Guidelines for Screen Printed Artwork

Want to see your design on a screen printed transfer? Follow these steps.

Preferred File Formats
Screen printed transfers require vector artwork. Vector artwork can be submitted and printed as-is or with adjustments, or we can convert your bitmap artwork to vector format.

CorelDraw vector art files are preferred for screen printed transfer designs.


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®		 Version: 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.


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.

Size
Maximum size of screen printed transfers is 11.25" x 14".

Although not required, it is a good idea to send us your design at the size you would like it printed.

Convert Text to Curves
For vector images, converting all text to curves before sending the file will allow you to use fonts we don't have in our system. For photoshop files you should rasterize/render all type layers before sending the file.

To convert text to curves using CorelDraw:
Select all text and convert it to curves by selecting "Arrange/Convert to Curves". The keyboard shortcut is "Ctrl+Q".

Note: Script typestyles will need to be welded instead of simply converting to curves. See your program help for instructions.

To convert text to curves using Adobe Illustrator:
Select all your text and convert it to curves by selecting "Type/Create Outlines". The keyboard shortcut is "Ctrl+Shift+O". You may need to ungroup your design to perform this function.

In either program, you may need to ungroup your design to perform this function.

Colors
We use spot colors for screen printing. You can use spot colors when creating art, but it is not required. Do be sure, though, to use consistent colors in your file (for example, use the same shade of blue for all blue areas in your design).


Minimum Line and Show-Through Thickness

Standard Plastisol Ink (Goof Proof, Hot Split, PolyTrans, Elasti Prints, Pearl Prints):

Recommended Line Thickness - .012"
Recommended Show-Through Thickness - .04"

Glitter Ink

Recommended Line Thickness - .025"
Recommended Show-Through Thickness - .04"

Puff Ink

The recommended line thickness of .012" thick for non-Puff colors may need to be increased if printed next to a Puff color. Be aware that Puff ink will increase the printed line thickness. A line that is .023" will puff up to become .05" in the applied transfer.


Recommended Show-Through Thickness - .1"

Opaque, Metallic, Clear, Express, Sub-Block

Line - .1"
Show-Through - .1"

How to Check Line and Show-Through Thickness
Create a line that is the minimum possible thickness for a line, and another for show-through areas.

Move that line around your design and hold it over areas where thickness could be too small. Your guide line will help you quickly see what areas are too thin. When you're done checking thickness, delete both lines from your design.

Halftones
Set your halftone to 30 dots per inch for tint.

Then set Post Script options to the following:
    Type = Dot
    Frequency = 30
    Angle = 30


If you have questions about setting Post Script options, see your program's help section for instructions.

Size
Special effects are difficult to reproduce with screen printing. Digital transfers may be a better option for your design if effects are needed.

Send a fax backup of your file and we will try to match the effect as closely as possible. Some special effects, though, simply cannot be reproduced with screen printing.

Send a Fax Backup
We'll use the fax and compare it with your electronic file to make sure your order is created accurately.

Fax Instructions

Submit your artwork online.