How to Prepare Your Logo and Artwork for Print and Embroidery

Written By Zell Em

Preparing your artwork for print can feel intimidating - especially if you’re not a designer. Whether you’re ordering personalised workwear, branded merchandise, signage, or corporate clothing, getting your artwork right from the start saves time, avoids delays, and ensure your branding looks sharp and professional.

Here’s a simple, beginner-friendly guide to creating print-ready artwork that works across embroidery, screen print, digital print and large-format graphics.

1 - Use the Right File Type

If you only remember one thing, let it be this:

A vector logo is the best format for printing.

Ideal print file formats:

  • .ai (Adobe Illustrator)

  • .pdf (Vector-based)

  • .eps (Encapsulated Postscript)

  • .svg (Scalable Vector Graphic)

Why?

Vector artwork can be scaled to any size - from a small embroidered chest logo to a 2-metre banner - without losing quality. This is because vector files use mathematical descriptions (paths and equations) to draw lines and curves, rather than relying on a fixed grid of pixels (like most images use) that stretch and distort when scaled.

What if you only have a PNG or JPEG?

If your artwork was created by a professional designer, it's likely they can supply the original vector format. However, if this isn't the case, a PNG or JPEG (which are pixel-based formats) can still be useful, as they are better than nothing. In most cases, though, be aware that there will be additional costs incurred for a designer to completely redraw your logo in the necessary vector format, so that it’s able to be used for printing.

2 - Check Your Resolution

For non-vector formats (like PNG, JPEG or TIFF), you’ll need high-resolution artwork.

The minimum resolution for print is 300 dpi (dots per inch).

If your file looks grainy, pixelated, or fuzzy when zoomed in, it won’t print well. Avoid downloading logos from websites or screenshots - they’re usually 72 dpi and too low-quality.

3 - Convert Colours to CMYK or Pantone

It's important to remember that colours look different on your screen than they do when printed because they use two completely different systems:

  • Screen Colour: Your monitor, phone, and TV use RGB colours, which means every colour is created by combining different amounts of Red, Green, and Blue light. This system is additive (adding all three lights together makes white).

  • Print Colour: Standard commercial printing uses CMYK colours, where colours are made by layering inks: Cyan (blue), Magenta (red), Yellow, and Key (Black). This system is subtractive (mixing all the inks together ideally creates black).

  • Print Colour: Pantone colours are a specific set of standardized colours that are always pre-mixed and applied as a dedicated ink. This ensures the colour is always accurate and looks the same regardless of who prints it.

4 - Simplify Artwork for Embroidery

Embroidery has its own rules - thread can’t reproduce tiny details or gradients the same way that print can.

For embroidery, your artwork should have:

  • Clean, bold shapes

  • No fine lines under 1mm

  • Limited colours

  • No complex shading or gradients

If your artwork is very detailed, we can create a simplified, embroidery-friendly version while keeping it true to your brand.

5 - Outline Your Text

If your artwork contains text, make sure all fonts are outlined (converted to curves or shapes).

Why?

If a printer doesn’t have your font installed, the text may be automatically substituted for another font - and your artwork suddenly looks wrong.

Outlining the text ‘locks in’ the lettering, so that it can display exactly as intended, regardless of whether the printer has the necessary fonts.

6 - Remove Backgrounds

A common issue we see is logos saved with an unwanted white background.

Ideal files types with transparency:

  • Any vector-based format (.ai, .pdf, .eps, .svg)

  • If you only have a pixel-based format, .PNG’s with a transparent background are best

Transparent backgrounds and crucial for:

  • Printed or embroidered personalised workwear

  • Heat transfers

  • Garment decoration

  • Mug or bottle printing

If you’re unsure, we can remove backgrounds for you.

7 - Provide the Largest Version You Have

Even if you don’t have the perfect file format, you should always aim to send us the highest-quality version you can find. Our team can often fix artwork, redraw logos, or convert them into print-ready artwork - though be aware that this does come with an extra cost for most printers!

8 - For Complex Artwork, Keep Layers Intact

If you’re working with designers, or using Canva/Illustrator/Photoshop, you should be able to provided layered files. The allows your printer to adjust colours profiles, sizing, or bleed without damaging the artwork.

9 - Add Bleed for Full-Bleed Prints

For items that print edge-to-edge (flyers, signage, stationery etc.), add 3mm bleed to each edge. For larger prints like banners, it never hurts to add up to 10mm bleed.

This is because, due to very slight shifts during the cutting process, the cutting blade may not land exactly on the edge of your design. The bleed extends your background colours or images past the final cut line, ensuring that if there is a tiny shift, you don't end up with an unsightly, thin, white (unprinted) edge along the border of your finished item.

10 - When in Doubt - Send It Anyway

The biggest mistake businesses make is not sending artwork because they think it’s “not good enough”.

Send whatever you have - yes, even if it’s a JPEG - and we can tell you exactly what needs improving. A lot of customers appreciate this support, especially if they don’t have design experience.

Final Thoughts

Preparing your artwork for print doesn’t have to complicated.

With the right format, resolution, and colours settings, your branded merchandise and personalised workwear will come out looking sharp and professional every time.

If you’re unsure whether your logo is print-ready, we’re always happy to assist you.

Zell Em