Where to Start
Recommended Design Programs
You don't need expensive software to create great artwork — but using the right tool for the job makes a big difference. Here's a breakdown of the most popular options and when to use each.
✏️
Canva
Free / Pro
Browser-based design tool that's easy to learn. Great for simple layouts, text-based designs, and social graphics. Export as PNG at high resolution for print use. Limited for complex vector work.
Best for: Beginners, simple text designs, quick turnaround
🔷
Adobe Illustrator
Professional
The industry standard for vector artwork. Creates files that scale to any size without quality loss. Ideal for logos, clean graphics, and anything that needs to be crisp at any size.
Best for: Logos, vector artwork, professional designs
🖼️
Adobe Photoshop
Professional
The go-to for photo editing and raster artwork. Works well for photorealistic designs, illustrations, and complex multi-layered artwork. Always work at 300 DPI and export as PNG with transparency.
Best for: Photo designs, detailed illustrations, raster art
🟢
Inkscape
Free
A free, open-source vector editor that works similarly to Illustrator. Excellent for creating scalable logos and graphics without the subscription cost. Exports to SVG, PDF, and PNG.
Best for: Budget-conscious designers who need vector capability
🎨
Procreate
iPad Only
A powerful illustration app for iPad. Great for hand-drawn artwork, illustrations, and custom lettering. Export at 300 DPI as a PNG with a transparent background for best results.
Best for: Hand-drawn art, illustrations, custom lettering
⭐
Affinity Designer
One-Time Purchase
A professional-grade vector and raster design app available as a one-time purchase. Handles both vector and photo editing in one app. A strong alternative to the Adobe subscription model.
Best for: Those wanting professional tools without a subscription
Not sure which to use? For most customers, Canva handles simple designs well. If you need a logo created from scratch or have a complex design in mind, consider hiring a graphic designer — a good file upfront saves time and money at the print stage.
Understanding File Types
Vector vs Raster
One of the most important things to understand about artwork for printing is the difference between vector and raster files. Getting this right makes a huge difference in print quality.
| Property |
Vector |
Raster |
| How it works |
Made of mathematical paths and shapes — infinitely scalable |
Made of a fixed grid of pixels — quality is tied to resolution |
| Scaling |
✔ Scales to any size without quality loss |
✘ Enlarging causes pixelation and blurring |
| File types |
AI, EPS, SVG, PDF |
PNG, JPG, PSD, TIFF |
| Best for |
Logos, text, clean graphics, icons |
Photos, detailed illustrations, gradients |
| Print preference |
✔ Strongly preferred for logos and text |
✔ Fine for photos and illustrations at 300 DPI |
| Programs |
Illustrator, Inkscape, Affinity Designer |
Photoshop, Procreate, Canva |
The simple rule: If your design contains a logo or text, try to get it as a vector file. If it's a photo or detailed illustration, a high-resolution raster file at 300 DPI is perfectly fine.
Resolution
DPI Explained
DPI stands for Dots Per Inch — it describes how many pixels are packed into each inch of your image. The higher the DPI, the more detail and the sharper the print. Here's what the numbers actually mean for your artwork.
72
Too Low
72 DPI is screen resolution — fine for websites and social media but will print blurry and pixelated. Most images downloaded from the internet are 72 DPI.
150
Borderline
150 DPI may be acceptable for very large prints viewed from a distance but will still show some softness at normal viewing distances. Not recommended.
300
The Standard
300 DPI is the industry standard for print. At this resolution your artwork will be sharp, detailed, and exactly what you see on screen — what you see is what you get.
How to check your DPI in Photoshop: Go to Image → Image Size. Make sure "Resample" is unchecked, then look at the Resolution field. It should read 300 pixels/inch at your intended print size.
Important: Simply changing the DPI number without resampling does not add detail — it only changes the physical size the image prints at. A 72 DPI image cannot be "fixed" by typing 300 into the resolution field. You need to start with a high-resolution source file.
Colour
Colour Mode: RGB vs CMYK
Your screen displays colour differently than a printer reproduces it. Understanding the difference helps you set accurate expectations and avoid surprises when your order arrives.
RGB
Red · Green · Blue — Screen Colour
RGB is how your monitor, phone, and tablet display colour — by mixing red, green, and blue light. It can produce a very wide range of vivid colours including bright neons and deep saturated tones that are difficult or impossible to reproduce in print.
