— Artwork Specs · Get it right the first time

Prep it once.
Print it clean.

Vector, raster, Canva — doesn’t matter. Set it up right and we press exactly what you upload. No surprises.

— 01 / Common Mistakes

The 3 things that kill most files.

Most artwork rejections come down to three simple mistakes. Fix these and your file is 90% ready.

01 /

Live text that wasn’t outlined

If we don’t have the font, it defaults or breaks. Convert to outlines or shapes before uploading.

Fonts

02 /

Low-res JPGs instead of vectors

72 dpi web images don’t scale. We need 300 dpi at final print size minimum — or send vector.

Resolution

03 /

Gradients, shadows, transparency

Screen printing uses spot colors. Gradients and effects won’t reproduce the way they look on screen.

Effects

— 02 / The Rule

Print-ready basics.

We print what you upload, exactly as submitted — including size, spelling, and layout.

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Upload the file at the exact size you want it printed.

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If resizing is needed, include the exact width and height in your order notes.

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Artwork is uploaded in the correct orientation and not mirrored.

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Backgrounds are transparent unless a background is intended to print.

— 03 / File Types

What to send.

Vector artwork produces the cleanest edges and the most consistent results.

— Preferred (Vector)

Cleanest output

.PDF .AI .SVG .EPS

Scales without quality loss. Sharp edges, accurate colors, fast turnaround.

— Also accepted

Raster files

.PSD .PNG .TIFF .JPG

Must be provided at 300 dpi at final print size.

— Designing in Canva?

Export as PDF Print.

It’s the cleanest export Canva offers — everything else can flatten or compress your design.

Canva help →

— 04 / Color

Color setup.

General Purpose screen printed transfers are produced using spot colors.

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Use solid colors when possible.

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Only include white when white ink is intended to print.

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If your file colors don’t match what you want printed, list the intended colors in order notes.

— 05 / Tolerances

Minimum detail requirements.

To prevent small details from filling in or breaking, artwork must meet these minimum tolerances.

Requirement	Spec
Minimum printed line thickness	1 pt / 0.014 in
Minimum negative space	2 pt / 0.028 in

Artwork below these tolerances may print heavier, fill in, or lose detail.

— 06 / Text

Outline your type.

All text must be converted before submission to prevent font issues on our end.

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Illustrator: convert text to outlines.

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Photoshop: convert text to shapes.

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Converted text is no longer editable as live text — save a copy of your editable file first.

Illustrator: how to outline text →

— 07 / Effects & Fine Detail

Keep it clean.

Screen printed transfers are best for clean, solid artwork — not screen effects.

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Gradients, fades, shadows, and transparency effects may not reproduce as intended.

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Thin strokes and tiny holes inside letters can close up if they fall under minimum tolerances.

— 08 / Files We Can’t Use

Don’t send these.

Files from these programs often don’t separate cleanly for screen printing and may not be usable as submitted.

Cricut Design Space & similar craft tools

Windows Paint, Apple Paintbrush, generic drawing apps

Microsoft Office files — PowerPoint, Word, Excel

Screenshots or phone photos of designs

Files with filters/effects applied — drop shadows, glows, outer glow

If anything’s questionable — send the best file you have and note your print size.

— 09 / If Your File Needs Fixes

What happens then?

We don’t print bad files and ghost you. We’ll reach out with options.

If your file needs fixes, we’ll email you within 1 business day with options. Artwork revisions add 1–2 days to turnaround — so getting it right upfront keeps your order on schedule.

— Need help with your artwork?

We’ll fix it — starting at $25.

Don’t have print-ready files? We’ll vectorize, clean up, or rebuild your artwork. Upload what you have and we’ll handle the rest.

Request a Quote →

Learn more about our screen printed transfer options →

Prep it once. Print it clean.