Artwork Specs · Embroidery Philippines

Embroidery Design Guidelines Philippines

Get your artwork print-ready the first time. Below: accepted file formats, color profile requirements, resolution minimums, max print areas per garment, and the gotchas that delay production.

Accepted File Formats

Use the right format for the right artwork. Vector for clean logos, raster for photos and gradients.

Format	Best for	Required?	Notes
AI / EPS / PDF (vector)	Logos, text, simple shapes	Preferred	Scales infinitely. Outlines converted to curves. Embed all fonts.
SVG	Web logos, simple icons	Preferred	Convert text to paths before sending. Inline raster images break scaling.
PNG (raster)	Photos, gradients, complex art	Conditional	Transparent background required for DTF and embroidery digitizing. 300 DPI minimum at final print size.
JPG / JPEG	Photos only	Conditional	Compression artifacts worsen on fabric. 300 DPI minimum. No transparency.
DST / PES / EMB (embroidery)	Production-ready embroidery	Preferred for embroidery	Digitized file from a digitizing service. We digitize from AI/PNG for ₱1,000/logo (waived at 300+ pcs).
PSD / TIFF	Layered Photoshop files	Acceptable	Flatten layers. 300 DPI. Embed color profile.

Color Profile & Matching

Color behaves differently per method. Pick the right workflow for your brand.

RGB (screen)

Use for digital designs viewed on screens. Not what prints — every screen displays colors differently. Convert to print color space before submitting artwork.

CMYK (print)

Standard 4-color print gamut (cyan, magenta, yellow, black). Use for signage, stickers, large-format prints. Apparel methods usually prefer spot/PMS instead.

PMS / Pantone

Standardized spot colors. Required for exact brand-color matching on embroidery thread, silkscreen inks, woven labels. Provide PMS Coated or Uncoated codes.

sRGB (web-exported)

Common output from Canva, Figma, web screenshots. Printers convert to print gamut, which can shift saturated colors. Send the original working file when possible.

For this method specifically: Embroidery tolerates a specific color workflow — see the Color count limits section below for how many distinct colors your design can use.

Resolution & DPI

Higher DPI = sharper print. Below the minimum, prints look pixelated, blurry, or soft.

Output size	Minimum DPI	Recommended DPI	Notes
Chest logo (4" × 4")	200 DPI	300 DPI	At 300 DPI, you need a 1200×1200 px image file.
Full-back print (12" × 16")	150 DPI	200 DPI	Large prints at high DPI = huge files. 200 DPI is the practical sweet spot.
Cap front (2" × 2.5")	300 DPI	300+ DPI	Small embroidery needs sharp edges. Below 300 DPI looks blocky.
All-over sublimation (full garment)	150 DPI	200 DPI	At 200 DPI for a 14"×20" front panel = 2800×4000 px.

Rule of thumb: target 300 DPI at the final print size. A 1024×1024 px image looks fine at 3"×3" (340 DPI) but pixelated at 12"×12" (85 DPI).

Max Print Area Per Garment

Beyond these limits, designs scale poorly or get cropped. Match your artwork dimensions to the placement.

Garment / Placement	Max width × height	Notes
T-shirt — left chest	4" × 4"	Standard corporate polo logo size
T-shirt — full back	12" × 16"	Cap at shoulder seam to mid-back
T-shirt — front center	10" × 12"	Avoid collar and bottom hem
Polo — left chest	3.5" × 3.5"	Smaller than T-shirt because of button placket
Jacket — back (large)	14" × 18"	Embroidery usually 10" × 4"
Cap — front panel	4.5" × 2.5"	Embroidered; silkscreen max 4" × 2"
Cap — side / back	2" × 2"	Embroidery only at this size
Tote bag — center	10" × 12"	DTG, DTF, or sublimation
Hoodie — left chest	4" × 4"	Same as T-shirt
Hoodie — full back	12" × 16"	Same as T-shirt
Apron — center	8" × 10"	Avoid pocket area
Lanyard — full width	0.75" × 14"	Woven or dye-sub only

If your design exceeds these dimensions, ask us — we can scale up with seam-to-seam sublimation or split panels.

Color Count Limits

Each color adds cost and complexity. Plan your palette to stay within the practical budget.

Spot colors

Flat ink laid down via screens or digitized as separate thread colors. Each spot color adds one screen (silkscreen) or one thread change (embroidery).

Practical limits

Most apparel methods cap at 1–6 spot colors for silkscreen, 12 thread colors for embroidery, unlimited for full-color DTF/sublimation.

