If we are designing your art we will evaluate your concept and provide an estimate for art charges. Please be as descriptive as possible as far as what you want to see. Providing any examples, fonts, clip art, type content, etc. can reduce art charges. 

If we are not designing your art you will need to submit print ready art files when you order. If you have art files and are not sure if they are print ready please email them to contact@columbuscustomtees.com and we'd be happy to take a look. If you are unable to produce print ready art files yourself see this page for an overview of your graphic design choices. Please make sure to follow or have your designer follow these art file guidelines.

Vector and Raster Art File Guidelines

All digital art files can be grouped into one of two categories: vector (equation based) or raster (pixel based) files. 

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A vector art file is a graphic file that describes the image mathematically using vectors (paths) and points (anchors). Designers use software like Adobe Illustrator or Corel Draw to make vector art. Vector art files are generally smaller than raster files but more importantly they are infinitely scalable: A one inch vector graphic can be blown up to billboard size without any loss of image quality.
Since art burned on to a screen needs to have extremely clean and sharp edges in order to come out well, having the art in vector format is a must.

  • We require vector format art files in all cases except photographic or four color process prints.
  • Please submit any vector files in .ai, .eps, or .pdf format.
  • Please convert any type elements in the art to paths. 
  • Please indicate print locations, print dimensions and ink colors in the art file
  • A vector version of your logo can often be provided by the original logo designer.
  • The vector file format does not necessarily indicate that any or all elements in the file are vector. Raster graphic elements saved in a vector file format are still raster and will likely need to be redrawn by a graphic designer. Saving a photoshop file as a PDF does not vectorize it. 

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A raster art file is a graphic file comprised of a set number of pixels.  The vast majority of web graphics as well as all digital photographs are raster files. Raster art is created using programs like Adobe Photoshop. Raster files are not scalable - if you increase the size of a raster image you also increase the pixel size resulting in pixelation which does not work for screen printing.

  • Raster files are only suitable for photographic prints or four color process prints.
  • In most cases (except photographic or process art) If you only have raster art to work with, it should be professionally redrawn by a graphic designer.
  • Raster files being submitted for screen printing should be sized at actual print size or larger with a minimum resolution of 300 dpi.  
  • We can work with just about any raster image format (.psd, .jpg, .bmp, etc.) as long as the resolution is high enough. If you are providing a photoshop file please leave the layers separated.
  • Word processor and presentation files (.doc, .docx, .ppd, etc) are not acceptable art files.

Please submit any art files under 25mb to our email address contact@columbuscustomtees.com. Contact us for details on how to send files larger than 25mb via gmail or dropbox.