Help
T-shirt design guidelines for better prints
Good artwork makes a good print. Follow these guidelines before you upload, and your design will look sharper, feel softer and last longer.
Why these t-shirt design guidelines matter
Most of our online orders are printed by DTF (direct to film) printing. It keeps prices low and handles full colour well. These t-shirt design guidelines are written for DTF, and most of them help with any print method.
If we think your design has a serious quality problem, we will contact you before we print.
The basics
What makes a great print
Four things make the biggest difference to how your design looks and feels.
File formats and backgrounds
Send PNG files where you can. Build your artwork on a transparent background with solid colours for the best result.
We remove white backgrounds automatically, so you do not get a white box printed on your shirt. If you want the white kept, tell us in the order notes.
Watch out for soft edges and fades
Removing a white background does not make soft effects transparent. Drop shadows, glows, smoke and fades all cause problems.
Take a grey shadow fading into white. Printed on a black t-shirt, the faded edge turns into a harsh, chalky white halo instead of blending in.
Background removal
We remove simple, plain background colours at no extra cost. Backgrounds with shading, several colours or objects need more editing, and we charge for that.
Design details to avoid
These are the problems we see most often. Avoid them and your print will come out as you expect.
- Very thin lines. DTF glue needs enough surface to bond, so hairline details will not stick securely.
- Transparency under 100%. DTF lays a solid white base under the colours. See-through pixels print as white or muddy patches, so make every colour 100% solid.
- Low resolution. A small image stretched to fit a t-shirt prints pixelated and blurry. If it looks blurry on screen, it will print blurry.
- Big blocks of print on thin shirts. A solid photo on a lightweight 150gsm t-shirt makes a heavy patch that does not feel good to wear.
- Large white areas on coloured garments. Use the garment colour in your design instead. You can still have a big design with less ink.
Choosing a garment for heavy prints
If your design covers a lot of the garment, such as a full colour photo, choose a heavier t-shirt, sweatshirt or hoodie. Thicker fabric supports a solid print more comfortably. Our guide to choosing a t-shirt lists the weights.
Sizes, text and colour
| Detail | Guideline |
|---|---|
| Typical adult front print | About 24cm wide by 36cm tall |
| Maximum DTF print area | 29.7cm x 40cm |
| Minimum text size | 14pt, and check thin parts of the letters |
| Resolution | 300 dpi ideal, 150 dpi minimum, at print size |
| File type | PNG on a transparent background |
Screen colours and ink colours
Screens show colour with light (RGB), while we print with ink (CMYK). Very bright neon screen colours cannot be matched exactly and will print a little more muted.
If you need bright neon colours or an exact brand colour, contact us before you order. Screen printing can mix Pantone colours and fluorescent inks.
Working with photos
A dark photo with unclear subjects will print no better. Use photos with good lighting, focus and contrast. Photos print best on white garments.
Artwork questions
How do I check my image resolution?
Look at the image size in pixels. At 300 dpi, a 24cm wide print needs an image about 2,800 pixels wide. If in doubt, send it to us and we will advise.
Is anything in the online designer low quality?
No. Text and clipart from the online designer are always good quality. Only uploaded images need checking.
Can you fix my artwork for me?
We can remove simple backgrounds for free and advise on resolution. For artwork that needs redrawing, our design help starts from £25.
Artwork ready?
Upload it in the online designer and see it on your garment, or send it to us for a quote.