Below are some recommendations that will help you create quality vector artwork for screen printed transfers.
1. Send the artwork at the actual size it will be printed.
Sometimes outlines have settings which change when vector art is scaled. Sending the actual size you need printed helps guarantee the quality of your art.
2. All fonts used in the design must be converted to curves.
This allows you to use fonts from any commercial font manufacturer. Your fonts do not travel with your file and will default when opened in our system. To avoid delays and possible errors please convert all text to curves before sending files.
| To convert text to curves using CorelDraw®: | |
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Select all your text and convert it to curves by selecting "Arrange/Convert to Curves". The keyboard shortcut is "Ctrl+Q". You may need to ungroup your design to perform this function, depending on which version of the program you are using. |
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*Note: Script typestyles will need to be welded instead of simply converting to curves. See your program user's manual for instructions. |
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| 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. |
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3. Recommended minimum thickness for lines and outlines is .012".
| Thickness Test |
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| 1. Create a line in your file and make it a different color than your artwork. |
| 2. Set the thickness of the line to .012". |
3. Now move the line around, setting it over top of any artwork that may have thin areas of color. All of your artwork, whether text, outlines, or objects, should be at least as thick as this line. |
| 4. Delete the line when you have finished checking your file. |
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*Note: Text that has thin and thick areas should be measured at its thinnest areas. This type of text will need to be larger than text that has a uniform thickness. |
4. It is recommended that all non-printing areas measure at least .045" thick.
This is so the artwork will not close up once it is printed and applied to the garment. This applies to any non-printing area, including the open spaces within text.
1. Create a line in your file and make it a different color than your artwork.
2. Set the thickness of the line to .012".
3. Now move the line around, setting it over top of any artwork that may have thin areas of color. All of your artwork, whether text, outlines, or objects, should be at least as thick as this line.
4. Delete the line when you have finished checking your file.
*Note: Text that has thin and thick areas should be measured at its thinnest areas. This type of text will need to be larger than text that has a uniform thickness.
5. Don't use pattern fills.
Pattern fills can be technically challenging and cause an increase in file size.
6. Halftones - these are the settings we recommend:
If we print halftones in your design, we will need to add a backing color to your design.
Tint= 30, Type= Dot, Frequency= 30, and Angle= 30
All halftones should be set to 30 dots per inch for the tint. Also, Post Script options should be set to the following: Type = Dot, Frequency = 30 LPI,
Angle = 30 Degrees. For more information on setting these Post Script options, please see your program user's manual.
7. Support your file with a fax copy of the art.
This will be used to ensure that the transmitted file is exactly what you were trying to transmit. Put your reference # on the fax. Due to different software programs/files there can be translation issues and the fax will give our designers your original art to compare with how it imports in our software.