How big your picture needs to be
A picture prints sharp when it has at least 150 pixels for every inch it covers on the product. 300 pixels per inch is the print shops’ own standard and gives the best result. A design printed 12 inches wide needs a picture at least 1,800 pixels wide, or 3,600 pixels wide for the best result.
Sizes for common prints
Multiply the print size in inches by 150 for a sharp print, or by 300 for the best one.
| If you’re printing | Sharp (150 per inch) | Best (300 per inch) |
|---|---|---|
| A design 10 inches wide on a shirt | 1,500 pixels wide | 3,000 pixels wide |
| A wrap around a mug, 8.5 × 3.5 inches | 1,275 × 525 pixels | 2,550 × 1,050 pixels |
| A poster, 18 × 24 inches | 2,700 × 3,600 pixels | 5,400 × 7,200 pixels |
| A sticker, 4 × 4 inches | 600 × 600 pixels | 1,200 × 1,200 pixels |
You don’t need to work this out yourself. The designer shows each product’s print area in inches, measures your picture as you resize it, and tells you whether it will print sharp.
How to find your picture’s size
On a phone, open the photo and look at its details or info: the size is listed in pixels, like 4032 × 3024. On a computer, check the file’s properties or info. A recent phone photo is usually big enough for a full shirt front.
Getting a bigger picture
- Use the original file. Photos sent through chat apps or saved from social media are shrunk on the way.
- Export artwork at the biggest size your app allows.
- Enlarging a small picture with a resizing tool doesn’t add real detail. For simple artwork with flat colors it can still look fine; for photos it usually doesn’t.
Transparent backgrounds
On a colored shirt, a white or pale background in your picture prints as a visible box. To print only the design, save it as a PNG with a transparent background. JPG files can’t be transparent.
Colors
A screen shines light through its colors; ink on fabric or paper doesn’t, so very bright and neon colors print a little duller than they look on screen. A dark design on a dark shirt loses contrast. Clear contrast between your picture and the product’s color prints best.
Pictures you can print
Only upload pictures you took, made, or have permission to use. Print shops turn down orders with other people’s logos, characters or artwork.