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Artwork Setup Guide for Print and Embroidery

Need to send a logo, team design, or brand artwork to Chromatic Graphics? These artwork guidelines for screen printing explain what to prepare, what to include, and which details still need confirmation before production begins.

Chromatic Graphics Inc. is a family-owned custom apparel shop in Holland, Michigan, serving clients across West Michigan. The team accepts orders by phone and email, then delivers or ships finished goods. If you are preparing files for screen printing, embroidery, or custom apparel, use this guide to help your project start smoothly.

Request a quote and send your project details

Before You Send Artwork

  • Your name, organization, phone number, and email address
  • Product type, such as shirts, hoodies, hats, uniforms, or promotional items
  • Quantity needed
  • Artwork placement, such as left chest, full front, back, sleeve, or hat front
  • Apparel or product color
  • Preferred ink or thread colors, if known
  • Target completion date, if you have one
  • Previous order details if Chromatic Graphics has produced the design before

Good artwork helps the production team review your request, confirm the decoration method, and identify possible issues early. Before submitting files, gather the basics for your order:

If you are still deciding what to order, review the custom apparel options before sending files.

File subission Guidelines

For the best results, please send the highest-quality version of your artwork that you have available. Different products and decorating methods may require different file types, but we can review your file and let you know if anything needs to be adjusted before production. If your artwork is not quite ready, we may be able to help clean it up, recreate it, or guide you toward the best next step.

Helpful notes include:

  • Which file is the final design
  • Whether the artwork is for screen printing, embroidery, team uniforms, or another product
  • Required text, names, numbers, or personalization
  • Desired print size or approximate finished size
  • Placement notes for front, back, sleeve, cap, or other decoration areas
  • Color expectations if the logo must match a brand color

Artwork Guidelines For screen Printing

Screen printing usually works best when artwork is clean, clear, and ready for production review. If your design includes fine lines, distressed effects, gradients, multiple colors, or small text, send the highest-quality version you have and note any details that must stay sharp.

Innovative website redesign icon with a pen tool and document, symbolizing website branding and cust.

Vector File Requirements

Vector artwork is preferred for screen printing because it allows the design to scale cleanly without becoming blurry or pixelated. The best file types for vector art are PDF, AI, or EPS files. These formats help us produce sharper lines, cleaner details, and a better finished product on apparel and other printed items.

As a safe submission practice, send editable artwork if you have it. If you only have a screenshot, low-resolution image, or logo pulled from a website, tell the team that it is the only version available. Chromatic Graphics can then review the file and explain whether production-ready artwork or additional design preparation is needed.

Illustration of a website renaming process with a document and editing grid.

Image Resolution for Printing

For image-based artwork, 600 DPI is preferred whenever possible, especially for detailed designs, logos, or artwork that needs to print clearly. Higher-resolution files give us the best starting point for a clean, sharp final result. That said, we can usually work with what you have and will let you know if your file needs to be improved, recreated, or adjusted before moving forward.

Avoid enlarging small images before sending them. Making a low-quality image bigger does not add detail. Send the original file whenever possible and include a note if you are unsure whether it is usable.

Design File Formats for Embroidery

Embroidery uses stitched thread rather than ink, so artwork may need to be prepared differently than a screen printed design. Small lettering, thin outlines, gradients, and highly detailed images may not translate the same way when stitched.

The exact design file formats for embroidery accepted by Chromatic Graphics were not provided in the supplied files. The final website should confirm preferred embroidery formats, whether production stitch files are accepted, and whether customers should also send a visual reference file.

What is Digitizing

Digitizing is the process of preparing artwork so it can be stitched as embroidery. The supplied context does not state Chromatic Graphics pricing, timing, or in-house digitizing process, so those details should be confirmed by the client before publication.

If you are requesting embroidered hats, polos, jackets, or uniforms, send the best logo file you have and ask whether digitizing is needed for your design.

File Details

  • Accepted vector file formats: PDF, AI, EPS
  • Accepted raster image formats: JPG, PNG
  • Accepted embroidery file formats: JPG, PDF, SVG, PNG
  • Maximum email attachment size: Contact us for current file size limits. Larger files may need to be sent through a file-sharing link.
  • Preferred large-file delivery method: File-sharing link such as Google Drive, Dropbox, WeTransfer, or another approved upload method.
  • Whether editable design files are required for revisions: Editable design files are preferred for revisions whenever available. If you do not have editable files, we can review what you have and let you know whether adjustments, cleanup, or artwork recreation may be needed.

How to Submit Artwork​

Use these steps for how to submit artwork to Chromatic Graphics:

  • Gather your best available logo or design file.
  • Write a short note explaining the product, quantity, placement, and deadline.
  • Include preferred colors, names, numbers, or personalization details.
  • Contact Chromatic Graphics by phone or email to start the order.
  • Send the artwork using the confirmed method provided by the team.
  • Wait for file review before assuming the artwork is production-ready.

For questions before sending files, use the contact page.

Artwork Checklist

Use this artwork checklist before you send your project:

  • I included my contact information.
  • I identified the product or apparel type.
  • I listed the quantity needed.
  • I described the print or embroidery placement.
  • I sent the most original artwork file I have.
  • I included a preview image if available.
  • I noted required colors, names, numbers, or deadlines.
  • I understand that exact file type and resolution requirements need confirmation from Chromatic Graphics.

 To begin a project, go directly to request a quote.

Frequently Asked Questions

What file types do you accept?

For the best print quality, vector artwork is preferred whenever possible.For screen printing, the best file types are PDF, AI, or EPS files. These formats allow us to scale the artwork cleanly and produce the sharpest final result. For embroidery, we can typically work with JPG, PDF, SVG, or PNG files. Higher-quality files will give us the best starting point for digitizing your design.

For the best results, 600 DPI is preferred, especially for detailed artwork, logos, or designs that need to print clearly. Higher-resolution artwork helps us create a cleaner, sharper finished product. That said, we can usually work with what you have. If your file is low resolution, blurry, or not quite print-ready, we can review it and let you know the best next step. We may also be able to help recreate, clean up, or adjust your artwork if needed.

Yes, we do offer design assistance. If you already have a logo, artwork, or design idea, we can help get it ready for screenprinting or embroidery. We can work from an existing file, recreate a design you already have, or use an example/inspiration image as a starting point to create something similar for your apparel or products. We can also help adjust artwork so it works better for the item being printed or embroidered. So whether you have a finished design, a rough idea, or just an example of the style you like, we can help bring it to life in a way that is ready for production.

Please submit your files and project details on our Request a Quote page or email us at cgi@egl.net.

Yes. Before production begins, we will give you time to review and approve your design. If something needs to be adjusted, please let us know during the proofing and approval process so we can make updates before your order moves forward. Once a design has been approved and production has started, changes may not be possible or may result in additional costs or delays.

Ready to Start Your Project?

Prepared files help Chromatic Graphics review your request and guide you toward the right production process. Whether you need screen printing, embroidery, team uniforms, custom apparel, or promotional products, include your artwork and project details when you reach out.

Learn more about Chromatic Graphics, a family-owned Holland, MI shop serving West Michigan since 1985.