Concept
Print-Ready File
An artwork file that meets all the technical specifications required to send directly to the production press.
Definition
A print-ready file is an artwork submission that meets all the technical specifications required to send directly to production without rework. The Long Island DTF Printing baseline for print-ready is: PNG, PDF, AI, EPS, or SVG format, 300 DPI at final print size for raster, transparent background where applicable, sRGB color space, 1.5 pt minimum stroke weight, 6 pt minimum text height, and a clear alpha channel for any area intended to not print. Files outside these specs are flagged at intake. The customer can approve as-is, request adjustments, or order a vector rebuild through the Vector Credit Pack.
Related Terms
DPI
Dots per inch. The resolution measurement for raster images, with 300 DPI as the production standard.
Resolution
The pixel density of a raster image, typically measured in DPI at the intended physical print size.
Transparent PNG
A PNG file with a transparent alpha background so only the design prints and the surrounding film stays clear.
Vectorize
Convert a raster image into a vector file made of resolution-independent paths and shapes.
sRGB
A standard RGB color space used as the source gamut for most digital print workflows including DTF.