ARTWORK GUIDE

How to Prepare Artwork for Custom Printing

Good artwork makes a big difference to the finished print. Whether your design comes from a graphic designer, Canva, an AI image generator or something you've created yourself, here's how to prepare the best possible file for printing.

What file types can I upload?

Digitees accepts PNG, PDF, SVG, SVGZ, JPG and JPEG artwork files.

The best format depends on the type of artwork. Vector files are ideal for logos, text and simple graphics, while a high-resolution PNG is often a good choice for detailed or photographic artwork.

What resolution should artwork be for printing?

For raster artwork such as PNG or JPG files, we recommend 300dpi at approximately the size you want the design printed.

The important thing isn't just the DPI number — the actual pixel dimensions of the image matter too. Simply changing a small 72dpi or 96dpi image to 300dpi doesn't create extra detail or make a low-resolution image print quality.

Approx. print width	Image width at 300dpi
10 cm	About 1,180 pixels
20 cm	About 2,360 pixels
30 cm	About 3,540 pixels
40 cm	About 4,720 pixels

If your image is much smaller than the size needed for your intended print, enlarging it can result in soft, blurry or pixelated artwork.

Don't use a screenshot if you have the original file

Screenshots are one of the most common causes of low-resolution artwork.

If you've created or received a design online, download the original artwork file wherever possible rather than taking a screenshot of it on your phone or computer.

The same applies to images from email, social media and messaging apps, which may have been resized or compressed.

How to prepare AI-generated artwork for T-shirt printing

AI image generators can create fantastic artwork, but an image that looks sharp on your phone or computer isn't necessarily ready for garment printing.

One of the most common problems we now see is AI-generated artwork supplied as a small screen-resolution image, screenshot or design with a background that the customer didn't intend to have printed.

Generate the largest image you can

When using an AI image generator, choose the highest-quality or largest image option available. Download the actual generated image rather than taking a screenshot of the result.

Ask for a transparent background

If you want the design itself printed directly onto the garment, rather than a rectangular image, ask the AI tool to create the artwork with a transparent background if it supports this.

You can also describe the artwork as an isolated design and make it clear that you don't want a T-shirt mock-up, room, scenery or coloured background included.

Useful AI prompt wording:
“Create an isolated design for T-shirt printing, transparent background, no mock-up, no T-shirt, no scenery and no background outside the artwork.”

Not every AI tool follows transparency instructions perfectly, so check the downloaded file before submitting it.

Be careful with AI-generated text

Check all wording carefully. AI-generated images can contain misspelled words, malformed letters, inconsistent fonts and tiny details that look convincing at first glance but aren't actually correct.

For important wording, names, dates or business information, it is often better to add the text separately using proper design software rather than relying on the AI generator to create it as part of the image.

Check the edges and background

Zoom in around the edges of your artwork before uploading it. AI images can contain faint halos, stray pixels, shadows, unwanted objects and partially removed backgrounds.

These can be difficult to notice on a white computer screen but may become much more obvious once the artwork is printed onto a coloured garment.

AI upscaling can help — but it isn't magic

Some AI tools can enlarge or upscale a small image. This can improve the usable size of artwork, but the software is creating new detail rather than recovering detail that existed in the original.

Always check an upscaled image carefully for altered faces, lettering, fine lines, textures or other details before using it for printing.

Does my artwork need a transparent background?

It depends on what you want printed.

If a white, coloured or photographic background is intentionally part of your design, leave it in the artwork.

If you only want the logo, lettering or illustration printed, the unwanted background should normally be removed.

PNG files can support transparent backgrounds. JPG files cannot, so a JPG will always have a background filling the rectangular image area.

What is vector artwork?

Vector artwork is made from mathematical shapes and paths rather than a fixed grid of pixels. This means it can be enlarged without becoming pixelated.

Vector artwork is particularly useful for logos, lettering and simple graphics, and is often required for screen printing and embroidery setup.

SVG and some PDF files can contain vector artwork, but simply saving a low-resolution image inside a PDF or SVG file doesn't turn it into a true vector.

Can I use artwork made in Canva?

Yes. Canva can be used to create artwork for custom printing.

When exporting your finished design, use the highest-quality suitable download option available. If your Canva plan allows transparent backgrounds and you don't want a background printed, export the artwork with transparency enabled.

Check that all text, images and design elements appear correctly in the downloaded file before uploading it to Digitees.

How large can my design be printed?

Our standard maximum print area is approximately 40 × 45 cm, although the practical print size also depends on the garment, print position and artwork.

Smaller garments and some print locations may have a smaller available print area.

Check your artwork before uploading

Before submitting your design, zoom in and check:

spelling, names and dates
image quality and sharpness
that the background is intentional
small text and fine details
stray pixels or unwanted objects
the edges of background-removed artwork
that nothing important has been cropped
that the colours and overall design look as expected

What if my artwork isn't print ready?

Don't repeatedly screenshot, resize or convert a poor-quality file trying to make it print ready. Each additional step can make it harder to work with.

Send us the best-quality original file you have. We can often remove simple backgrounds at no charge and can let you know if the artwork needs further work before it can be printed.

Getting the best print from your artwork

Start with the largest, cleanest original artwork available and avoid screenshots wherever possible. For raster artwork, aim for approximately 300dpi at the intended print size. For logos and simple graphics, vector artwork is ideal where available.

And if you're creating artwork with AI, remember that looking sharp on a screen isn't the same as being print ready. Check the image size, background, edges, lettering and fine details before submitting it.