How to Prepare Your Logo for Custom Printing: File Formats Explained

You’ve spent time and money creating the perfect logo for your business. Now you’re ready to put it on t-shirts, stickers, hats, and promotional products. But when you send your logo file to a printer, they ask for a “vector file” or mention something about “resolution” and “transparent backgrounds.”

Sound familiar? You’re not alone.

At Little 6 Industries, we receive logo files every single day. Moreover, we’ve seen everything from perfect print-ready files to pixelated screenshots that simply won’t work. Consequently, we created this guide to help you understand exactly what you need—and why it matters.

🎨 Why Your Logo File Format Actually Matters

Here’s the thing: not all logo files are created equal. A logo that looks perfect on your website might print terribly on a t-shirt. Additionally, what works great for social media could turn into a blurry mess on a banner.

The difference? File format and resolution.

Think of it this way: imagine trying to blow up a photo from your phone to billboard size. It would look pixelated and blurry, right? Similarly, that’s exactly what happens when you try to print a low-resolution logo on physical products.

📁 The Four Logo File Formats You Need to Know

Let’s break down the four main file formats you’ll encounter when preparing your logo for printing. Furthermore, we’ll explain when to use each one and why.

1. PNG (Portable Network Graphics)

Best for: Web use, digital mockups, and DTF transfers on dark garments

PNG files are probably what you’re most familiar with. In fact, they’re everywhere online because they support transparent backgrounds. However, here’s what you need to know for printing:

• ✅ Supports transparent backgrounds (crucial for DTF transfers!)
• ✅ Good color quality
• ✅ Works on most platforms
• ❌ Resolution-dependent (can get pixelated when enlarged)
• ❌ Large file sizes

Minimum requirements for printing:

• Resolution: 300 DPI (dots per inch) minimum
• Dimensions: At least 2x the final print size
• Transparent background: Essential for DTF transfers

2. SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics)

Best for: Laser engraving, vinyl cutting, and designs that need to scale

SVG files are vector files, meaning they’re made of mathematical paths rather than pixels. Consequently, they can be enlarged infinitely without losing quality. That’s huge for printing!

• ✅ Infinite scalability (tiny sticker to giant banner—no quality loss)
• ✅ Small file size
• ✅ Perfect for laser engraving
• ✅ Easy to edit colors
• ❌ Not supported by all printers
• ❌ Can’t handle photos or gradients well

When you absolutely need SVG:

• Laser engraving projects
• Die-cut stickers (especially complex shapes)
• Large format printing (banners, signs)
• When you need multiple sizes of the same logo

3. PDF (Portable Document Format)

Best for: Professional printing, preserving design integrity

PDF files are the gold standard in professional printing. Similarly to other formats, they can contain both raster (pixel-based) and vector elements. Therefore, they’re incredibly versatile.

• ✅ Preserves fonts and colors accurately
• ✅ Can embed vector and raster elements
• ✅ Universal format (everyone can open it)
• ✅ Maintains transparency
• ❌ Can be large file size
• ❌ Harder to edit

Pro tip: When saving a PDF for printing, always choose “High Quality Print” or “Press Quality” settings. This ensures your logo maintains its crispness.

4. JPG/JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)

Best for: Photo-based designs, quick previews

JPG files are great for photographs but problematic for logos. Here’s why:

• ✅ Small file size
• ✅ Universal compatibility
• ❌ No transparent background (always has a white or colored box)
• ❌ Lossy compression (quality degrades each time you save)
• ❌ Not ideal for solid colors and text

Bottom line: JPG is your last resort for logo printing. Nevertheless, if it’s all you have, make sure it’s at least 300 DPI and the largest size possible.

🔍 Resolution 101: DPI vs PPI

You’ve probably heard printers mention “DPI” or “resolution.” Let’s demystify this once and for all.

DPI (Dots Per Inch): How many ink dots a printer puts in one inch of paper

PPI (Pixels Per Inch): How many pixels fit in one inch of a digital image

For printing, you need 300 DPI minimum. Anything less will look pixelated or blurry. In contrast, website images are typically 72 DPI—perfect for screens but terrible for printing.

Quick Resolution Check:

Here’s how to check if your logo is high enough resolution for printing:

1. Open your logo file in any image viewer
2. Zoom in to 200% or more
3. Look closely at the edges

What you want to see: Crisp, clean edges with no jagged pixels

What’s a problem: Blurry edges, visible pixels, or “stair-stepping” on curves

✨ The Transparent Background: Why It’s Non-Negotiable

This is huge for DTF transfers, stickers, and most custom printing applications.

A transparent background means your logo has no white (or colored) box around it. Instead, only the logo itself prints, allowing it to blend seamlessly onto any colored garment or surface.

Why Transparent Backgrounds Matter:

• DTF Transfers: Without transparency, you’ll have an ugly white rectangle around your logo on colored shirts
• Stickers: Die-cut stickers follow the shape of your logo—impossible without transparency
• Overlays: Logos placed over photos or colored backgrounds need transparency

Which formats support transparency?

