General Art Requirements

Accepted Graphic File Formats

• Adobe Illustrator CS5

• Corel Draw x5

• Adobe Photoshop CS5

• EPS (Encapsulated Post Script)

• BMP and TIFF

Adobe Illustrator files are accepted in any version up to Adobe Illustrator (CS5). Like Corel Draw, Adobe Illustrator files are stored in a vector based file format and produce outstanding results when used for screen printing or embroidery. Adobe Illustrator files can also be resized without losing any resolution and as such a small image can be resized to the proper size for apparel printing without losing any of their detail or crispness. AI files should be saved using specific Pantone Solid Coated Colors (preferred) or in 8 bit RGB colors.

Corel Draw files are accepted in any version up to Corel Draw x5. Corel Draw is a vector based program. Vector based file formats save the mathematical information required for the program to redraw the image at any size while keeping the file information at a high resolution. This gives an ideal image to work with for screen printing and embroidery. Files should be saved using specific Pantone Solid Coated colors (preferred) or in RGB 8 bit colors.

Photoshop files with specific requirements are accepted.  Photoshop CS5 files must be saved at the actual size to be printed at 300 dpi resolution, RGB 8 bit color mode. If you are having the file created from scratch we prefer to receive the file with the different art layers still intact and the background color on it’s own layer – so that your artwork, when viewed with the background layer turned off, is on a transparent background.

We output all films through a RIP (raster image processor).  As such we prefer to receive Photoshop files in their native format mode, not bitmapped.  A bitmapped Photoshop file takes away all of the control a screen printer has over the output of the file, and also precludes us from being able to make adjustments in curves and levels to your channel separation to get the best print.

Because Photoshop is a raster based program, any resizing of the image will reduce the resolution of the image and will result in a lower image quality when screen printed.  To get the best quality, we recommend creating Photoshop art at print size, 300 dpi and leaving all layer information should be left intact upon file submission.

Lower resolution images ( 72 dpi) that have been up sampled to 300 dpi will simply take a poor quality image and make it a high resolution poor quality image – the original file needs to be high resolution!

EPS files are accepted and can be generated from many other professional quality graphic imaging creation programs. EPS files need to be saved in the following manner: EPS (DCS2) file format, Composite should be TIF 8 bits/pixel, Single File DCS with no composite, binary encoding.

Like Photoshop files, BMP and TIFF files save their information as a raster image (meaning they save the pixel information in the file). Accordingly,

BMP and TIFF files can be used if they are created with the following parameters: 300 dpi resolution, image size created at the final print, 8 bit RGB color mode.

It should be noted that resizing a high resolution image so that it will display or print at a larger size will diminish the final print quality as this lowers the resolution of the image. Also lower resolution images (72 dpi) that have been up sampled to 300 dpi will simply take a poor quality image and make it a high resolution – poor quality image – the original file needs to be high resolution to get the best prints!

What about JPEG,JPG,PNG and GIF?

While these file formats are very popular, they were designed originally to be displayed on computer monitors. Because of their low resolution and small download sizes, jpg, png, and gif formats are used extensively throughout the web; however, they do not produce acceptable results when used as the basis for screen printing unless they are high resolution (you can have a jpeg that was created at 300 dpi – however, most programs that make jpgs images will automatically save them at 72 dpi please see your specific graphics program documentation. If the only file that you have is a JPEG or GIF file our art department can work with you to recreate the image in an acceptable file format. Art charges will normally apply depending on the complexity of the design submitted. Please feel free to call or e-mail us for more details.

Maximum Print Sizes

• Standard Print – 14.75w x 18.00h inches maximum, up to 8 colors
• All Over Print Size – Coming Soon
• Maximum Print on Ladies garments – Standard Print size or All Over Print
• Maximum Print Size on sleeve – 3.75w x 15h inches
• Maximum Print size on beaters, tank tops and other non-standard garments will be determined by the garment itself.  Please let us know what your intention is and we will let you know what can be done based on the garment chosen.