What file format is best for screen printing?

Screen printing is a popular method for creating custom apparel, promotional items, and more. To achieve the best results, it's essential to use the appropriate file formats and ensure your artwork is properly prepared. In this blog post, we'll discuss the best file formats for screen printing, how to make a file ready for screen printing, ideal resolutions and DPI, and compare different file formats for shirt printing.

How do I Make a File Ready for Screen Printing?

To prepare a file for screen printing, follow these steps:

1. Choose a high-quality, high-resolution image or design, preferably in a vector format.
2. Separate your design into individual layers or colors, as each color requires a separate screen for printing.
3. Convert all text to outlines or curves to avoid font-related issues during the printing process.
4. Save your artwork in a file format recommended by your printer or print service provider.
5. Consult with your printer for any specific requirements or recommendations based on your design and chosen printing method.

Best File Type for T-Shirt Printing

Vector formats, such as AI, EPS, or SVG, are ideal for t-shirt printing. Vector files are scalable without losing quality, ensuring crisp and clear prints at any size. Additionally, vector files allow for easy editing and color adjustments, making them suitable for various printing methods, including screen printing, direct-to-garment, and heat transfer.

Best Resolution for T-Shirt Printing

For t-shirt printing, a resolution of 300 DPI (dots per inch) is recommended to ensure high-quality prints with sharp details. Lower resolutions may result in blurry or pixelated prints, while higher resolutions may be unnecessary and increase file size without noticeable improvements in print quality.

Best DPI for Shirt Printing

When it comes to shirt printing, a DPI (dots per inch) of 300 is ideal. This provides a good balance between print quality and file size, ensuring sharp and detailed prints without excessive file sizes or processing times.

Can you Screen Print a PNG File?

While it's possible to screen print a PNG file, it's not the ideal format for this purpose. PNG is a raster format, which means it may lose quality when scaled, resulting in pixelated or blurry prints. If you must use a PNG file for screen printing, ensure that it's high-resolution and properly sized for the desired print area. However, vector formats like AI, EPS, or SVG are recommended for the best print quality.

Is JPG or PNG Better for Shirt Printing?

Between JPG and PNG, PNG is generally better for shirt printing. PNG files offer lossless compression, which preserves image quality, while JPG files use lossy compression, potentially resulting in a loss of detail. However, both formats are raster-based and may not be ideal for screen printing or other high-quality printing methods. Vector formats like AI, EPS, or SVG are the preferred choice for the best print results.

Is TIFF or PNG Better for Printing?

For printing purposes, TIFF is generally a better choice than PNG. TIFF files support lossless compression and can store high-resolution images with greater color depth, resulting in higher-quality prints. However, keep in mind that both TIFF and PNG are raster formats and may not be as suitable for screen printing as vector formats like AI, EPS, or SVG.

In conclusion, vector file formats such as AI, EPS, or SVG are the best choice for screen printing, providing superior scalability and print quality. Raster formats like PNG or TIFF can be used, but may not yield the same level of quality. Consult with your printer or print service provider to determine the specific file requirements and recommendations for your screen printing project.

We are happy to help you on your way with vectorizing your photo or image You send us the photo in JPG, PNG or PDF and we convert the logo into an EPS vector file using Adobe Illustrator. We use the pen tool and recreate the logo manually with the correct fonts. Then we export the new vector logo in an EPS file so you can get started!

Vector file for shirt printing

Advantages of vector file creation by Logovector:

• Perfect quality (Made by designers with 10+ years of experience)
• We vectorize images, photos, logos and drawings
• Fast delivery within 10 hours
• All necessary file types: EPS, AI, SVG, PDF
• Very easy to order via the website
• Small adjustments are possible 
• One-time payment (very attractive price)