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Savage Designs Help

File Quality Guide

The quality of your printed transfer depends heavily on the file you send us. Here's a plain-English breakdown of what matters and why.

File Types

Best — Vector (SVG, PDF, EPS, AI)

Vector files are made from math, not pixels. That means they're infinitely sharp no matter how big or small you print. If you have a logo in vector format, always use it.

Great — PNG

PNG is the go-to for most people. It supports transparent backgrounds (no white box around your design) and keeps sharp edges on text and logos. Just make sure it's high resolution — see the DPI section below.

OK for Photos — JPG / JPEG

JPG is fine for full-color photos, but it doesn't support transparency — your design will always have a white or colored background. It also compresses the image slightly, which can cause blurry edges on text or thin lines.

Avoid — Screenshots & Upscaled Files

Screenshots from a phone or web browser are usually 72 DPI — way too low for printing. Blowing them up with an AI upscaler adds pixels but not real detail. Garbage in, garbage out.

Transparency

Think of transparency like a cutout. When your design has a transparent background, the transfer blends directly onto the shirt — no visible border. When the background is white (or any solid color), you'll see that color as a "box" on the garment.

For DTF transfers: always use PNG with a transparent background. If your file has a white background and you want it removed, reach out to us — we can clean it up for a small art fee.

DPI & Resolution

DPI stands for dots per inch — it's how many pixels are packed into each inch of your printed design. More dots = sharper image.

72
Screen only
Will print blurry
150
Borderline
May look soft
300+
Print quality
Sharp & crisp

A quick way to check: in Photoshop go to Image → Image Size. On your phone, a photo from a modern camera is usually high enough — but logos copied from a website almost never are.

Size & Dimensions

Your file needs to be large enough to cover the print area at 300 DPI. Here's a simple formula:

Print width (inches) × 300 = pixel width needed
Example: 12" wide design → needs at least 3,600 px wide

Scaling up doesn't help. Stretching a 500 px image to 3,600 px just makes a blurry 500 px image — it doesn't create real detail. Always start from the highest-resolution source you have.

Color Accuracy

Your screen shows colors in RGB — a mix of red, green, and blue light. Printers use CMYK — cyan, magenta, yellow, and black ink. These two systems don't cover the same range of colors, so what looks vivid on screen may print slightly different.

RGB (Screen)

Wider range. Neons and electric colors look great on screens. Designed for light emitting from a display.

CMYK (Print)

Narrower range. Some RGB colors — especially neons and electric blues — can't be replicated with ink and will print darker or more muted.

Most designs print just fine. But if your brand relies on very specific colors (Pantone colors, neons, electric hues), send us a note and we can flag anything that's likely to shift before we print.

Text & Fine Details

Small text and thin lines are the hardest things to print cleanly. A few rules of thumb:

Minimum font size: ~8–10pt at print dimensions. Anything smaller tends to fill in or become unreadable.

Outline your fonts before exporting (Illustrator: Type → Create Outlines). This prevents missing-font issues and locks in your exact letterforms.

Avoid hairline strokes. Strokes thinner than 0.5pt at print size can disappear entirely. Bump them up or remove them.

White text on transparent background can be tricky to see in the builder — zoom in to verify it's there before submitting.

When in doubt, zoom your design to 100% and squint. If details look muddy at that size, they'll print that way too.

Pre-Submit Checklist

Run through this before you upload:

File is PNG (or SVG/PDF/EPS/AI for vector art)
Background is transparent — no white box
Resolution is 200 DPI or better (raster/PNG/JPG only — vectors are always sharp)
Pixel dimensions match the intended print size at 200+ DPI
Fonts are outlined / converted to paths
No hairline strokes (all strokes ≥ 0.5pt at print size)
File was NOT stretched from a small original
Bright neon or Pantone colors noted if exact match is important (if applicable)

Watch & Learn

Vector vs. Raster — File Types for Printing

DPI & Resolution — What You Need for Print on Demand

DTF File Prep — How to Size & Prep Images for DTF Transfers

Color Accuracy — RGB vs CMYK for Print on Demand

Text & Fonts — How to Outline Fonts for T-Shirt Printing

Still not sure about your file? Send us a message — we'll take a look before you place your order.

Privacy Policy

Last updated: April 22, 2026

Savage Custom Design, Inc. ("Savage Designs," "we," "us," or "our") operates the website savagedesigns4u.com. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your rights regarding that information.


