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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.

Terms of Service

Last updated: April 22, 2026

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of the website savagedesigns4u.com and the services offered by Savage Custom Design, Inc. ("Savage Designs," "we," "us," or "our"), located at 817 Industrial, Suite F, Hollister, CA 95023. By placing an order or using our website, you agree to these Terms.


1. Services

Savage Designs provides custom DTF (Direct-to-Film) heat transfers, gang sheet printing, UV DTF stickers, custom apparel, laser engraving, custom hats (The Hat Bar), and related services. Orders are placed through our website or in person at our studio. Some services may be temporarily unavailable based on current capacity.

2. Accounts

To use certain features (such as the DTF Builder or gang sheet upload), you must create an account. You may register with an email address and password, or sign in using your Google account. You are responsible for keeping your login credentials secure and for all activity that occurs under your account. You must provide accurate information when registering. We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms.

3. Orders and Payment

All prices are listed in US dollars. Payment is due at the time of order. We accept major credit and debit cards, Google Pay, and Cash App Pay, all processed through Square, Inc. By submitting payment, you authorize us to charge the stated amount to your payment method.

Applicable sales tax will be calculated and added to your order total at checkout based on your shipping address or pickup location.

We reserve the right to cancel any order and issue a full refund at our discretion — for example, if a file is unprintable or if we are unable to fulfill the order.

4. Pickup and Delivery

Orders may be placed for local pickup at our studio (817 Industrial, Suite F, Hollister, CA 95023) or for delivery to a provided shipping address. Pickup availability is selected at checkout. We are not responsible for delivery delays caused by shipping carriers once an order has been handed off.

5. File Requirements

You are responsible for submitting print-ready files. For best results:

  • Raster images should be at least 300 DPI at print size.
  • Accepted formats: PNG, JPG, PDF, SVG, AI, EPS.
  • Files must not exceed 150 MB per upload.
  • Vector files (SVG, AI, EPS) have no DPI requirement.

If you acknowledge a low-DPI warning and proceed with your order, we will print the file as submitted. We are not responsible for print quality issues resulting from low-resolution artwork.

6. Third-Party File Import

The DTF Builder allows you to import design files from third-party services including Google Drive, Dropbox, Canva, and Adobe Creative Cloud. Use of these integrations is optional and governed by each provider's own terms of service. By choosing to import a file from a third-party service, you represent that you have the right to use that file for the intended purpose.

7. Turnaround Time

Standard turnaround is communicated at the time of order or on our website. Turnaround times are estimates and not guaranteed. We are not liable for delays caused by high order volume, shipping carriers, or circumstances beyond our control.

8. Refund and Reprint Policy

Because our products are custom-made to your specifications, all sales are final. We do not accept returns or issue refunds for orders that have been produced as submitted.

However, if we make an error on our end (wrong size, wrong design, production defect), we will reprint or refund the affected items at no charge. Please contact us within 7 days of receiving your order with a description and photo of the issue.

We are not responsible for issues caused by customer-provided artwork, including but not limited to low resolution, incorrect colors, or design errors.

9. Intellectual Property

By uploading a design or image, you represent and warrant that you own or have the necessary rights to use that design, and that it does not infringe on any third-party intellectual property rights. We will not knowingly reproduce trademarked or copyrighted material without authorization.

Savage Designs retains no ownership rights over customer artwork. We will not use your designs for any purpose other than fulfilling your order.

10. Prohibited Content

You may not submit files containing illegal content, hate speech, obscene material, or content that infringes third-party intellectual property rights. We reserve the right to refuse any order at our discretion.

11. Wholesale Accounts

Wholesale pricing is available to approved businesses with a valid Employer Identification Number (EIN). Wholesale status is granted at our discretion and may be revoked. Misrepresentation to obtain wholesale pricing is grounds for immediate account termination.

12. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Savage Custom Design, Inc. shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of our services. Our total liability for any claim related to an order shall not exceed the amount paid for that order.

13. Disclaimer of Warranties

Our services are provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, express or implied. We do not warrant that the website will be error-free or uninterrupted.

14. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of California. Any disputes shall be resolved in the courts of San Benito County, California.

15. Changes to These Terms

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

16. Contact Us

If you have questions about these Terms, 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.

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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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