Vector files end in .ai, .eps, .svg, or .pdf. They can be generated in programs like Adobe Illustrator or Canva. These file types are resolution independent, which means the logo or design can be scaled to any size without losing quality, from tiny business cards to large billboards. Vector files are perfect for setting up a logo or design to be printed on a garment, because it ensures a crisp print no matter what size it is. 

If you need access to the vector file of your logo or design, chat with your graphic designer or art director. Chances are they have the files ready to go. 

The second best choice would be a high-quality image file (.png) that is 300 dpi, which is the printing standard. DPI means dots per inch, referring to how many individual drops of ink a printer would place within one linear inch. 

In more common terms, 300 dpi communicates about the resolution of the image. The higher the number, the better the resolution. Unfortunately, if your file type has a resolution of 72 dpi or 150 dpi, it may not be clear enough for screen printing. 

Screen Printing Northwest has an expert graphic designer at the ready to help troubleshoot issues with image quality or incompatible file types. Marcus is a wizard when it comes to recreating image file types as vector file types, so the quality of the image is preserved at any size. 

To check what file type or resolution your file is, all you have to do is find the file on your computer and right click it, selecting “properties” to get more information. 

At the end of the day, something is better than nothing, so if all else fails, send us what you have, and we’ll see what magic Marcus can work. 

Read more about why a PNG image file is much better than a JPEG image file for screen printing purposes. >