Digital Artwork Guidelines

To get the best results possible when submitting your artwork for a digital transfer, follow the specifications below.

Preferred File Formats

CorelDraw®		 Version: 9 and above
File Extension: .cdr

Special Instructions: All artwork should be on the page.

Adobe Illustrator®		 Version: All are accepted; version 8 is preferred

File Extension: .eps (if using version 8 or higher, save the file as a version 8 .eps file)


Special Instructions: All artwork should be saved on the artboard.


- Please make sure the "Create PDF compatible file" option is checked when saving.


- If sending Mac Illustrator files, please make sure that the file extension is included in the file name.

Adobe Acrobat®		 Version: All
File Extension: .pdf

Note: All PDFs can contain vector and bitmap graphics/text.


- All text should be converted to curves.


- All artwork should be on the page.

File Extensions: .jpg, .bmp, .png, .gif, .psd, .tif

Special Instructions: For screen printed transfers, files will be used as guides from which the artwork will be recreated.


- Grayscale and full color bitmaps, such as photographs, usually can be used as provided for transfers.

Photoshop® &
Corel Photo Paint®

 Versions: All

Note: For screen printed transfers, these files will be used as guides from which the artwork will be recreated.


- Grayscale and full color bitmaps usually can be used as provided for digital transfers.

Microsoft Word®		 File Extensions: .doc, .txt

Note: These files may contain usable art or can be used as a guide for recreating the art.


- Files with the extension .txt should be used to submit typesetting lists.


Note: For any artwork created on a Mac, please make sure that the file type extension is included in the file name. For example: tigers.eps.

Vector Artwork
Vector artwork can be submitted to be printed as-is or with adjustments. You can also submit bitmap images which we can convert to vector format.

Resolution for Bitmap Images
Create and save your images at 300 ppi (pixels per inch) resolution and at the size you would like your design printed.


    How to Avoid Grainy Images
    Avoid enlarging your image whenever possible. Scaling the image up can cause pixelation.

    Most images on the web are created at 72 ppi, which is usually too low a resolution for printing.

Convert Text to Curves
For vector files, please convert all text to curves before sending the file. For Photoshop files, please rasterize/render all type layers before sending the file.


In this example, the text is "live" and can be edited with the Type Tool.


The text is now converted to curves and is outlined by nodes (or points).



Note: It is highly recommended that you support your file with a faxed/printed copy of your artwork, especially if it is vector artwork. The faxed copy will be used to ensure that the transmitted file is exactly what you wish to have printed.

It is always best to specify the size that the final image area should be, even if you save the file to size.

Colors
Digital transfers are printed in CMYK process colors (not spot colors like our screen printed transfers). Not all RGB colors can be rendered in CMYK, therefore, you should convert the file before sending your file.




(Note: Images on web sites are usually created in RGB colors).

Special Effects
Our digital transfers can reproduce multi-color fades and other special effects within your artwork. All fades, colors, effects, etc., should be set up in process CMYK colors.

Sending Artwork
Artwork can be sent through our website or on disk. However, most bitmap files set at a high resolution (300 ppi) will be large in file size. Unless you have a high speed connection, you may want to send high resolution images through standard postal mail on CD or Zip disk.

   
Mailing Instructions		                                            
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