The Rule: 300 DPI (dots per inch) for quality printing

Quick Math: Desired print size (inches) × 300 = pixels needed

✗ FAIL: 1024 × 1024 pixels for 12-inch print (will be pixelated)

✓ PASS: 3600 × 3600 pixels for 12-inch print, or upscaled 3-4x using proper tools

The Test:

1. Open your image file
2. Look for a checkerboard pattern behind the design
3. OR: Import into design software and check for transparency layer

Common mistake: White background looks transparent on screen but prints as a white rectangle around your design

✗ FAIL: White or colored background saved in JPG format

✓ PASS: True transparency (checkerboard visible) saved as PNG

Red Flags to Look For:

• Disney character features (Mickey ears, princess silhouettes)
• Sports team logos or color combinations
• Swoosh or similar athletic brand marks
• Superhero emblems or silhouettes
• Star Wars, Harry Potter, Marvel/DC elements
• Band logos or album art
• Any logo you’d recognize from a real company

The “Friend Test”: Show it to someone and ask “Does this remind you of anything?” If they name a brand, character, or franchise—don’t print it.

✗ FAIL: “Inspired by” superhero with recognizable costume elements

✓ PASS: Original character with no recognizable brand elements

Check These:

• Spelling: AI-generated text is often garbled. “BIRTHDAY GIRL” becomes “BIRTDHAY GRIL”
• Readability: Can you read it from 6 feet away? If not, it’s too small or low contrast
• Size: Minimum 0.25 inches tall (about 18pt) for legibility
• Contrast: Text must contrast with background (dark on light or light on dark)
• Font quality: Is text crisp or blurry/pixelated?

Pro tip: If AI generated the text, assume it’s wrong. Add text properly using Canva instead.

✗ FAIL: AI-generated text with spelling errors or illegible at print size

✓ PASS: Text added in Canva/Photoshop with correct spelling, good size, strong contrast

What to Know:

• RGB vs CMYK: Screens use RGB (Red, Green, Blue). Some printing uses CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black). DTF printing uses RGB but colors may shift slightly on fabric.
• Bright colors: Neon/fluorescent colors on screen may print duller on fabric
• Very dark colors: Near-black colors may appear muddy or blend together
• White on dark shirts: White ink may need underbase; tell us if printing white on dark garments

Reality check: Colors will look slightly different on fabric than on screen. This is normal. Major shifts mean something’s wrong.

✓ Good practice: Keep colors vibrant but not extreme. Expect slight dulling on fabric. Trust your print shop to optimize color output.

Best Formats for Printing:

• PNG: Best for designs with transparency. No compression quality loss.
• PDF: Good for vector graphics and designs with text
• SVG: Perfect for simple vector designs (scales infinitely)
• High-quality JPG: Acceptable if no transparency needed, but save at maximum quality

Avoid:

• Low-quality JPG: Compression artifacts ruin print quality
• Screenshots: Always low resolution
• GIF: Limited colors, poor for printing
• WEBP: Not all print workflows support it

✗ FAIL: Screenshot saved as JPG at “web quality”

✓ PASS: Original PNG exported at highest quality, 300 DPI

DTF (Direct to Film) – What We Use:

• ✓ Full color, photographic images
• ✓ Complex gradients
• ✓ Fine details (within resolution limits)
• ✓ Unlimited colors
• ⚠ Very fine lines may thicken slightly
• ⚠ Extremely small text may blur

What to Avoid:

• Lines thinner than 1 pixel at print size
• Text smaller than 0.25 inches (6-7mm)
• Designs relying on ultra-fine detail invisible at arm’s length

✓ Good practice: View your design at actual print size on screen. If details disappear, they’ll disappear in print too.

How to Preview Actual Size:

1. Open design software (Canva, Photoshop, etc.)
2. Set canvas to actual print dimensions (e.g., 12″ × 12″)
3. View at 100% zoom
4. Step back 3-6 feet from screen
5. This is approximately how it will look on a shirt

What to Look For:

• Is text readable from 6 feet?
• Do important details show up?
• Does the composition work at this size?
• Any pixelation or blur visible?

Common mistake: Design looks perfect zoomed in but elements are too small or details invisible at actual print size

Common Placements:

• Left chest (pocket area): 3-4 inches, typically square or horizontal
• Full chest (front center): 10-12 inches, any orientation
• Full back: 12-14 inches, usually vertical or square
• Sleeve: 2-3 inches, typically horizontal

Design Considerations:

• Portrait (tall) designs work best for full chest/back
• Landscape (wide) designs work for chest, can work for back
• Square designs are most versatile
• Tell us if specific placement is critical to design impact

✓ Pro tip: Include placement preference in order notes. “This design is meant for full back, 13 inches tall”

Save These:

• Original AI prompts: You might need to regenerate
• Working files: Canva project, PSD, etc. with layers intact
• High-res exports: Multiple versions at different sizes
• Final print file: The exact file sent for printing

Why This Matters:

• Customer wants different colors → need working file
• Need larger size later → need to upscale or regenerate
• Want to fix text/element → need layered file
• Reorder in 6 months → need to find exact file again

Common mistake: Only saving flattened JPG, then needing to make changes and having to start over