Creating merchandise that translates well from digital design to physical product requires attention to specific technical details. This article covers the key technical advice to ensure your designs are crisp, clear, and ready for print.
1. Resolution and File Type
For the best print quality, we recommend using 300 DPI (dots per inch) images, with 150 DPI as the minimum. Higher resolution allows for better scaling across different product sizes. .png files are ideal, especially when you have a transparent background. When in doubt, design larger—scaling down is easier than scaling up.
2. Common Mistakes to Avoid
One of the most common issues is creating designs that are too dark. Monitors have backlighting, making images appear brighter than they will in print. To avoid this, print your design on paper; if it looks good on paper, it will likely print well on merchandise. Another common mistake is including too much fine detail in designs intended for embroidery. Embroidery doesn’t capture detail as finely as DTG or sublimation, so simpler designs work better.
Transparent Colors vs. Transparent Backgrounds: While transparent backgrounds are useful and often necessary for certain designs, avoid using transparent colors. Printers can’t replicate transparency in colors, leading to unintended grey blobs or other distortions in your final product. Make sure your design uses solid colors where color is required, and only use transparency for backgrounds or specific areas meant to be left unprinted.
3. Scaling Designs Across Products
Crowdmade automatically scales designs within the same product type, but some products, like phone cases, require special attention due to varying design constraints like camera holes. Use repeating patterns or adaptable designs for such products. Avoid using the same design across different product types (e.g., mugs vs. t-shirts), as different aspect ratios may require different design approaches.
4. Ensuring Color Accuracy
While RGB colors are common in digital design, it’s safer to work in CMYK color space for print accuracy. Vibrant colors in RGB, like neon pinks and greens, may not print as brightly when converted to CMYK. If color fidelity is critical, start your design in CMYK.
5. File Preparation Tips
Always submit the highest quality image possible. Crowdmade’s product builder will alert you if your resolution is too low, but it’s best to ensure your files meet the specifications before uploading. Save your designs in PNG format to preserve detail and quality.
If you need help at all with your design specifications, please reach out to us! We know how to help you!