Artwork Requirements
Artwork Requirements
Balls, boxing gloves and apparel typically are screen printed prior to them being sewn together. We almost always need any artwork you want printed in a vector format. Raster images are not something we can use.
Raster vs. Vector images – what's the difference?
Raster images are made up of a bunch of tiny pixels, while vector images are made from mathematical paths.
Let's pretend you have a raster image that is 300 x 300.
While you could easily make the image smaller, there is no way to increase the size of the image without decreasing the resolution or recreating it entirely.
Now let’s pretend you have a vector image that is 300 x 300.
Because a vector image is made up of mathematical paths, you can increase the size of the image as much as you want and it would never decrease in quality. You could literally increase the size to 3 million x 3 million and all the details would still look sharp (assuming your computer could handle a file that big).
This difference usually makes vector images a superior option, especially when it comes to print. However, there are times when using raster images might be your best option. For example, photographs are always raster images. Converting a photograph to a vector image is possible, but will usually result in a drop in detail.
It's also common for vector images to be converted to raster images to make them more accessible on the web. For example, Google’s standard logo on Google.com is actually a .png file, while the design itself was originally created using a vector editing software. The .png file is very small (16kb) and makes for a quick loading page. But when it comes to printing, Google would want to use a vector version of their logo.
If you plan on using a logo, text, or illustration for print, we insist on a vector version of the artwork. Raster logos and files can be redrawn by a graphic designer to meet the required level of quality. Our team includes graphic designers who can offer this service or you may source you own and supply us with the completed files.
Common raster file types:
- .png
- .jpg or .jpeg
- .gif
- .tif
- .psd
Common vector file types:
- .eps
- .ai
- .svg
- .sketch
Gradients:
Screen printing does not allow for gradients. We require all artwork to be solid colour only. Gradients can only be printed via digital printing which can be used for some balls and equipment but has a higher price per unit.
