Artwork Tips
 For dye sublimation or heat transfer, it's all about the art work. The basic
rule of thumb for artwork is: the better quality you provide us, the better
quality we can output for you. (This general rule applies to all submitted
art--whether it's for sublimation, screen printing or embroidery.)
Therefore:
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original art work or original photo will yield the
best result. Scanning from a print of the original yields second generation art,
etc.
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JPG files sized correctly are sufficient. Other file
types we accept are PSD, TIFF, GIF, EPS, BMP, CDR and PDF.
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The resolution of electronic artwork should be
between 300 and 600 dpi, and must be the same size or larger than the final
product. The resolution cannot be increased in an existing TIFF, EPS or PDF
file. If necessary, rescan and resave the art at the proper dpi.
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Letterheads are likely to be workable for 1-color
printing. Faxes and photocopies are not considered camera ready and will need to
be reworked.
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Images in MS Word or images taken from the Internet
(saved in a web compressed format) will need to be reworked and may require
additional art time.
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EPS must be CREATED in vector file format (i.e.,
created in Adobe Illustrator, Corel Draw, or Freehand). Importing a non-vector
image (such as a JPG or TIFF) to EPS then saving it as EPS does not make it an
EPS file.
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The best artwork is 15% larger than actual product
size.
For screen-printing, camera-ready artwork is recommended.
For more details about submitting artwork, please download our
Digital Art Standards
PDF or follow these links:
Artwork Submission Guidelines
Artwork Quality Factors
Artwork Readiness Index
Artwork Recommended Formats
In all cases, Image Wizard graphic artists can work with you to get your images
in shape. Please contact us about pricing for these services. If you are unsure
if your artwork is ready, we'll gladly take a look at it and inform you of any
changes that may be needed, free of charge. Click here
to contact us.
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Embroidery Tips
For embroidery, it's all about stitch count, i.e. the number of stitches it
takes to sew a design or logo.
Estimating Stitch Count
Here is an easy way to estimate the amount of stitches you’ll need for
great-looking logos.
• Use a 1/4 inch by 1/4/ inch graph paper.
• Cut out your artwork and place it over the graph
paper.
• Count the number of boxes it fills, and multiply
that number by 125. The result is your estimated stitch count.
Points to Remember
• 1 solid square inch of embroidery equals approximately 2,000 stitches.
• 1 solid square 1/4 inch of embroidery will equal about 125 stitches.
• No letter should be smaller than 3/16". Each letter 1/4" in height equals
about 100 stitches.
• Drop shadows in your logo will translate to 200 extra stitches per inch.
• Straight lines under logos typically require 200 extra stitches per inch.
• Fabrics, colors, and artwork detail will affect the amount of stitches.
It is important to remember that these stitch-count tips provide estimates only.
They are a good starting point to arrive at a ballpark count, but the precise
figure can only be determined when the actual embroidery of your design is
performed.
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Screen Print Tips
For screen printing, it's all about numbers: number of
colors and number of locations. The higher the numbers, the greater the cost.
How To Save Money On Screen Printing
1. Limit the number of colors you wish to print. Fewer colors require fewer
screen set-ups and less time to print additional colors.
2. Limit the number of locations on the t-shirt. Additional screen and printing
charges apply if you want to add additional locations.
3. Order white or light colored t-shirts. T-shirt mills charge more for dark
colors and printing on dark shirts often require printing a white "underlay" to
avoid the dark t-shirt color bleeding through the design.
4. The More You Buy, The More You Save. Order in large quantities and your price
per t-shirt can go down dramatically.
5. Do not compromise on quality - always order 100% cotton, brand name,
heavyweight t-shirts.
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