Digital printing is a fabulous technique: it has recently allowed us to open up the possibilities of graphic reproduction. Although very sophisticated, this method will still require us to meet certain criteria at the design stage to ensure the result meets expectations... Rest assured, there's nothing too complicated.
For explanations, see below.
Format
It's impossible to overlook the notion of format when you're dealing with the world of graphics.
It's the mention that follows the name of your file (for example, mysumptuousdesign.format). Several options are available: .jpg for low-quality still images, .gif for animated images, .mp4 for videos, ...).
In Print on Demand, the format we're interested in is the . png
There are two reasons for this: firstly, because it delivers the best possible image quality, and secondly, because it's a format that supports a transparent background, essential for a clean print result.
But wait, what do you mean, a transparent background?
Transparent background
The background of your design is the backdrop of your composition. It doesn't really serve a purpose, especially in Print on Demand where keeping it will give a rather unsightly effect once your design is printed...
A kind of raw border, as you can see here:
To avoid this, you will need to use the image format mentioned above: .png. Once transparent, depending on the tool you use for your graphic creation, your background may be visible as a gray and white grid, but rest assured: it will not be visible in its printed version!
Quality
No one wants a product that looks like a screenshot from a game of Snake on an old Nokia. If your visual's resolution is low, that's exactly the impression it will give. A good pixel is a pixel that is not visible.
It is therefore advisable to reserve the best possible quality for your creations by maintaining a resolution of 150dpi at a minimum up to 300dpi for a guaranteed HD effect. In terms of dimensions, plan for at least 2000px for the longest side of your design.
Yes, you shouldn't be afraid to think big!
CMYK Colors
Does colorimetry ring a bell? It's the little name given to the science of colors: it defines the spectrum, that is, the range of colors visible to the human eye, translatable - or not - depending on the medium.
Some media can reflect the image of certain colors... And others cannot! Otherwise, it would be too simple.
Screens reflect colors belonging to the RGB profile (red, green, blue). All the colors they allow us to see are mixtures of these three shades. Printed media, on the other hand, have their own color profile, CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black).
Contrary to appearances, the RGB profile that screens reflect is broader than CMYK. It includes, for example, fluorescent colors. Unfortunately, these colors, like all those not included in CMYK, will not be printable... And there's nothing to be done: if you try to print them, the result will be dull and very little comparable to the original.
Three pieces of advice, then:
Avoid neon colors at all costs;
Work on your design directly in CMYK profile to avoid unpleasant surprises;
If you didn't understand this paragraph, go read the article we lovingly wrote on the subject
Sufficient Contrast
Contrast, another decisive criterion for the overall quality of your customized product! It is the degree of difference between the light and dark elements of a set.
Without sufficient contrast between the background and the design, readability is greatly compromised, and neglecting readability literally means rejecting the proper understanding of everyone who encounters your product. A bit of a shame, isn't it?
Therefore, respecting the contrast between your product choice and your creation means not attempting monochrome concepts of black printing (or too dark a shade) on black fabric or, conversely, white (or too light a color) on a white background. It's original, sure, but if it's rare, it might simply be because it's not suitable...
If you want to check this aspect of your design, there are online tools available to compare the contrast of a color with its background, like this one or this other one.
They are initially intended for web use but can give you an idea of the desired contrast!
https://app.contrast-finder.org/?lang=fr
Do Not Use Semi-Transparency
In design, semi-transparency is what lies between opacity and total invisibility (also called transparency, the very one we mentioned earlier for your background). Depending on its degree, it will allow you to see more or less the color that is just underneath. This semi-transparency is used to give depth and a gradient texture effect to a set.
Set against a transparent grid background (as mentioned above), this semi-transparency appears as follows:
In some cases, its use is relevant, but it should be noted that it is not suitable for digital printing. This (brilliant) printing technique allows for the reproduction of solid colors thanks to concentrated pigments, and these cannot be diluted...
Basically, either you print, or you don't print, but there's no in-between!
Moreover, for your print to hold and be visible, a white base is used as the first layer: if the top layer (the colors) contains transparent parts, this base will inevitably be visible and will not allow for a faithful rendering of the original. This constraint is unfortunately unavoidable. Therefore, you are asked to ensure that your designs do not contain semi-transparent elements...
Or, if they do, to remove them! Promise, your creations will look great without them.
How do I know if my design contains semi-transparent elements?
Add a colored layer (in gray, for example) in your graphic creation tool and slide it under your visual. If the red is visible through certain areas, it means it contains semi-transparency. Similarly, if you can see the grid appearing in certain areas, the visual contains semi-transparency.
If you absolutely want a transparency effect, we recommend using half-toning.
There are few, they are easy to follow, make noise for...
Save your design in .png format;
Use a transparent background;
Maintain a resolution of at least 150dpi;
Plan for at least 4000px for the longest side of the design;
Avoid fluorescent colors;
Work your design in CMYK;
Pay attention to the contrast of your creation;
Avoid micro-details
Prohibit semi-transparent elements.
Therefore, you cannot send an all-white logo on a white product: nothing would be printed.
Similarly, on a black t-shirt (only black), the black in your design will not be printed: these are the only two exceptions, and the textile replaces the color.
Finally, avoid micro-details: small dots, lines that are too thin, small text of only a few millimeters may not be printed correctly.
Even though our printers allow us to reproduce your designs very precisely, textile is less defined than a sheet of paper: these micro-details may not appear properly, so keep this in mind before sending your designs.
For more information on our printing techniques, an article is available on our blog:
Preparing your designs, a crucial step that will ensure top-quality printing.