Best overall
.ai
Adobe Illustrator files are excellent for logos, flat colour artwork and screen print setup. They’re also useful for digital print, but not essential for embroidery.
Artwork Guidelines
Send the right artwork for embroidery, digital print and screen print
Different decoration methods need different artwork. Embroidery is manually digitised into stitches, digital print works best from large high-quality image files, and screen print needs proper vector artwork for clean colour separation.
Embroidery digitising
Digital print artwork
Screen print vector files
Pantone guidance
Digital Sample support
XAMAX® accepts the following file types for your decorations
Send the best-quality version of your logo or design that you have. The ideal file type depends on the decoration method: embroidery, digital print and screen print each need artwork for different reasons.
Best overall
Screen print
.eps
EPS files are usually strong for vector logo artwork and screen print preparation, provided the artwork is properly created as vector shapes.
Depends on file
PDFs can be useful if they contain proper vector artwork. A PDF can also contain a low-quality image, so the quality depends on how the PDF was created.
Great for digital print
.png
A large, high-quality PNG with a transparent background can produce excellent digital print results. It’s also fine for embroidery because we digitise the design into stitches.
Large files only
.jpg / .jpeg
JPG files are acceptable for digital print if they are large, detailed and not heavily compressed. They can also be used for embroidery digitising.
Design file
.psd
Photoshop files can be useful for digital print artwork, especially where layers, transparency or design elements need to be checked.
Reference only
.doc / .docx
Word files are useful for instructions, layout notes or reference images, but they are rarely suitable as final production artwork by themselves.
We'll help
Not sure what you have?
Send the file anyway. If there’s a problem with the artwork, XAMAX® will let you know before production where possible.
8Mb Max
Large files
Website uploads should be kept to 8MB where possible. Larger artwork can be shared with a WeTransfer or Google Drive link.
Raster vs Vector: what it means for your logo
Raster and vector files can look similar at normal size, but behave very differently when enlarged. That difference matters most for digital print and screen print, while embroidery is manually digitised into stitches so matters less.
Raster images are made from pixels
JPG, PNG and PSD files are usually raster images. For digital print, a large detailed raster file can work very well. A high-quality PNG with a transparent background is often a strong option.
Best used for
- Digital print where the file is large and detailed
- Full-colour designs and photo-style artwork
- Embroidery digitising where the logo is clear enough to trace
Vector artwork is built from shapes
AI, EPS and some PDF files can contain vector artwork. Vector files scale cleanly and allow shapes and colours to be separated, which makes them essential for screen print setup.
Best used for
- Screen print artwork
- Flat colour logos and clean text
- Designs that need clean colour separation
Different decoration methods need different artwork
XAMAX® will use the most suitable decoration method for your garment, design and order type. The right artwork helps keep production smoother and avoids unnecessary delays.
Stitched finish
Embroidery
Embroidery is not printed from your image file. XAMAX® digitises the design by drawing each stitch over the artwork, then the embroidery machine stitches the design using thread.
What matters most
- A clear version of the logo to trace
- Simple shapes and readable text
- No gradients or photographic detail
- Colour matched to available thread colours, not Pantone
High detail
Digital print
Digital print is flexible and works well for full-colour designs, detailed artwork and logos with gradients. Large, clean image files can produce excellent results.
Best artwork
- Large PNG with transparent background
- Large, detailed JPG where PNG is unavailable
- Vector files are excellent but not mandatory
- Original artwork, not a screenshot
Vector required
Screen print
Screen print requires proper vector artwork so each colour can be separated cleanly. XAMAX® screen print is limited to a maximum of 5 colours.
Important pricing note
- Vector artwork is required
- Maximum 5 colours
- Only screen print can be matched to Pantone
- Online screen print prices are for one colour unless stated otherwise
- Additional colours incur extra setup cost
Colour guidance
Pantone, thread colours and print colours are not the same thing
Colour matching depends on the decoration method. Screen print can be matched to Pantone, digital print uses a print process, and embroidery is limited by the thread colours available.
- Only screen print can be matched to Pantone references.
- Embroidery colour is limited to available thread colours.
- Flame-retardant embroidery thread has a more limited colour choice.
- Digital print colours can vary depending on artwork, garment colour, fabric and production method.
- Screens, fabrics, thread and ink can all affect how colours appear.
- If exact colour is important, include clear colour notes when sending artwork.