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    • How to Prepare Your Logo for T-Shirt Printing (A Real Printer’s Checklist)

    16-Jan-2026 | Posted By : Luminous Printing

    One of the biggest myths about t-shirt printing is this:

    “If the logo looks fine on my screen, it will print fine.”

    In real printing work, that assumption causes most delays, quality issues, and reprints.

    This article explains how to prepare your logo properly for t-shirt printing, using a real printer’s checklist — the same one used before production starts.

    If you follow this guide, your custom t-shirt printing in Singapore will be smoother, faster, and more accurate.

    Why Logo Preparation Matters More Than Design Skill

    You don’t need to be a designer to prepare a logo correctly.

    But you do need to understand how printing works.

    Printing machines:

    • Do not “enhance” files

    • Do not guess missing details

    • Print exactly what they receive

    A well-prepared logo:
    ✔ Prints sharper
    ✔ Matches colours better
    ✔ Avoids production delays

    Step 1: Use the Correct Logo File Format (Most Important)

    This is the number one issue printers face.

    ✅ Best file formats for t-shirt printing

    • AI (Adobe Illustrator)

    • EPS

    • PDF (vector-based)

    These are vector files, meaning:

    • They scale without losing quality

    • Edges remain sharp

    • Colours are consistent

    ❌ File formats that cause problems

    • JPG

    • PNG

    • Screenshots

    • WhatsApp images

    These are raster images and lose quality when resized.

    📌 If your logo exists only as JPG/PNG, tell your printer early.

    Step 2: Check Resolution (If Using Images)

    If your logo includes images or textures:

    • Minimum: 300 DPI

    • Lower than this = blurry prints

    Many logos downloaded from websites are only 72 DPI, which is unsuitable for printing.

    Step 3: Convert Text to Outlines

    This is a professional but critical step.

    Why?

    • Fonts may not exist on printing systems

    • Text can shift or change

    Converting text to outlines:
    ✔ Locks the design
    ✔ Prevents font errors

    Designers do this automatically — non-designers often don’t know about it.

    Step 4: Use the Right Colour Mode (RGB vs CMYK)

    Screens use RGB.
    Printers use CMYK.

    This affects:

    • Brightness

    • Colour accuracy

    • Final appearance

    Practical advice:

    • Avoid neon colours

    • Avoid glow effects

    • Keep colours solid

    If colour accuracy is critical, discuss it before printing.

    Step 5: Decide Logo Size Before Printing

    A common mistake:

    “Just print it big.”

    Big can mean different things.

    Typical logo sizes:

    • Chest logo: 8–10 cm wide

    • Full front: 25–30 cm wide

    • Back print: 28–32 cm wide

    Size affects:

    • Cost

    • Ink usage

    • Comfort

    Step 6: Consider Fabric Before Finalising Logo

    Different fabrics behave differently.

    For example:

    • Cotton absorbs ink

    • Dri-fit requires different techniques

    Some logos look great on cotton but less vibrant on polyester.

    📌 Learn how fabric affects printing:
    https://www.luminousprinting.com.sg/blog/best-t-shirt-fabric-for-singapore-weather

    Step 7: Choose the Right Printing Method for Your Logo

    Your logo design affects which method works best.

    • DTG → detailed logos, cotton

    • DTF → flexible, multi-fabric

    • Silkscreen → simple logos, bulk

    📌 Full comparison:
    https://www.luminousprinting.com.sg/blog/how-to-choose-the-right-t-shirt-printing-method-in-singapore

    Step 8: Avoid Transparent Background Confusion

    Transparent backgrounds are good — if done correctly.

    Problems occur when:

    • White logos disappear on white shirts

    • Transparent areas are mistaken as white ink

    Always confirm:

    • Shirt colour

    • Logo colour

    • White ink usage

    Step 9: Finalise Logo (No Last-Minute Changes)

    Last-minute logo changes cause:

    • Delays

    • Errors

    • Extra cost

    Printers schedule production tightly — changes disrupt the workflow.

    📌 This also affects timelines:
    https://www.luminousprinting.com.sg/how-to-order

    Step 10: Always Preview Before Bulk Printing

    For bulk orders:

    • Request a mockup

    • Or test print

    This step:
    ✔ Catches mistakes
    ✔ Confirms size & colour
    ✔ Saves cost

    Especially important for corporate t-shirt printing.

    Printer’s Final Logo Checklist (Save This)

    Before sending your logo, confirm:

    ✔ Vector file (AI / EPS / PDF)
    ✔ Text converted to outlines
    ✔ Correct colours
    ✔ Final size confirmed
    ✔ No pending changes

    This checklist alone prevents most printing issues.

    How Logo Preparation Affects Cost

    Poor logo preparation leads to:

    • Manual fixing

    • Extra setup

    • Delays

    Which increases cost.

    📌 Cost explained here:
    https://www.luminousprinting.com.sg/blog/bulk-t-shirt-printing-singapore

    Real Advice From Experience

    The best t-shirt printing results come from:

    • Simple, clean logos

    • Proper file preparation

    • Clear communication

    Printers want good results as much as customers do — preparation makes that possible.

    Final Thoughts

    Good logo preparation is invisible when done right — and painfully obvious when done wrong.

    If you want your custom t-shirt printing in Singapore to look professional, treat logo preparation as part of the printing process, not an afterthought.

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