Artwork Guidelines

1. Required File Format

Please supply artwork as:

Transparent PNG · 300+ DPI · Final print size · Maximum 100MB

PNG is required because it supports transparency and preserves image quality without JPEG compression.

Please do not upload:

• JPEG or JPG files
• Screenshots
• Photographs of printed designs
• Low-resolution web images
• GIF files
• Files containing watermarks
• Images copied from social media
• Files with a white or coloured background unless that background is intended to print

PDF, SVG, AI, EPS or other file types should only be supplied where agreed with us in advance.

2. Resolution

Artwork must be at least 300 DPI at the final intended print size.

A file may display "300 DPI" in its properties while still being too small. What matters is whether it contains enough pixels for the physical size being ordered.

Increasing a small image to 300 DPI does not create genuine detail or improve its quality.

For example:

• A file that looks sharp at 10cm may become pixelated if enlarged to 40cm.
• An image copied from a website may look acceptable on a phone but print poorly at garment size.
• Saving a blurry image as a PNG does not make it high resolution.

Always inspect your artwork at 100% size before uploading.

If the artwork needs to be enlarged beyond its available resolution, we may contact you, but our checks do not guarantee that every quality issue will be identified.

• Example image to follow: 300 DPI versus low resolution at the same print size
  300 DPI versus low resolution at the same print size

3. Final Print Size

Set the artwork to the exact physical dimensions you want printed.

Do not include unnecessary empty transparent space around the design because the canvas dimensions may affect how the artwork is measured and positioned.

Check:

• Artwork width
• Artwork height
• Aspect ratio
• Orientation
• Selected product size
• Selected print location

We will not intentionally stretch artwork to fit a different shape. If the artwork's proportions do not match the selected dimensions, it may need to be scaled proportionally or confirmed before printing.

4. Transparent Background

Your PNG must contain genuine transparency.

A transparent background is usually displayed as a checkerboard inside design software. The checkerboard must not be part of the actual image.

Please check that the file does not contain:

• A white box
• A black box
• A coloured rectangle
• A photographed background
• A checkerboard baked into the image
• Unwanted pixels around the edge
• A faint halo from background removal

Any visible background included in the uploaded file may be printed.

White artwork can still be printed on a transparent background. If your design contains white elements, preview it against a darker background to ensure nothing is missing before exporting.

• Example image to follow: Transparent background versus an unwanted background
  Transparent background versus an unwanted background

5. Do Not Mirror Artwork

Do not mirror, reverse or flip your artwork.

Our printing process handles the required print orientation.

If mirrored artwork is supplied, it may be printed in the incorrect orientation. This is particularly important for:

• Text
• Logos
• Dates
• Numbers
• Directional graphics
• Branded artwork

Please check that all wording reads normally before uploading.

• Example image to follow: Correct artwork versus mirrored artwork
  Correct artwork versus mirrored artwork

6. Minimum Line and Detail Thickness

No individual line, dot or isolated detail should be less than 1mm thick at the final print size.

This minimum is required to ensure that enough white backing and adhesive can be applied beneath the printed detail.

Elements thinner than 1mm may:

• Lose white backing
• Print inconsistently
• Break apart
• Fail to transfer correctly
• Lift during peeling
• Disappear completely

This also applies to:

• Fine outlines
• Small dots
• Distressed textures
• Tiny highlights
• Thin text strokes
• Narrow gaps
• Small decorative details
• Fine negative spaces

Measure details after the artwork has been scaled to its final print size. A line that is 1mm thick in a large source file may become too thin when the design is reduced.

• Example image to follow: An acceptable 1mm detail versus a detail that is too thin
  An acceptable 1mm detail versus a detail that is too thin

7. Small Text

Small text must remain readable and meet the 1mm minimum stroke requirement at its final print size.

Before exporting:

• Check spelling and punctuation
• Ensure letters are not touching unintentionally
• Avoid extremely thin fonts
• Expand or outline text in the original vector file where appropriate
• Confirm that all letters display correctly
• Inspect the exported PNG at 100%

Because the uploaded PNG is a flattened image, we cannot automatically correct or edit the original font.