1. Information We Collect

We collect information you provide directly to us, including:

  • Account information — name and email address when you create an account. If you sign in with Google, we receive your name and email from your Google account.
  • Order information — sheet size, quantity, and design files you upload when placing an order.
  • Payment information — credit/debit card details entered at checkout. Payment data is processed and stored by Square, Inc. — we never see or store your full card number on our servers.
  • Contact information — name, email, and message if you contact us via our contact form.
  • Address information — shipping or business address if you provide it for delivery or wholesale purposes.
  • Business information — Employer Identification Number (EIN) if you apply for a wholesale account.

We also collect limited technical data automatically, such as your browser type, IP address, and pages visited, through standard server logs and cookies.

2. How We Use Your Information

  • To process and fulfill your orders.
  • To send order confirmations and status updates.
  • To calculate applicable sales tax on your order.
  • To respond to your questions or support requests.
  • To maintain and improve our website and services.
  • To detect and prevent fraud or abuse.

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

3. Payment Processing

All payments are processed by Square, Inc. We accept credit and debit cards, Google Pay, and Cash App Pay. Your payment details are tokenized in your browser by Square's Web Payments SDK and transmitted directly to Square's servers. Savage Designs receives only a payment confirmation token — your full card number is never transmitted to or stored on our servers. Square's privacy policy is available at squareup.com.

4. Google Sign-In

We offer sign-in with Google as an alternative to email/password accounts. When you sign in with Google, Google shares your name and email address with us via a secure ID token. We do not receive your Google password. Your use of Google Sign-In is also subject to Google's Privacy Policy.

5. Design Files You Upload

Image and design files you upload through the DTF Builder or the gang sheet upload page are stored on our servers solely to fulfill your order. We do not use your designs for any other purpose, and we do not share them with third parties. Files may be retained for a reasonable period to support reprints or order disputes, after which they are deleted.

6. Third-Party File Import Services

The DTF Builder lets you import design files directly from third-party cloud services. Each integration is optional and initiated only when you choose to use it:

  • Google Drive — files you select via Google Picker are downloaded to our servers for your order. Subject to Google's Privacy Policy.
  • Dropbox — files you select via the Dropbox Chooser are downloaded to our servers for your order. Subject to Dropbox's Privacy Policy.
  • Canva — designs you select via Canva OAuth are downloaded to our servers for your order. Subject to Canva's Privacy Policy.
  • Adobe Creative Cloud — designs you select via Adobe OAuth are downloaded to our servers for your order. Subject to Adobe's Privacy Policy.

We do not retain access tokens for these services beyond your current session. We only download the specific files you select.

7. Cookies and Local Storage

We use cookies and browser storage to support site functionality:

  • Session cookie — keeps you signed in during your visit (HttpOnly, Secure).
  • Wholesale status cookie — stores your wholesale account status for display purposes; removed on logout.
  • IndexedDB (local storage) — stores your shopping cart locally in your browser so items persist between pages.
  • localStorage — stores your cookie consent preference.

We do not use third-party advertising cookies or tracking pixels. You can clear browser storage at any time in your browser settings, though cart contents will be lost.

8. Sales Tax

We use Zip-Tax to calculate applicable sales tax at checkout. Your shipping ZIP code, city, and state may be transmitted to Zip-Tax solely for the purpose of determining the correct tax rate. Zip-Tax's privacy policy is available at zip.tax.

9. Data Sharing

We share your information only with:

  • Square, Inc. — for payment processing.
  • Google LLC — for account sign-in and Drive file access (when used).
  • Dropbox, Inc. — for file import (when used).
  • Canva Pty Ltd — for design import (when used).
  • Adobe Inc. — for design import (when used).
  • Zip-Tax — for sales tax calculation.
  • Hostinger — our web hosting provider, which stores data on our behalf.
  • Law enforcement or government authorities, if required by law.

10. Data Retention

We retain your account and order information for as long as your account is active or as needed to fulfill our legal and business obligations. You may request deletion of your account and associated data at any time by contacting us.

11. Your Rights

You may request to access, correct, or delete your personal information at any time by contacting us at shannon@savagedesigns4u.com. We will respond within a reasonable timeframe.

12. Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will post the updated policy on this page with a revised "Last updated" date. Continued use of our services after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

14. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us:

  • Email: shannon@savagedesigns4u.com
  • Phone: (831) 801-2942
  • Address: 817 Industrial, Suite F, Hollister, CA 95023

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Savage Custom Design, Inc. — Custom apparel, laser engraving, DTF transfers. CA-based, shipping nationwide.

Services

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Guides

  • DTF vs Screen Printing
  • DTF vs Sublimation
  • DTF Artwork Prep
  • DTF Care Guide
  • DTF in the Bay Area

Get In Touch

  • (831) 801-2942
  • shannon@savagedesigns4u.com
  • 817 Industrial, Suite F
    Hollister, CA 95023
  • Request a Quote

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