• ✅ PNG – Yes
• ✅ SVG – Yes
• ✅ PDF – Yes (if saved correctly)
• ❌ JPG – No (always has a background)

🎨 RGB vs CMYK: Color Modes Explained

Here’s another technical detail that makes a big difference in how your logo looks when printed.

RGB (Red, Green, Blue)

• Used for: Screens, websites, digital displays
• How it works: Light-based colors
• Color range: Wider, more vibrant

CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black)

• Used for: Professional printing
• How it works: Ink-based colors
• Color range: Narrower, more muted

Most logos are created in RGB because that’s what looks good on screens. However, professional printers often use CMYK. Consequently, your logo might look slightly different when printed than it does on your screen.

The good news? At Little 6 Industries, our DTF printing process uses specialized inks that closely match RGB colors. Therefore, what you see on screen is very close to what you get on the shirt. Nevertheless, slight variations are normal and expected.

📤 What to Send Your Printer: The Perfect Package

Now that you understand file formats, resolution, and transparency, here’s exactly what to send when you order custom printing:

The Perfect Print-Ready Package:

1. Primary file: SVG or PDF (vector format preferred)
2. Backup file: High-resolution PNG with transparent background (300 DPI minimum)
3. Color codes: Hex codes or Pantone numbers for brand colors
4. Size specification: How large you want the logo printed (in inches)
5. Placement notes: Where on the garment/product (left chest, full front, etc.)

🚫 7 Common Logo File Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)

After processing thousands of orders, here are the most common mistakes we see:

1. Sending a Screenshot

Why it’s bad: Screenshots are 72 DPI and will print blurry
Fix: Always get the original file from your designer

2. Using a Logo from Your Website

Why it’s bad: Web images are compressed and low-resolution
Fix: Request high-resolution files specifically for printing

3. No Transparent Background

Why it’s bad: Creates a white box around your logo
Fix: Use PNG, SVG, or PDF with transparency enabled

4. Wrong Color Mode (RGB when CMYK needed)

Why it’s bad: Colors may shift slightly when printed
Fix: Ask your printer which color mode they prefer (we use RGB-optimized DTF inks!)

5. File is Too Small

Why it’s bad: Can’t be enlarged without becoming pixelated
Fix: Always provide files at least 2x your intended print size

6. Using Word or PowerPoint Files

Why it’s bad: These aren’t image files and don’t preserve quality
Fix: Export as PDF or PNG before sending

7. Sending Multiple Versions Without Labels

Why it’s bad: We don’t know which one to use
Fix: Clearly label your files: “Logo_FINAL_HighRes_Transparent.png”

💼 Don’t Have Your Files? How to Get Them

If your logo was professionally designed, your designer should have these files. Here’s exactly what to ask for:

Email Template to Send Your Designer:

Hi [Designer Name],

I need to order some custom printed products with my logo. Could you please send me the following files?

• Vector file (SVG, AI, or EPS format)
• High-resolution PNG with transparent background (300 DPI minimum, at least 10 inches wide)
• PDF version (high quality/press quality)
• Brand color codes (Hex or Pantone)

Thank you!

Most professional designers will have these ready to send. In fact, you may have already received them when you paid for your logo—check your email archives!

🖨️ How Little 6 Industries Handles Your Logo Files

When you upload your logo to our system, here’s what happens behind the scenes:

1. Automatic quality check: Our system flags low-resolution or problematic files
2. Transparency verification: We ensure your file has a transparent background (critical for DTF)
3. Color preview: You see an accurate preview of how your logo will print
4. Human review: Lindsay or Matt personally reviews every file before printing
5. Proof approval: We send you a proof to approve before production starts

What if my file isn’t perfect? We’ll contact you with specific feedback and help you get a print-ready file. Additionally, we offer free design consultation to ensure your logo prints beautifully.

📋 Quick Reference Guide: Logo File Formats

Format	Best For	Transparency	Scalable	Min Resolution
PNG	DTF transfers, web	✅ Yes	❌ No	300 DPI
SVG	Laser, vinyl cutting	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	N/A (vector)
PDF	Professional printing	✅ Yes	✅ Yes (if vector)	300 DPI
JPG	Last resort only	❌ No	❌ No	300 DPI

🎯 Ready to Print Your Logo?

Now you understand exactly what makes a logo print-ready:

• ✅ High resolution (300 DPI minimum)
• ✅ Correct file format (PNG, SVG, or PDF preferred)
• ✅ Transparent background (essential for most applications)
• ✅ Large enough file size (at least 2x your print size)

Don’t let file formats intimidate you. At Little 6 Industries, we’re here to help you navigate the technical stuff so you can focus on building your brand.

Need help with your logo files? We offer free design consultation for all customers. Whether you’re ordering DTF transfers, custom stickers, laser engraving, or UV printing, we’ll make sure your logo looks perfect.