CMYK
Cyan · Magenta · Yellow · Black — Print Colour
CMYK is how printers reproduce colour — by layering cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks. The range of colours (called the gamut) is smaller than RGB, which means some vivid screen colours will shift slightly when printed. Neons and very bright blues are the most common culprits.
What this means for you: Design in whatever colour mode your software defaults to — usually RGB. Just be aware that neon greens, electric blues, and fluorescent pinks will print as a slightly muted version of what you see on screen. If colour accuracy is critical, let us know and we can send you a test print before doing a full run.
What to Avoid
Common Artwork Mistakes
These are the most frequent issues we see with submitted files. Checking these before you send will save time and ensure your order goes to print without delays.
01
Low resolution file
Sending a 72 DPI image from the web or a screenshot. These print blurry and pixelated. Always use 300 DPI at the intended print size.
02
White background on DTF file
Sending a PNG or JPG with a white background for DTF transfers. The white will print as part of the transfer. Always use a transparent background for DTF.
03
Text too small to print cleanly
Very small text, especially under 6pt, can fill in or become illegible when printed. If your design has fine text, consider increasing the size or using a bolder font weight.
04
Thin lines and fine detail
Lines thinner than 1pt can disappear or break up in print. Check your design at actual print size before submitting and thicken any lines that look too fine.
05
Spelling errors in the file
We print exactly what we receive. Always proofread your artwork carefully before submitting. Once a job is in production we cannot make changes without reprinting.
06
Enlarging a small image
Taking a small web image and scaling it up in your design software doesn't add resolution — it just makes the existing pixels bigger and blurrier. Start with a high-res source.
07
Copyrighted or trademarked artwork
We cannot print logos, characters, or artwork belonging to other brands without proof of authorization. This includes sports teams, Disney, Marvel, and other licensed IP.
08
Wrong file size for the print area
Make sure your canvas size matches your intended print size at 300 DPI. A file set up at 2x2 inches at 300 DPI cannot be cleanly printed at 12x12 inches.
Ready to Submit
How to Set Up Your File
Follow these steps when setting up your artwork and you'll be ready to print. This applies to DTF gang sheets specifically — the format we produce most frequently.
Set your canvas size and resolution
Create your document at the exact print size you want. Set resolution to 300 DPI (pixels per inch). For a DTF gang sheet the maximum width is 22 inches — set your canvas width accordingly and set the height to whatever length you need.
Tip: If you're unsure of the size, use our DTF price calculator on the website to figure out dimensions before setting up your file.
Use a transparent background
For DTF transfers, your canvas background must be transparent — not white, not black. In Photoshop, delete the background layer. In Illustrator, simply don't add a background rectangle. In Canva, go to File → Download → PNG and tick "Transparent background."
Tip: You can tell your background is transparent by the grey checkerboard pattern that appears in Photoshop and Illustrator. That pattern means transparent — it will not print.
Design in RGB, be aware of CMYK shift
Design in RGB mode as normal. Just be mindful that neons, very bright blues, and electric greens may print slightly differently than they appear on your screen. For most designs this difference is minimal and acceptable.
Check text and fine details at actual size
Zoom your design to 100% (actual print size) and review all text and fine lines. Text should be at least 8pt for clean printing. Any lines thinner than 1pt should be thickened. Check spelling one more time.
Tip: Print a draft on your home printer at the actual size if possible. What looks fine on screen can sometimes reveal issues when seen at physical scale.
Export as PNG at 300 DPI
When you're happy with your design, export or save as a PNG file. Make sure the export settings are set to 300 DPI and that the transparent background option is selected. Do not flatten to a white background.
In Photoshop: File → Export → Export As → PNG, check Transparency. In Illustrator: File → Export → Export As → PNG, set 300 PPI. In Canva: File → Download → PNG → Transparent background.
Send us your file
Upload your file through our gang sheet builder, use the upload option on the DTF Transfers page, or email it directly to
info@snappyprintz.com with your order details. We review every file before production and will contact you if we spot any issues.
File too large to email? Use Google Drive, Dropbox, or WeTransfer and send us the share link. We can accept files up to any size via link.
Ready to place your order?
Got your artwork sorted? Let's get it printed. Or reach out if you have questions before you start.
Order DTF Transfers
Ask a Question
