How to prepare files for printing

When preparing files for fabric printing, following the correct guidelines ensures high-quality results. Below are the key steps to properly format your design files.

File Format

Submit your design in one of the following formats:

• JPEG — acceptable for photographic images without transparency, at maximum quality setting (no compression)
• TIFF — preferred for photographic prints and complex gradients; supports lossless compression
• PNG — preferred for designs with transparency or sharp graphic elements

Do not submit PDF, AI, PSD, or SVG files directly — export them to PNG or TIFF before uploading.

Color Mode

Use RGB color mode throughout your design process and at the point of submission. Specifically, use the sRGB IEC61966-2.1 color profile — this is the standard profile our printing systems are calibrated to.

Do not convert to CMYK before submitting. Our printers interpret RGB values directly; a CMYK conversion adds an unnecessary color profile translation that can shift hues and reduce saturation. If your file was created in CMYK (for example, in InDesign or Illustrator for print), convert it back to sRGB before uploading.

Use 8-bit color depth. 16-bit files are accepted but will be processed as 8-bit — there is no quality benefit to submitting 16-bit files.

Resolution and file size

For fabric printing, resolution is measured relative to the actual print size — not the screen display size.

• Recommended resolution: 150 dpi at 100% print size
• Minimum resolution: 100 dpi at 100% print size
• Maximum useful resolution: 300 dpi (higher resolution will not improve quality and creates unnecessarily large files)

File dimensions by printing width

The table below shows the correct pixel dimensions for 1 linear meter of fabric at 150 dpi

Width × Height (1 meter). For orders of multiple meters, supply one seamless repeat tile — the system tiles it automatically.

DTF printing on finished products

For DTF prints on garments and finished textile products, the resolution requirement relates to the print area on the specific product:

• Recommended resolution: 300 dpi at 100% of the intended print size
• Minimum resolution: 150 dpi
• Color mode: RGB, same as above
• File format: PNG with transparent background required — this ensures accurate placement and clean edges on the garment; any non-transparent areas outside the design will print as white

Seamless Patterns

If your design is a repeating pattern, it must tile seamlessly — the right edge must match the left edge, and the top edge must match the bottom edge, with no visible seam line.

How to check your tile before submitting:

• In Photoshop: use Filter → Other → Offset with values equal to half the tile width and height — any seam will appear in the center of the image
• In Illustrator: use the Pattern Options panel to preview the tile in repeat
• In Affinity Designer: use the Tile tool in pixel persona

Also check for unintended white or transparent pixels along the edges of your tile — these create visible lines when tiled.

File size limits

• Maximum file size per upload: 500 MB
• If your file exceeds this limit, see: How to reduce file size for fabric printing without losing quality

Pre-submission checklist

Before uploading your file, verify:

• Format is PNG, TIFF, or JPEG
• Color mode is RGB (sRGB IEC61966-2.1 profile)
• Bit depth is 8-bit
• Resolution is 150 dpi or higher at 100% print size
• For fabric printing: pixel dimensions match your intended print size at 150 dpi
• For DTF: resolution is 300 dpi at the intended print area size; file is PNG with transparent background (mandatory)
• For repeating patterns: tile is seamless and edges are clean
• File size is under 500 MB

Related articles

→ Color profiles for fabric printing
→ Why does my design look blurry in the editor?
→ How to achieve accurate colors