How to Prepare Artwork for Screen Printing
A sharp print begins long before ink reaches a T-shirt. Artwork preparation determines whether fine lettering stays readable, colours remain consistent, and each layer aligns cleanly across a run of branded garments or promotional products.
For Australian businesses, clubs, schools and community groups, the right file also needs to suit the product, print method and local audience. A Sydney café may need a simple one-colour chest logo, while a Melbourne event, Brisbane sports club or national wellness brand may require several spot colours across different garment sizes.
| File type | Best use | Main benefit | Watch-out |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI, EPS or PDF | Logos and vector artwork | Scales without losing quality | Fonts should be outlined |
| SVG | Simple digital logos and icons | Lightweight and editable | Not every printer accepts it |
| PSD or TIFF | Photographic or textured artwork | Supports high-resolution raster images | Must be supplied at final size |
| PNG | Transparent artwork for review | Useful for previews | Usually unsuitable as the master file |
| JPG | Reference image only | Easy to view and send | Compression can blur edges |
Start With The Final Garment
Before exporting artwork, confirm the garment style, fabric colour, print position and decoration size. A design intended for a black hoodie may need a white underbase, while the same artwork on a white shirt could use fewer ink layers. Cotton, polyester and blended fabrics can also affect ink choice and colour appearance.
Australian sizing should be considered at this stage. A logo positioned on an adult medium may look too low or oversized on an AU kids’ shirt, women’s cut or extended-size polo. Ask for the printable area in millimetres rather than relying on a visual mock-up.
Workwear requires extra care. If a design is intended for tradies, construction crews or warehouse teams, keep branding clear around reflective tape and check whether the garment needs to meet a relevant hi-vis standard such as AS/NZS 4602.1. The artwork itself does not make a garment compliant, so decoration placement should be reviewed with the supplier.
Choose Vector Artwork For Logos
Vector files are built from paths rather than fixed pixels. AI, EPS and press-ready PDF files allow a logo to be enlarged for a back print or reduced for a sleeve without creating jagged edges. They also make it easier to edit individual colours during screen printing prepress.
Convert all fonts to outlines before sending the final version. This prevents missing-font substitutions and preserves the intended letter shapes. Keep a separate editable version with live text, then create a production copy with outlined type and clearly named layers.
Avoid placing a low-resolution JPG inside a PDF and assuming the file is vector artwork. If the logo contains photography, brush textures or complex shading, identify those elements separately so the printer can advise whether simulated process, halftones or a simplified version will produce the best result.
Set Resolution And Artwork Size
Raster artwork should be created at the actual print size, generally at 300 pixels per inch. A small image enlarged later will show soft edges, visible pixels and weak detail. For example, a 100 mm chest mark should be built at approximately 1,181 pixels wide at 300 ppi, rather than pulled from a small web graphic.
Leave important details away from the trim or garment edge. Tiny text, narrow gaps and delicate lines may fill in when ink spreads slightly through fabric. As a practical guide, ask the decorator about minimum line weights and type sizes before finalising intricate artwork.
Transparent backgrounds are useful for previews, but a PNG is rarely the best production master. Supply layered PSD or TIFF files for photographic work, and vector artwork for logos. LOCK Promo can review artwork for screen printing, heat transfer or embroidery and advise when a different decoration method would preserve detail more effectively.
Separate Colours Before Exporting
Screen printing uses a separate screen for each ink colour. Artwork should therefore contain clean, intentional colour separations rather than blended colour values that a printer must guess how to interpret. Use named spot colours where possible and avoid unexplained variations such as “blue 1”, “blue 2” and “almost blue”.
For a basic two-colour logo, create one solid layer per ink colour. If the design uses photographic shading, gradients or many tones, the printer may convert it into halftone dots or simulated process separations. Discuss dot size and fabric suitability in advance, because very fine halftones can lose definition on textured garments.
Pantone references can help communicate a target colour, but printed ink on fabric will not always match a digital screen or coated paper swatch. Thread, fabric colour, curing temperature and ink type all influence the result. Request a strike-off or pre-production sample for high-volume orders, important brand colours and multi-city campaigns.
Prepare Colours For Dark Garments
Dark garments commonly need an opaque white underbase so bright inks do not disappear into the fabric. That underbase is an additional screen and may slightly change the final hand feel. Avoid unnecessary overlap where colours stack heavily, especially on lightweight tees.
Black artwork can also cause confusion. Pure black, rich black and a transparent shadow are different production instructions. Define whether black is an ink colour, a knockout area or simply the garment showing through. In a separation file, name layers clearly and include a small colour key.
Australian conditions can influence the product choice. Lightweight cotton is popular during warmer months in Brisbane and Perth, while fleece hoodies and jackets suit cooler Melbourne mornings and winter events in Canberra. A colour combination that works on a white summer tee may need an underbase and stronger contrast on a dark winter garment.
Check Transparency, Trapping And Overprints
Inspect the file at 100 percent and at the final physical size. Look for accidental semi-transparent pixels, hidden layers, stray points and objects extending beyond the artboard. Flattening a file too early can remove useful separation information, so retain a layered production copy.
Trapping slightly overlaps adjoining colours to reduce thin gaps caused by fabric movement or screen registration. Overprint settings need equal care: a black object set to overprint may hide a colour beneath it, while an unintended overprint can create a muddy result. Ask the production team to check these settings during preflight.
Keep special effects practical. Fine distress patterns, soft shadows and distressed type can look attractive in a digital mock-up but may require additional screens or lose clarity on fabric. The same principle applies to technology-themed merchandise; browse LOCK Promo’s technology collection when deciding whether a small transfer or a larger screen print suits the item.
Export A Reliable Production Package
Send the final artwork as an outlined vector PDF or EPS, plus the native AI file when requested. For raster elements, include a 300 ppi PSD or TIFF at final size. Add a reference PNG or mock-up so the production team can compare the intended appearance with the separated artwork.
Name files with the customer, product, print position, colour count and revision, such as BrandName_BlackTee_LeftChest_2C_v3.pdf. Include the garment colour, approximate print dimensions, ink colours, order quantity and any approved Pantone references in a brief production note.
A visual reference is valuable for products beyond apparel. A branded drink bottle, tote bag or office item may have a different printable area and decoration process. For inspiration outside standard merchandise, these Danish beer gift ideas show how packaging, colour and presentation can work together in a gift-focused design.
Approve A Proof Before Production
A digital proof confirms placement, scale, garment colour and general appearance, but it cannot perfectly reproduce ink on fabric. For a large order, request a physical sample or strike-off when the artwork includes small lettering, gradients, fluorescent colours or several overlapping layers.
Check the proof against the Australian Consumer Law requirements relevant to the finished product. Textile goods may need accurate fibre and care information, while claims about performance, sustainability or health benefits must be supportable. A wellness campaign should communicate responsibly; practical branded item ideas can be found among these wellness product ideas.
Send LOCK Promo your artwork package with the garment details, print location, colour instructions and deadline. Its in-house screen printing, heat transfer and embroidery team can help turn a clean file into consistent branded merchandise for Australian campaigns, clubs, workplaces and events.