What You Need to Know
At Threds, we do more than just print apparel; we help make sure your designs look their best on press. One of the biggest factors in print quality is the type of artwork you provide. Here’s a quick breakdown in plain terms.
Vector Artwork (Best for Printing)
Vector artwork is built using shapes and paths, not pixels.
Can be scaled to any size with no loss in quality
Prints with clean, crisp edges
Ideal for logos, text, and illustrations
Best for spot color separations, which are essential for screen printing
Preferred for screen printing, embroidery, and promotional products
Recommended file types: AI, EPS, PDF, SVG (vector-based)
What are spot colors?
Spot colors are solid, individual ink colors printed one at a time. Each color gets its own screen, which is why clean separations are critical for accurate color and consistent print results.
Because vector files use solid shapes and defined colors, they allow us to separate your design into clean, individual ink colors. This results in more accurate colors, smoother prints, and a higher-quality finished product.
Raster Artwork (Use With Caution)
Raster artwork is made up of tiny pixels, similar to a photograph.
Quality is locked to its original size
Enlarging the artwork can cause blurriness or jagged edges
Pixel-based art does not separate into spot colors cleanly
Small text and fine details may not print well on fabric
Common raster file types: JPG, PNG, PSD
While raster files can work in some cases, they must be created at a high resolution and at the final print size. Even then, they often require additional prep before printing.
Why This Matters
Screen printing relies on spot colors and clean separations. Apparel printing is less forgiving than screens or paper, and fabric texture can exaggerate any issues in the artwork. Starting with vector artwork helps ensure accurate color separation, smoother prints, and consistent results.
Quick Takeaway
Vector artwork = scalable, clean spot color separations, print-ready
Raster artwork = size-dependent, limited flexibility, more prep required
Not sure what kind of file you have? No problem; that’s where we do more. Our team is always happy to take a look and help you get production ready.
Artwork Review & Prep
Every order at Threds includes a basic artwork review to make sure your design is set up for the best possible print.
If your file isn’t production ready, we’ll let you know and walk you through the next steps. This may include adjustments like resizing, color separation, or converting artwork to a print ready format.
Basic file checks and minor adjustments are always included
More involved artwork prep or redraws may require additional time and cost
We’ll always communicate any changes or approvals before moving forward
Our goal is simple: make sure what you see on screen translates cleanly to the final product; no surprises.
A Note About Canva Files
Canva is a great design tool, but it is not a professional production design program. Most Canva exports are raster-based, which can make proper spot color separation difficult.
Because of this:
Canva files may not separate cleanly into individual ink colors
Text and elements are often flattened
Resolution and color limitations can affect print quality
Additional artwork prep or redesign may be required
If your design was created in Canva, our team is happy to review it and recommend the best path forward.
A Note About AI-Generated Artwork
AI-generated artwork can be a great starting point for ideas, but it often isn’t production ready for apparel printing.
Because of this:
Files are typically raster-based and may be low resolution
Fine details, textures, and gradients may not translate well to screen printing
Colors are often not set up for spot color separation
Spelling and typography can be inconsistent or incorrect
Visual anomalies (extra fingers, distorted shapes, etc.) are common and may need correction
Artwork may require cleanup, simplification, or full redraw in vector format
If you’re using AI-generated art, think of it as a concept; we’re happy to help refine it into something that will print clean and consistent on apparel.