8. Vector Artwork and Anti-Aliasing

When exporting a crisp, solid-colour logo or hard-edged design from a vector application such as Adobe Illustrator:

• Set the resolution to 300 PPI or higher
• Set the background to Transparent
• Use the exact final print dimensions
• Turn off anti-aliasing where hard edges, fine lines or small text must remain solid
• Check the exported PNG carefully at 100%

Turning off anti-aliasing preserves hard-edged linework and avoids semi-transparent edge pixels, but it can make curved or diagonal edges appear more jagged.

Artwork containing intentional soft edges, fades, glows, shadows or photographic details may require anti-aliasing. Do not disable it blindly for this type of artwork.

If you are unsure which setting is suitable, send us the artwork before ordering or request a test print.

9. Gradients, Shadows and Transparency

DTF printing can reproduce gradients and detailed full-colour artwork, but extremely faint or semi-transparent elements may behave differently from how they appear on a screen.

Take care with:

• Low-opacity shadows
• Soft glows
• Feathered edges
• Transparent gradients
• Smoke effects
• Very faint highlights
• Partially erased artwork
• Background-removal halos

Semi-transparent pixels may require a white backing to print and can sometimes produce a visible light edge on dark garments.

Where possible, use deliberate, clean edges and avoid extremely low-opacity details unless they are essential to the design.

10. Colour Reproduction

Our printing equipment has been profiled to produce bright, vibrant colours using our nine-colour DTF system.

Our ink channels include:

• Cyan
• Magenta
• Yellow
• Black
• Red
• Green
• Blue
• Orange
• White

However, we cannot guarantee a perfect match between the printed product and the colour displayed on a screen.

Colour appearance can vary because of:

• Monitor and phone settings
• Screen brightness
• RGB-to-print colour conversion
• Artwork colour profiles
• Fabric colour
• Fabric texture
• Lighting
• Printing materials
• Different production batches

Fluorescent, neon, metallic and reflective effects cannot be reproduced exactly using standard DTF inks unless specifically stated.

11. Colour Charts and Specific Colours

If a specific colour is important, contact us before placing the full order.

We can provide:

• A printed colour chart
• A matching digital colour chart

Use the printed chart to select the closest available colour, then use the digital version to amend your artwork.

The printed colour chart should be treated as the most reliable reference because a digital chart will still display differently across different screens.

If exact colour is commercially important, we recommend ordering a test print before committing to a large order.

View the colour chart

12. Black, White and Garment Colours

DTF printing uses a white ink backing so artwork remains visible on coloured and dark garments.

Please ensure that:

• White elements are present where white print is intended
• Transparent areas are genuinely transparent
• Black design elements are not accidentally removed during background removal
• The design has enough contrast against the intended garment colour

A white object and a transparent area are not the same:

• White artwork will print white.
• Transparent areas will show the garment underneath.

13. Standard-Size Transfers

For standard-size DTF transfers, prepare the file at the selected final size.

Available options may include:

• Chest Logo
• A6
• A5
• A4
• A3

The artwork should have the correct proportions for the selected size.

Do not assume that a square design will automatically fill a rectangular A-size canvas. We scale artwork proportionally and do not intentionally distort it.

Any empty space within the uploaded canvas may affect the overall measurements.

14. Custom-Size Transfers

For custom-size transfers:

• Select the required width
• Select the required height
• Upload artwork at those exact dimensions
• Confirm the proportions match the selected dimensions
• Keep all details inside the artwork canvas

The maximum available dimensions are subject to the 58cm printable width of our equipment and the limits shown on the product page.

If the selected width and height do not match the artwork's aspect ratio, the artwork must not be stretched without customer confirmation.

15. Completed Gang Sheets

Completed gang sheets must be supplied fully arranged and ready to print.

Canvas Size

• Maximum printable width: 58cm
• For best value, set the completed gang sheet to exactly 58cm wide.
• The canvas length must match the sheet length selected when ordering.

Design Spacing

Leave at least 5mm between separate designs.

