← All articles · 2026-06-28
Short answer: A vector file (AI, EPS, or SVG) is ideal—it scales to any size without quality loss. If you only have a raster image, send a high-resolution PNG with a transparent background at 300 DPI or higher at the intended print size.
The most common reason a group shirt order gets delayed is a logo file that can’t be printed cleanly. Sending the right file format from the start saves you a round of back-and-forth and gets your mockup faster.
Vector files store graphics as mathematical paths rather than pixels. This means they can be resized to any dimension—2 inches or 20 feet—with no loss of sharpness.
Formats: .ai (Adobe Illustrator), .eps (Encapsulated PostScript), .svg (Scalable Vector Graphics)
If your organization has an official logo, there’s a good chance the original file is a vector. Check with your design team, marketing department, school district office, or whoever created the logo.
PNG files support transparent backgrounds, which makes it easy to place a logo on any shirt color without a white box around it. The critical variable is resolution.
What “high-resolution” means for printing:
A logo that’s 300 DPI at 1 inch wide is only 75 DPI if you scale it to 4 inches wide. Check the actual pixel dimensions. A 10-inch-wide chest print at 300 DPI requires a file that’s at least 3,000 pixels wide.
JPG works if the resolution is sufficient, but JPG files don’t support transparency—they have a white or colored background. If your logo is white or needs to print on a dark shirt, JPG usually won’t work without additional editing.
Low-resolution images—anything ripped from a website, screenshot, or small file—will print blurry or pixelated. This is the most common problem with logo submissions.
Signs your file is too low-res:
| Situation | Solution |
|---|---|
| You have a designer or marketing team | Ask them for the “print-ready vector” or “hi-res logo pack” |
| Your logo is from a school or organization | Contact the school district or org’s communications office—most have official logo files |
| You designed it yourself in Canva | Export as SVG (Canva Pro) or PNG at “Print” quality (300 DPI option in download settings) |
| You only have a low-res version | A designer can redraw (vectorize) the logo manually—Togethread can do this; mention it in your inquiry |
| Logo is a text wordmark | Send the font name if you know it; the designer can recreate it cleanly |
This is less critical for digital printing (DTF and direct-to-garment), but worth knowing:
For most bulk apparel orders using digital printing, RGB files print fine. If you have specific brand colors, include the Pantone or hex color codes and the print team will match as closely as the fabric allows.
When you submit your inquiry, attach your best available logo file. The designer will assess it and let you know within 24 hours if the file will work or if a better version is needed. If you only have a low-res file and can’t source a better one, the team can redraw a simple logo in vector format—mention this in your inquiry notes.
You’ll see exactly how the logo prints in the mockup before you approve anything.
My logo has a gradient—can that be printed on a shirt? Gradients print well with full-color digital printing (DTF). They don’t work for embroidery, which uses thread colors with defined edges. If you want embroidery, a simplified version of the logo without gradients works best.
I downloaded the logo from our website. Is that okay? Website logos are typically 72–96 DPI—too low for print. Use it as a reference for what the logo looks like, then source a print-quality version from whoever manages your organization’s branding.
What if I don’t have any logo and just want text? Text-only designs are simple to execute. Tell the designer what text you want, your preferred font style (bold, script, clean/modern, etc.), and any colors. They’ll create a mockup from that brief.
Related: How to get a free custom shirt mockup before you pay · How to choose colors for your group’s shirt design · See all products
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