When to reduce

Logos with 3+ spot colors per placement cost significantly more. Redesign to 1–2 colors for cost efficiency, or accept the premium for brand fidelity.

Format-Specific Gotchas

These are the most common reasons artwork gets rejected before production.

Transparent backgrounds

DTF and embroidery digitizing need transparent backgrounds. White background = white box printed over your design. Remove backgrounds before sending.

Outlined text / fonts

Vector files with live text break when fonts are missing on our system. Convert text to outlines (Type → Create Outlines in Illustrator) before sending.

Layered files

PSD/AI files with hidden layers confuse our production prep. Flatten layers, embed images, and outline text before sending.

Low-res logos

A 200×200 px logo from your website looks pixelated on a 4" chest print. Send the original vector or scan the print piece at 300 DPI.

RGB hex codes

Hex codes (#FF6B00) describe screen colors, not printable inks. Convert to PMS codes for spot-color matching or accept an approximate CMYK conversion.

Trademarked clipart

Microsoft Word clipart and Google Image Search results carry licenses. Use original artwork or licensed stock from iStock / Shutterstock / Freepik with commercial use.

Do & Don't

Visual reference for artwork prep. These patterns repeat across every production job.

Do

Send vector files (AI, EPS, PDF, SVG) for logos and text-heavy designs
Outline all text before saving the final file
Use 300 DPI for raster images at final print size
Provide PMS / Pantone codes for exact brand-color matching
Include a print mockup with placement guides when possible
Send transparent-background PNG for DTF and embroidery
Match color count to method limits (1–6 for silkscreen, ≤12 for embroidery)

Don't

Send Microsoft Word / PowerPoint files — they break in production
Use web-exported PNG/JPG with white backgrounds for DTF
Submit files under 150 DPI at final print size
Embed RGB-only color data and expect exact PMS match
Stack 8+ spot colors in one silkscreen design without expecting cost jump
Use licensed brand logos (Nike, Adidas, Marvel) without authorization
Skip the free mockup review — we catch sizing issues before production

Production Proof Workflow

Every order goes through the same three-step quality gate. No surprises at delivery.

1. Digital mockup

We send a free placement mockup within 1 business day of receiving your artwork. You approve placement, size, and color before any production starts.

2. Sample / strike proof

For orders above 100 pieces or complex full-color designs, we produce a physical sample or Pantone-coated strike (₱1,500 surcharge) for sign-off before the full run.

3. Production QC

Every garment passes trim-and-inspection. Defect rate target: under 0.5%. Reported defects replaced at no charge within 7 days of delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions

What file format should I send if I only have a logo on my website?

Most website logos are raster PNG/JPG at 200–500 px wide. Download the largest version available. If it's under 300 DPI at your intended print size, we can recreate it as vector for a small fee (₱1,000 for embroidery digitizing, ₱500 for vector recreation on other methods).

Can I send a screenshot from my phone?

Only as a last resort. Phone screenshots are typically 72–150 DPI and 1080–4000 px wide. They work for 1–2" placements but pixelate at chest or back sizes. Snap the original artwork from your designer if possible.

Do you offer graphic design if I don't have artwork?

Yes — our design team creates logos, layouts, and print-ready files. See Graphic Design Services for portfolio and pricing. Design fee is waived on qualifying orders above 300 pieces.

How long does mockup approval take?

Same-day mockups on orders submitted before 12 NN PHT. Standard turnaround 1 business day. You approve via Viber, email, or in-person at our Tagum / CDO branches.

What if my artwork has a white background?

Depends on the method. For DTF and embroidery, white background = a white rectangle printed over your design — we strip it for ₱500. For silkscreen with white ink in the design, white background is fine. For sublimation, we can pre-mask.

Can I supply my own garments?

Yes. We accept customer-supplied polos, jackets, caps, towels, and cut panels. Send a photo of the fabric first — we check hoop clearance (embroidery) or heat-press tolerance (DTF, sublimation) before production.

What if I have multiple designs in one order?

Each design on the same garment type counts as one setup. For silkscreen, that's one set of screens per design. For embroidery, that's one digitization per logo. Mixed designs are normal — we batch them in production.

Do you store my artwork for reorders?

Yes — production files, digitized logos, and PMS strike proofs are archived in our system. Reorders reproduce the same colors, sizing, and placement batch after batch.

Send Your Artwork — We'll Handle the Rest

Same-day mockups on orders before 12 NN PHT. Viber or email your file and we'll reply with placement, sizing, and a free quote.

Ready to print?

Send your artwork via any of the channels above. We'll reply with a placement mockup and a fixed-price quote within 1 business day. No deposit until you approve the mockup.

Get a quote Open Viber