify your Pantone colours.
Embroidery: Any clean, high-quality file — vector is ideal, but a high-resolution PNG (300dpi at print size) works. The decorator will digitise your artwork into an embroidery stitch file. They need enough detail to digitise accurately, which is why high resolution matters even if the format is flexible.
DTG and DTF: High-resolution PNG with a transparent background. 300dpi at the intended print size minimum. Transparent background means the garment colour shows through any areas that aren't part of your design, rather than printing a white rectangle around your logo.
Sublimation: High-resolution artwork designed to the exact template dimensions provided by your decorator. Usually a layered Photoshop file or a high-resolution PNG. Colour mode should be RGB for sublimation, not CMYK.
How to check if your artwork is high enough resolution
In most image viewing software, you can check the dimensions of a raster file. The key question is: at my desired print size, does this file have at least 300dpi?
The calculation: (pixel width ÷ desired print width in inches) = dpi. So a 900-pixel-wide logo printed at 3 inches wide gives you 300dpi — just enough. The same logo printed at 10 inches wide gives you only 90dpi — not enough.
If you're not sure, send the file to your decorator and ask them to assess it before you finalise the order. Any professional decorator will check your artwork as part of their process and flag problems before production.
What to do if you only have a low-res logo
Three options, in order of preference:
- Find the original file. Call whoever designed your logo. They should have the original working file. Even if they're no longer working with you, they may be able to supply the vector for a small fee.
- Ask your decorator to redraw it. Many decorators offer a vectorisation service — they'll manually redraw your logo as a clean vector. It's usually $30–$80 depending on complexity. Worth it for anything you'll reorder regularly.
- Use DTF or DTG. If you genuinely can't get a better file and you need to proceed, digital print methods (DTF or DTG) are more forgiving of imperfect artwork than screen printing. They won't fix a truly terrible file, but they have more latitude than screen printing does.
A simple pre-order artwork checklist
- Do I have a vector file (AI, EPS, or PDF)? If yes, I'm in good shape for most methods.
- If not, is my PNG at least 300dpi at the intended print size?
- Do I know my brand's Pantone colour references?
- Does my PNG have a transparent background (not a white box)?
- Have I sent the artwork to my decorator for a quality check before approving the order?
Get those five things right and you'll never have an artwork problem hold up your order again.
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