What logo format works for textile printing?
The right format for textile printing is a vector file: AI, EPS, SVG, or vectorized PDF. Artwork built from shapes stays sharp at any size, unlike a JPG or PNG made for a screen. That's the most common reason a file gets rejected, but it's not the only one: beyond the format, the design itself (colors, detail thinness) needs to be built for printing or embroidery on a personalized garment.
The essentials in 4 points:
- The right format is vector (AI, EPS, SVG, vectorized PDF), never JPG or PNG.
- A logo that's blurry or pixelated at 400% zoom won't work for printing or embroidery.
- Beyond the format, color count and detail thinness matter too.
- No vector file? depixelise.com converts it for free in seconds.
Why your file got rejected
You sent your logo, and the answer came back: file not usable. The most common reason is easy to spot with the naked eye. Zoom into your logo at 400%: if it turns blurry or pixelated, it's built from a grid of small color squares (pixels), not shapes. On a screen, you never notice. On a garment, where the artwork is enlarged and sometimes recut for embroidery, that blur becomes a real flaw.
A vector file doesn't have this problem: it's built from curves and mathematical shapes, not pixels. You can scale it up to an XXL or down to a cap, it stays sharp.
The formats that work, and the ones that cause problems
| Format | Type | Usable as is? |
|---|---|---|
| AI, EPS, SVG, vectorized PDF | Vector | Yes |
| JPG, PNG, BMP | Raster (pixel image) | No, except very high resolution and simple design |
| PSD (Photoshop) | Mixed | Case by case |
One special case: if your only file is a very high definition JPG, with a simple design (few details, few colors), it can sometimes be vectorized without loss. A blurry, pixelated, or overly detailed file is the real problem.
If all you have is a JPG or a PNG, no software needed: a tool like depixelise.com converts your logo into a vector file for free, no signup, in seconds.
In the rare case where a raster image is accepted as is, a simple rule applies: at least 300 DPI (dots per inch, the image density) at the actual print size. Below that, even a well-chosen JPG comes out blurry once enlarged on a garment.
Beyond the format: is your logo built to be printed?
A clean file isn't enough if the design itself isn't made for textile. Three things to check before sending your logo:
The number of colors. A logo with 8 different colors complicates the marking and can push the price up depending on the technique chosen. A logo with 2 or 3 solid colors works almost everywhere, and stays more readable from a distance once worn.
The thinness of the details. A 6-point font or a very thin line can look sharp on a screen and disappear in print, or break apart in embroidery (thread can't reproduce a detail smaller than a certain threshold). Logos that age well on a garment are the ones that stay readable even simplified.
The execution size. The marking area has a maximum size, around 28 cm wide, and that limit doesn't change from one garment to another. A logo designed for a large format (a poster, a website) needs to be checked at this real size: does the text stay readable, do the details get lost?
What TKNP does for you
No vector file, or not sure if yours is good enough? On your TKNP Store, logo simplification happens automatically when you upload it: no need to know Illustrator or hire a graphic designer for a simple export. If your design has a real readability problem (too many details, too many colors), it's flagged before your merch goes into production, not after you receive the package.
Frequently asked questions
My logo is a JPG, can I still use it?
It depends on its resolution and complexity. A very high definition JPG with a simple design can be vectorized without loss. A low resolution JPG or one with lots of fine details won't work properly.
How do I know if my file is vector?
Zoom into it at 400% in an image viewer. If the edges stay sharp, it's vector (or a very high resolution raster image). If it turns blurry or pixelated, it's a standard raster image (JPG, PNG).
Who vectorizes my logo if I don't have the right file?
On a TKNP Store, this step is handled automatically when you upload your file, no software or design skills needed on your end. If you want to do it yourself first, a free tool like depixelise.com does the conversion in seconds, no signup required.
Is there a minimum text size for a logo?
There's no universal rule in points or millimeters: it depends on the font and the marking technique. The useful reference is the print area, around 28 cm wide maximum: check that your text stays readable at this real size, not at the size you're used to seeing it on a screen or a poster.
How many colors can I put in my logo?
There's no strict cap, but a logo with 2 or 3 solid colors stays the simplest to mark and the most readable once worn. The more colors there are, the more complex or costly some marking techniques become.
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