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ARTWORK FAQs

When supplying artwork for screen printing, there are number of factors that have to be considered.

There are several different file types available, but for silk screen printing only a certain number of these can be used.

All artwork supplied must be converted to “outlines” before sending, to ensure all parts of the artwork are fully selectable (See tutorial below for more information).

Acceptable file types

  • Illustrator EPS: This is the most favourable file format for artwork submission.
  • Adobe acrobat PDF: This format is also acceptable.
  • CorelDraw: This file format can often be used, but can sometimes lead to redraw problems when converting to EPS.

JPEG: This file type is unacceptable as artwork. We refer to this as a placed or scanned image.

Screen process

  1. Artwork received Artwork
  2. Each colour converted to black colour separation
  3. “Physical film” created from image setter. Physical film of artwork
  4. “Physical film” used to create screen for printing. Screen with artwork
  5. “Screen” loaded into print machine, coloured inks added one “screen” at a time and pens are printed. Printed pen

Placed images and outlines

There are two different ways in which artwork can be presented.

A placed or scanned image is likened to a photograph, where the whole image can only be selected as a whole.

To be successfully used as print artwork, we require the file to be saved in “outlines”.

“Outlined” artwork is where every individual part of the artwork can be selected, and edited.

Placed image example

Here you can see a blue line around the whole logo.

Placed image in layout program

This means that each individual colour cannot be selected, and so cannot be changed to black for the screen making process.


Outlined artwork

Here you can see a blue line around every part of the logo.

Vector graphic

This means each part of the logo can be selected, and their individual colours changed to black for the screen making process.


Fonts

When supplying artwork with a specific font requirement, sometimes we will not have the relevant font installed on our systems.

To counteract this problem, please follow one of these two steps.

1. Send fonts as “outlines”. This will change the text into a drawn image and ensure that the text is viewed as intended on any system.

Or

2. Send the requested font with a “true type font file” so we can install the required typeface.

With the application of this knowledge we hope to ultimately speed up our service to you.

Pantone advice

Pantones are accurate to white barrels only. Colours may vary on different coloured barrels.