What We Need Before Printing Starts
Artwork help starts with the basics. Send us your logo, wording, and the size or garment type you want printed, and we will check whether the file is suitable for screen printing. If the artwork is not ready, we will tell you what must be fixed first so there are no delays once production begins.
For the best result, we prefer clear artwork with clean edges and correct spelling. If you are printing shirts for a school, business, or event in Bloemfontein, Hamilton, Botshabelo, Thaba Nchu or further afield, it helps to include the print position, quantity, garment colours, and any deadlines linked to the order.
- Send the logo or design file in the clearest version you have
- Include all names, numbers, slogans, and spelling exactly as they must appear
- Let us know where the print must go, such as left chest, back or sleeve
- Tell us the garment colour and size range
File Types And Artwork Quality Checks
Not every file prints well. A picture taken from a phone, a social media image, or a low-resolution file may look fine on screen but can become blurry or jagged when enlarged. We check line quality, text clarity, and whether the artwork will hold up on cotton, poly cotton, or sportswear fabric.
If the design is too small or too soft, we may ask for a better version before anything goes to film or screens. That saves time and helps avoid extra setup charges later. In our experience, this step matters even more for bulk uniforms and school orders where consistency across all items is important.
- Best results usually come from vector artwork or a very high-resolution file
- Simple logos and solid shapes print more cleanly than fine gradients
- Thin lines and tiny text may need to be adjusted for visibility
- Dark garments often need special colour handling for lighter inks
How We Help With Layout And Placement
Artwork help is not only about the file itself, it is also about where the design sits on the garment. A logo that looks correct on paper can sit too high, too low, or too wide once it is placed on a shirt. We help you decide the right print size and position for the item being used.
This is useful for workwear, team shirts, event tops and school apparel, where each garment size may need slightly different placement. A small left chest print on a size medium shirt should still look balanced on a 5XL shirt. We check that the layout stays neat across the full order, not just on one sample.
- Standard placements can include chest, back, sleeve and front panel prints
- We can help size artwork for kidswear and adult garments separately
- Names and numbers can be arranged for the same shirt style across a team
- Layout approval is done before production begins
Colour Matching For Brands, Schools And Teams
When your brand already has set colours, we work to match them as closely as possible within the screen printing process. Exact colour matching depends on the garment colour, ink type, and how the design is prepared. Where needed, we will compare print colours against your supplied reference so the finished item stays true to your identity.
For uniforms and event wear, this is especially helpful when the same logo must be printed on different colours of shirts or hoodies. Our team checks contrast and visibility so the artwork does not disappear on dark navy, black, maroon or green garments. If the colour needs a tweak, we will say so early rather than finding out after printing has started.
Before You Approve The Final Proof
Once the artwork is prepared, we send a final check for approval. This is the moment to confirm names, spellings, numbers, print size and placement. It is worth taking a few minutes here, because small mistakes are much harder to fix after printing begins. One extra set of eyes from your side can save a full reprint.
If you are ordering for a school, a company branch, or an event team across the Free State, make sure the list is final before approval. Changes made after approval may affect turnaround time and the order total. We keep the process practical and clear, so you know exactly what will go onto each garment.
- Check every name and number line by line
- Confirm garment sizes and colour choices
- Make sure the logo version is the one you want printed
- Approve only when the layout, spelling and placement are correct
Helpful Artwork Tips For Faster Turnaround
If you want the process to move faster, send complete information upfront. That includes the design file, garment list, quantity, sizes, and deadline. When clients leave out the shirt colour or only send a screenshot of a logo, we often have to pause the job while we request more detail. A complete brief keeps the order moving.
For clients in Bloemfontein, Welkom, Bethlehem, Kroonstad and Parys, courier deliveries work best when the artwork has already been checked and signed off. That way we can move straight into production and dispatch without hold-ups. In summer, when heat and load-shedding can affect scheduling, good preparation helps keep things on track.
- Send one clear contact person for approvals
- Keep all artwork changes in one message or form submission
- State if the order is urgent or linked to a fixed event date
- Let us know if your items need size sorting or individual bagging after printing
When The Artwork Needs Fixing
Sometimes a logo needs redrawing, text spacing needs adjusting, or a layout must be rebuilt for printing. That is normal. We handle the practical side of setup so the final print is neat and print-ready. If a file is too small, badly cropped, or missing parts, we will explain what needs attention and what can be done next.
Because screen printing relies on clean separations and clear shapes, some artwork looks different once it is prepared for production. We make those changes carefully and keep the design aligned with the garment and the order size. The goal is simple: the print should look good on the shirt, not just on the screen.
