For t-shirt printing in Vancouver, the recommended resolution is at least 300 DPI at the final print size. This ensures your design prints sharp and professional, especially for detailed logos, text, and photo-quality artwork. If your file is lower quality (like 72 DPI or a small image stretched larger), the print will likely look blurry or pixelated on the shirt.
Short answer:
- Minimum recommended resolution: 300 DPI
- Best quality: vector files (resolution doesn’t matter the same way)
- If not vector: high-resolution PNG/JPG at correct size
Below is a simple guide to help you get print-ready artwork.
What “300 DPI” actually means for t-shirt printing
DPI means “dots per inch.” For printing, it’s essentially the amount of detail your file contains.
A design can look sharp on your phone screen but still print badly if:
- the image is too small
- it was downloaded from social media
- it gets stretched larger for printing
If your design is going to be printed large (like full front), it must also be high resolution at that size.
Recommended resolution by common print size
These are practical examples that match typical Vancouver orders:
Small chest logo (about 3–4 inches wide)
- 300 DPI at that size is ideal
Full front print (about 10–12 inches wide)
- 300 DPI at full size is recommended
- otherwise it may print soft/blurry
Full back print (about 11–13 inches wide)
- 300 DPI at full size gives the best detail
If you’re not sure, assume you need 300 DPI at the largest print size.
Vector files vs raster files (important)
This is where a lot of people get confused.
Vector files (AI, EPS, SVG, vector PDF)
Vector files can be resized without losing quality, so they’re the best format for printing.
If you have a vector logo:
- resolution becomes less of an issue
- the print stays crisp at any size
Raster files (PNG, JPG)
Raster files are pixel-based. That means resolution matters a lot.
If your PNG/JPG is too small and you scale it up, the print quality drops fast.
What happens if resolution is too low?
If your file is not high enough resolution, these issues happen:
- fuzzy or blurry edges
- pixelation
- small text becomes unreadable
- details disappear in print
- “cheap-looking” final result even if the design is good
This is especially noticeable on photo designs, portraits, and sharp logos.
How to check your resolution before printing
Before sending your artwork to a Vancouver print shop:
- check image dimensions (pixels)
- make sure it matches the print size
- avoid anything downloaded as a small web image
- avoid screenshots
A quick example:
If you want a design printed around 12 inches wide, a high-quality file should usually be around 3600 pixels wide (because 12 inches × 300 DPI = 3600 pixels).
Best recommendation (simple rule)
If you want to avoid problems, follow this rule:
- Use vector files when possible
- If not vector, send PNG/JPG that is 300 DPI at final print size
That’s the easiest way to get clean and professional results, especially for t-shirt printing in Vancouver.
