The Hidden Cost of “Close Enough” Artwork (and How to Get It Right)
If you’ve ever ordered custom shirts, hats, signs, decals, or promo items, you’ve probably heard some version of: “We can make it work.” Sometimes you can. But most of the time, the wrong artwork turns a simple project into delays, unexpected fees, or a finished product that doesn’t look like your brand.
Here’s what goes wrong, why it matters, and exactly what artwork LogoGear can accept so your project moves fast and prints clean.
What happens when the artwork isn’t right
1) Your logo prints blurry or “fuzzy”
The most common issue is a low-resolution logo (often pulled from a website or a screenshot). It may look fine on your screen, but when it’s enlarged for a shirt back or banner, it breaks apart into pixels.
Result: soft edges, jagged lines, and a “cheap” look.
2) Colors don’t match your brand
If your artwork doesn’t include consistent color specs (Pantone, CMYK, RGB/HEX), the printer has to guess, or match “by eye.”
Result: your navy becomes purple, your red becomes orange, and your brand looks inconsistent across items.
3) Thin lines and tiny details disappear
Small text, fine outlines, distressed textures, and gradients can fail depending on the decoration method (embroidery, screen printing, DTF, engraving, etc.).
Result: missing details, unreadable text, or a design that looks “filled in.”
4) Unexpected art fees show up
If we have to redraw, vectorize, separate colors, clean up edges, or rebuild a logo, that’s design time.
Result: added cost, added approvals, added days.
5) Production gets delayed
Bad files slow down everything: proofing, approvals, production scheduling, and sometimes ordering blanks.
Result: rush fees or missed deadlines.
6) The final result doesn’t match what you pictured
A logo that looks okay on paper might stitch terribly. A complex image might print fine, but won’t screen print well. The right file format is only part of it, it also has to match the decoration method.
Result: you approve something that technically prints… but doesn’t impress.
Print-ready vs. “usable” artwork (big difference)
A quick rule:
Print-ready means we can place it, size it, and produce it with minimal changes.
Usable means it’s a starting point, but it likely needs cleanup or rebuild before it can be produced correctly.
If you want the fastest turnaround and the cleanest result, aim for print-ready.
Artwork LogoGear accepts
Below is what we can work with for most custom projects. If you’re not sure what you have, send it anyway. We’ll tell you if it’s ready or what it needs.
Best (preferred) formats
These are ideal for professional printing because they scale perfectly and stay crisp.
AI (Adobe Illustrator)
EPS
PDF (vector-based PDF)
Best for: screen printing, embroidery digitizing, large-format, laser, engraving, signage.
Good formats (with the right resolution)
These can work well if they’re high quality and sized correctly.
PNG (with transparent background)
SVG (great for clean logos)
PSD (Photoshop file with layers)
Best for: DTF, some print methods, web-to-print needs, proofing, multi-layer designs.
Sometimes workable (usually needs cleanup)
These often cause issues, but we can sometimes rebuild or convert them.
JPG/JPEG (only if high-resolution and clean)
DOC/PPT logos (often low quality)
Screenshots (almost always need rebuild)
Reality check: If the only logo you have is from your email signature or a Facebook image, expect it to require attention.
Artwork requirements that keep your project smooth
Resolution guidelines (for raster files like PNG/JPG)
300 DPI at final print size is the standard.
As a shortcut: if you want a 10” wide print, you want the file to be at least ~3000 pixels wide.
If you don’t know what you have, no worries. We can check quickly.
Backgrounds matter
Transparent PNG is preferred for logos.
If your file has a white box behind the logo, that box may print unless we remove it.
Color guidelines (to match your brand)
If brand accuracy matters, provide one or more of these:
Pantone (PMS) for printing
CMYK for print matching
RGB/HEX for screens and digital
If you don’t have them, tell us what “close” means: do you want “as close as possible” or “simple and bold”?
Quick artwork checklist (send this with your order)
If you can answer these, we can move fast:
What decoration method are we using (screen print, embroidery, DTF, etc.)?
Where is it going (left chest, full front, sleeve, back, hats, etc.)?
How many colors should it print as?
Do you need exact brand colors? If yes, share Pantone/CMYK/HEX.
Provide the best file you have (AI/EPS/PDF preferred).
Tell us your deadline and if it’s a hard date.
Don’t have the right files? We can help.
A lot of customers don’t have print-ready art and that’s normal. If you have anything (even a photo of a business card), we can usually:
Clean up and sharpen the logo
Convert it to vector
Rebuild text and shapes properly
Prep it for the decoration method you chose
We’ll always tell you up front what’s needed and what it costs before we touch it.
Bottom line
Your artwork is the foundation of the finished product. When it’s right, everything goes faster, looks better, and costs less. When it’s not, the project becomes a guessing game.
