How to Prepare Your Logo or Artwork for Custom Printing (and Avoid Blurry Results)
A great print starts with a good file. The same logo can come out crisp or blurry depending on the format, the size and the resolution you upload. The good news: you do not need to be a designer to get it right.
Here is everything you need to know before uploading your artwork to Yuno Art, your custom apparel and gift shop in Katy, Texas.
1. Use the right file format
Our design tool accepts PNG, JPG/JPEG, SVG and PDF files up to 20 MB. They are not all equal:
| Format | When to use it | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| SVG or PDF (vector) | Logos and text from a designer. They scale to any size without losing quality. | ⭐ Best |
| PNG with transparent background | Logos and artwork without a vector version. This is our recommended format. | 👍 Very good |
| JPG | Photos. Not ideal for logos because it always has a background and can show blurry edges. | ⚠️ Photos only |
Tip: if a designer made your logo, ask them for the "vector file" or the "SVG/PDF version". Most designers keep one.
2. Remove the background
A logo saved as JPG, or as PNG with a white background, will print as a white box around your design. On a white shirt you might not notice, but on a black hoodie or a colored cap it looks wrong.
Use a PNG with a transparent background. In the editor you will see a checkerboard pattern behind the logo instead of a white square. That pattern is not printed.
3. Check the resolution: big enough for the print size
Resolution is the number of pixels in your image. If there are too few for the size you want to print, the result looks pixelated or blurry.
The rule of thumb is 300 pixels per inch at the final print size:
| Print width | Typical use | Minimum image width |
|---|---|---|
| 3 inches | Left chest logo, cap | 900 px |
| 6 inches | Medium front design, tumbler | 1,800 px |
| 10 inches | Full front or back of a shirt | 3,000 px |
Our design tool has 3″, 6″ and 10″ width buttons so you can preview each size on the product.
Avoid these common mistakes
- Screenshots of a logo from a website or social media. They are almost always too small.
- Images forwarded by WhatsApp or text message. Those apps compress pictures. Send the original file by email instead.
- Enlarging a small image in an editor. It gets bigger but not sharper.
4. Mind the colors
- Screens and garments show color differently. Screens glow; fabric absorbs light. Expect small differences, especially with neon colors.
- Single-color vs. multicolor. Many of our products include a single-color design in the price. Multicolor artwork may use a different print option. Check the product options before you order.
- Contrast with the garment. A navy logo on a black shirt will almost disappear. Pick a garment color that makes your design stand out, or ask us for a version of your logo for dark backgrounds.
5. Simplify for embroidery and engraving
Embroidery and laser engraving need cleaner artwork than printing:
- Embroidery: avoid very small text and thin lines. A left-chest logo is small, so bold shapes work best. Each new logo is digitized once and reused for future orders. Embroidery is temporarily paused at Yuno Art, so for now we print logos with DTF. See DTF vs. embroidery vs. sublimation vs. laser engraving to compare.
- Laser engraving: the result has one tone. Logos with gradients or shadows should be converted to a solid, single-color version.
6. Choose the placement
On shirts and hoodies you can choose the front, back, left chest or right chest. Some common combinations:
- Business uniform: small logo on the left chest + large logo or website on the back.
- Event or team shirt: big design on the front, names or sponsors on the back.
- Gift: one centered design on the front.
Check each product's description: some include one print location, and each extra location may add a small charge.
Quick checklist before uploading
- ☐ SVG, PDF, or PNG with a transparent background
- ☐ At least 300 px per inch at the size you want (3,000 px wide for a full front)
- ☐ The original file, not a screenshot or a WhatsApp image
- ☐ Colors that contrast with the garment
- ☐ Simple, bold shapes for embroidery and engraving
Don't have a good file? We can help
If you only have a photo of your logo, a business card or a sketch on paper, contact us. We will tell you if it can be used as it is or how we can prepare it for printing.
