Artwork Guidelines

At Swallowtail Promotional, we want to ensure the best possible results for your customised apparel. To help us achieve this, we have set out some guidelines for submitting your artwork. These guidelines vary depending on whether your design will be printed or embroidered.

Bitmap vs Vector

Printing Guidelines

For the best quality print, we require vector files. This includes .ai, .eps, and .pdf files (with the artwork saved as outlines). Please note that bitmaps saved into .pdfs are still bitmaps and are not suitable for print.

An easy way to determine if your image is a vector is to zoom in on the artwork. If the lines and curves remain sharp and don't show any pixelation or jagged edges, your artwork is likely a vector. On the contrary, a bitmap image would become blocky or show a "stair-step" effect when zoomed in.

Fonts should be embedded or converted to curves. If we need to alter any wording using the font in your artwork, we ask that you also supply the font file.

If you're unsure whether your artwork is suitable, don't hesitate to contact us. We're happy to provide advice. Should your artwork need redrawing, we will notify you for confirmation before undertaking any work.

Print example

Image/Photo Printing Guidelines

If you are looking to print images or photos onto your garments, we recommend submitting the highest quality files possible. This will ensure a detailed, vibrant print without any pixelation.

The quality of a digital image is determined by its pixel count, also known as resolution. This is represented by the width and height of an image in pixels. For a crisp, clear print, we suggest using an image that has a resolution of 300 DPI (dots per inch) at the size you want it printed.

For instance, if you're planning to print an image that covers a 10" x 10" area on a t-shirt, the image file should ideally be 3000 x 3000 pixels in size. Remember that increasing the size of a lower resolution image in a graphic editor will not improve the quality of the print, as it merely spreads the existing pixels over a larger area, leading to a blocky or blurry appearance.

If you're unsure whether your image or photo is suitable for print, please get in touch with us. We can provide advice and, if necessary, discuss potential solutions if your image does not meet the recommended specifications.

Embroidery example

Embroidery Guidelines

Embroidery designs must be created in a stitch format specifically for embroidery machines. This process incurs a one-time setup fee. We accept all high-resolution file types for embroidery, including .jpg, .bmp, .tif, .eps, .ai, and .cdr.

We also have a selection of embroidery fonts for lettering. Should you wish to use these, there is a small setup fee.

Once your artwork is set up, you will receive an artwork approval which you must accept before we proceed with decorating your garments. For embroidery, the artwork sample will generally be an image of the design stitched out. Unlike some of our competitors who provide computer-generated designs of simulated stitching, we believe the actual stitched design can look different due to the type of material it's stitched onto. We prefer to show you a sample that accurately reflects the finished product you'll receive.

At Swallowtail Promotional, we aim to provide the highest quality decoration for your garments. By following these guidelines, you can help us ensure that your designs are reproduced to the best possible standard.