What file to send for embroidery, DTF, UV DTF, sublimation, vinyl, engraving and 3D printing — and what to do if all you have is a blurry screenshot.
For embroidery, vinyl and laser engraving, send a vector logo (AI, EPS, SVG or PDF). For DTF, UV DTF and sublimation, send a high-resolution PNG with a transparent background at 300 dpi at the final print size. If you only have a low-quality file, send it anyway — it can often be cleaned up or recreated.
Vector files (AI, EPS, SVG and most PDFs from a designer) are built from shapes and paths, so they scale to any size without getting blurry. They are the gold standard for embroidery digitizing, vinyl cutting and laser engraving.
Raster files (PNG, JPG) are made of pixels. They work well for full-color printing — DTF, UV DTF and sublimation — as long as the resolution is high enough for the final size. A good rule: 300 pixels per inch at print size. A 10-inch-wide shirt print needs an image about 3,000 pixels wide.
| Method | Best file | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Embroidery | Vector (AI, EPS, SVG, PDF) or high-res PNG | Your logo is digitized into a stitch file. Keep text at least ~¼ inch tall; very fine lines and gradients are simplified. |
| DTF | PNG, transparent background, 300 dpi at print size | Full color and gradients are fine. Avoid semi-transparent pixels and soft shadows at the edges — they print as faint halos. |
| UV DTF | PNG, transparent background, 300 dpi at print size | Same as DTF. Tell us the item so the design is sized to fit its surface. |
| Sublimation | High-res PNG or JPG, 300 dpi at print size | Full-bleed and photo designs work well. Colors print best on white surfaces. |
| HTV & vinyl | Vector (SVG, AI, EPS, PDF) or clean text | Each color is cut separately, so keep designs to solid colors and avoid very thin strokes. |
| Laser engraving | Vector (SVG, AI, PDF) — single color | Engraving is one tone. Logos are converted to black-and-white; fine detail engraves well on smooth materials. |
| 3D printing | STL, 3MF or STEP — or a logo/sketch | Include real-world measurements. Very thin walls or tiny text may need to be thickened to print cleanly. |
Send it anyway. Simple logos can often be cleaned up or redrawn as vector artwork, and embroidery digitizing rebuilds your logo as a stitch file regardless of the original format. We’ll tell you honestly what your file needs before you commit.
Screens and printers show color differently, so exact matches aren’t guaranteed from a screen alone. If you have brand colors (Pantone or HEX codes), include them — for embroidery, thread colors are matched as closely as possible to your brand.
Attach your logo details in the quote form or email it to info@craftymediallc.com.