Understanding Artwork Files

We know artwork files can be confusing. Just because an image looks good on your phone doesn’t mean it will print well on a shirt. Here’s a clear guide to the types of files we can use, examples of what they are, and why they matter.

What Is an Artwork File?

An artwork file is a digital version of your design that can be used in production—meaning we can use it to print, embroider, or cut your design onto shirts, hoodies, bags, and more. This is the file you (or someone you hired) export from a designing software.

It’s different from a photo or screenshot. A photo of your logo or a shirt you already have is not an artwork file. It might help show us what you want, but it doesn’t contain the actual design elements we need to do the job right.

Color Profiles

When creating digital artwork for apparel, it’s important to know that colors don’t always look the same on screen as they do when printed. That’s because screens use one color system—RGB (Red, Green, Blue)—while printing uses another—CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black).

If your file is in RGB, it might look super bright and vibrant on your device, but those colors can shift slightly when converted for print. For the most accurate results, we recommend submitting files in CMYK color mode if possible. That said, we’re always happy to convert files on our end if needed. Just keep in mind that there might be small differences between what you see on your screen and the final printed product.

Common File Types We Accept

Vector Files

Best for: DTF, screen printing, vinyl, embroidery, and anything that needs crisp, scalable detail.

• File types: .AI (Adobe Illustrator), .EPS, .SVG, .PDF, and .AFDESIGN (Affinity Designer)

• What they are: Vector files are made of paths and shapes, not pixels. That means they can be resized without losing quality, making them ideal for clean edges and precise detail.

• Good Example: A logo created in Illustrator or Affinity Designer, saved as an .AI or .AFDESIGN file. We can scale it for a left chest print, a full back, or even a banner with no fuzziness.

• Also useful: Vector files can be color-separated easily for allowing us to isolate or edit parts of your design if needed.

• Not an example: A screenshot or flattened image that’s been saved as a .PDF. If it looks blurry when zoomed in, it’s not truly vector—even if the file extension says it is.

High-Resolution Raster Files

Best for: full-color prints like DTF or sublimation (as long as the resolution is high enough).

• File types: .PNG, .JPG, .TIFF

• What they are: Raster images are made of pixels. They work well for detailed images and photos, but need to be high resolution to print clearly—at least 300 DPI at the size you want printed.

• Good Example: A PNG that’s 12 inches wide at 300 DPI, with a transparent background. Perfect for a full-front print or graphic-heavy design.

• Also useful: Raster files are great when your design includes gradients, photos, or textures that can't be recreated with simple shapes.

• Not an example: A 2-inch image pulled from a website or screenshot of a design. These are usually low-res and become blurry or pixelated when resized.

Embroidery Files

Best for: embroidery only. These are not usable for printing.

• File types: .DST, .PES, .EXP (among others)

• What they are: Digitized stitch files that tell the embroidery machine how to sew the design.

• Example: A .DST file created specifically for embroidery with the right stitch paths.

• Not an example: A PDF or PNG of the logo—we can use it as a reference, but it still needs to be digitized first.

What Is a Transparent Background?

A transparent background means your artwork has no white box or colored background behind it. Just the design, clean and floating—ready to go on any shirt color.

• Good Example: A PNG file opened in design software that shows a checkerboard pattern behind the artwork (that checkerboard = transparency).

• Bad Example: A logo on a white square. When printed, that white box will show up unless it’s removed.

But be careful: Some images look like they have a transparent background because someone added a fake checkerboard pattern to the image itself. If you see the checkerboard in a screenshot or in your phone’s gallery, it might just be part of the picture—not a true transparency.

A true transparent background:

• Only shows the checkerboard in design software like Photoshop, Illustrator, Canva Pro, Affinity Designer, or apps that support transparency.

• Will not have a visible background when placed onto a colored background in editing software.

• Looks like it floats without a square around it when placed into Canva or onto a colored slide in Google Slides, Keynote, etc.

Ways to Check for True Transparency

On a Computer:

• Open the file in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Affinity Designer, or Canva Pro.

• Look for the checkerboard background (not a white one).

• Drag the file onto a colored background (e.g., PowerPoint slide or image editor). If you see no box around it, it’s transparent.

On a Phone or Tablet:

• Use design apps like Canva (Pro version), Procreate, or Adobe Express.

• Add the file onto a colored background to test. If the file shows a square around it, it’s not transparent.

• In some phone gallery apps, a transparent PNG may appear with a white or black background depending on your system’s settings or theme. If it changes from white to black when switching apps or settings, that’s a good sign it may have a transparent background.

• That said, phone photo viewers don’t always display transparency correctly—so don’t rely solely on what your phone shows.

Pro Tip: If you're unsure, email us the file and we'll check for you.

❌ What’s NOT an Artwork File

We love references, but these don’t work for actual production:

• A picture of a printed shirt

• A screenshot of your design from Instagram

• A photo of a drawing on paper

• A file pasted into a Word document

• A blurry web image pulled from Google

• A Canva file with no download options (we need the exported file!)

These might help us understand what you want, but we’ll need to recreate or trace them for production—which can take extra time and sometimes an extra fee.

How to Make It Easier

• If you worked with a designer, ask them for the original file.

• If you're unsure, send us what you have and we’ll let you know what we can use.

• We offer in-house file cleanup or recreation if needed.

• We can help you export your Canva, Procreate, or other design app files the right way.

Want to make sure your design prints perfectly? Start with the right file. We’re happy to guide you through it—just ask!