You’ve finished your design and you’re ready to order, but then the print shop asks for a “print-ready file.” What does that actually mean? The file you send has a bigger impact on the final shirt than most people realize. A slightly blurry logo on your screen will look even worse on fabric. Understanding file formats and resolution before you order saves time, avoids costly reprints, and ensures your shirts look exactly the way you pictured them.
Vector vs. Raster: The Two Types of Artwork Files
Vector files, such as AI, EPS, SVG, and vector PDFs, are built from mathematical paths rather than pixels. That means they can be scaled to any size without losing sharpness, whether your logo goes on a left chest or across a full back. Vector artwork is the preferred format for methods that rely on clean, separated colors.
Raster files, such as PNG, JPG, TIFF, and PSD, are made of pixels. They work well for photographs, gradients, and detailed illustrations, but they have a fixed resolution. Enlarge a small raster image and the edges turn soft and jagged. For raster artwork, the standard is 300 DPI at the actual print size, not 300 DPI at postcard size stretched to fill a shirt.
Whichever type you use, save your design with a transparent background. A white box around your logo will print as a white box on a colored shirt, and it is one of the most common mistakes printers see.
Which Format Works Best for Each Printing Method
Screen printing uses a separate screen for each color, so artwork needs to be separated into solid spot colors. Vector files make this process fast and precise, and they keep fine lines and small text crisp.
Direct-to-garment printing works like an inkjet printer for fabric, so it handles full-color raster images beautifully. A high-resolution PNG at 300 DPI with a transparent background is ideal.
DTF prints your design onto a special transfer film that is then heat-pressed onto the garment. Like DTG, it accepts full-color raster files, and a clean 300 DPI PNG gives the sharpest edges and most vibrant results.
Embroidery is different. Before custom embroidery t-shirts can be produced, your design must be digitized into a stitch file, such as DST, that tells the machine where each stitch goes. Supplying a clean vector logo makes digitizing easier and more accurate, especially for small lettering.
The right file format and resolution are the foundation of a great custom shirt. Send vector files whenever possible, use 300 DPI at print size for raster images, and always remove the background. If you’re unsure whether your file is print-ready, ask your printer to review it before production. A quick check now prevents disappointment later.