Designs must not:

• Touch
• Overlap
• Extend beyond the canvas
• Be placed partly outside the printable area

• Example image to follow: Correct gang-sheet spacing
  Correct gang-sheet spacing

File Preparation

The completed sheet must be:

• A transparent PNG
• At least 300 DPI at the final sheet size
• Not mirrored
• Correctly arranged
• Set to the selected length
• Free from unwanted backgrounds
• Ready to print without editing

Completed gang sheets are printed exactly as uploaded.

We do not automatically:

• Rearrange designs
• Resize individual designs
• Add spacing
• Remove backgrounds
• Correct spelling
• Mirror or unmirror artwork
• Check that every design is the intended size

16. Gang-Sheet Builder

If you use our online gang-sheet builder:

• Upload high-resolution transparent PNG artwork
• Check every design's dimensions
• Leave at least 5mm between designs
• Keep all designs within the canvas
• Check the complete sheet before submitting
• Do not mirror the artwork

The final builder preview should be checked carefully before adding the sheet to your basket.

17. Large Files

For files too large to upload:

1. Place the order using the correct product, sheet length and quantity.
2. Send the artwork using a suitable file-sharing method.
3. Email the link to info@yourdtftransfers.co.uk.
4. Include the order number.
5. Clearly identify which file belongs to each product or sheet.

Do not rely on the original file name alone to identify the order.

Production cannot begin until the artwork has been received and matched to the correct order.

18. Custom Clothing Artwork

For personalised clothing, supply the artwork required for each selected print position.

Available positions may include:

• Front
• Back
• Left chest
• Right chest

If the same artwork should be used for more than one position, select "Use the same artwork for this position" where available or explain this clearly in the order notes.

Check that the selected print size is appropriate for the garment and location.

Zip-up hoodies should not use a centred front print because the zip crosses the print area. Available positions should be limited to left chest, right chest and back.

19. Artwork Rights

Only upload artwork that:

• You created
• You own
• You have purchased with appropriate commercial rights
• You have permission from the rights holder to reproduce

By uploading artwork, you confirm that its printing will not infringe another person's copyright, trademark, design rights, privacy rights or other legal rights.

We may refuse artwork that appears unlawful or infringing.

20. What We Check

We carry out basic checks for:

• File dimensions
• Resolution
• Transparency
• Obvious technical problems
• Whether the file can be opened and printed

Where possible, we may contact you if we identify an obvious issue.

Our checks do not include:

• Proofreading
• Redesigning artwork
• Correcting spelling
• Removing backgrounds
• Rearranging gang sheets
• Checking copyright ownership
• Confirming every design size
• Correcting mirrored artwork
• Detecting every low-opacity pixel
• Confirming that every creative choice is intentional

Artwork checks are not a substitute for checking your own files before ordering.

21. Digital Proofs

Where a digital proof is requested:

• Production will begin after the proof is approved.
• Check the artwork, wording, size, position and orientation carefully.
• Request any necessary amendments before approval.
• Approval confirms that the displayed layout can enter production.

A digital proof cannot guarantee exact printed colours because screens reproduce colour differently from printed products.

Approval of a proof does not affect your rights where the final product is faulty or is not produced according to the approved proof.

22. Printing Artwork as Supplied

We print artwork according to the file, dimensions and options supplied with the order.

If customer-supplied artwork contains:

• Spelling mistakes
• Incorrect dimensions
• Low resolution
• Unwanted backgrounds
• Incorrect colours
• Mirrored text
• Incorrect design placement
• Missing elements
• Incorrectly arranged gang sheets

and we print it correctly as supplied, a replacement print will require a new purchase.

This does not apply where:

• We printed the wrong file
• We used the wrong selected size
• We introduced a production fault
• The product is damaged
• The print is materially different from the approved order
• The product is otherwise faulty or not as described

Nothing in these guidelines affects your statutory rights.

23. Need Help?

If you are unsure whether your artwork is suitable, contact us before ordering:

Email: info@yourdtftransfers.co.uk
Telephone: 07592 925337

Please include:

• The artwork
• Intended print dimensions
• Product type
• Garment colour where relevant
• Any specific colour requirements
• Your order number if already ordered

Ready to Upload?

Related guides

• Choose Your DTF Order
• Pressing Instructions
• Colour Chart
• Contact