How to prepare artwork for custom apparel
Gather the original files, define the details, and make your intended result easier to understand.
You do not need to be a designer to start a custom apparel project. You do need to show the shop the best artwork you have and explain how you want it used. An original logo file, a clear placement reference, and a few practical notes give Grizzly a much better starting point than an image with no context. Use this checklist before sending your request.
Find the original artwork before making new exports
Look for the file supplied by your designer or kept in your brand folder. Include that original alongside a simple preview when possible. A screenshot, social media image, or photo of an existing shirt may help explain the idea, but it should not replace a higher-quality source file you already own.
Vector artwork uses paths and shapes that can scale without pixelation. Raster images, such as photographs, contain pixels and have a fixed amount of image detail. Saving a small image inside a PDF does not by itself create vector artwork. If you are unsure what you have, send the file for review instead of repeatedly converting or enlarging it.
Further reading: Adobe's guide to raster and vector files.
Define the size, location, and garment
Describe the intended decoration in real dimensions when you can. A small left-chest logo and a large back graphic are separate layouts, even if they use the same artwork. List every location and connect it to the correct file. A simple marked photograph can make your intention easier to understand.
Include the garment style and color. Artwork that reads clearly on white may need a different color arrangement on a dark garment. If the design needs a transparent background, make that intention explicit; a white rectangle in a preview can otherwise be mistaken for part of the design. Let the shop confirm the final file requirements.
Explain what must stay consistent
Share existing brand color references if you have them, and distinguish the color of the garment from the colors in the decoration. A screen preview helps communicate direction, but screen appearance alone is not a final color approval. Point out important lettering, spacing, and the parts of the logo that should remain intact.
Embroidery needs the design considered as stitches at the intended size. Tell Grizzly if you already have an embroidery file, and include it with the original logo for review. For specialty printing, mark the exact elements that should receive the effect. For names and numbers, provide a checked roster that connects each detail to the correct garment size.
Use a concept preview to explain your idea
The Print Lab lets you place a logo or words on a shirt concept, explore colors, and adjust size and position. It is useful for showing a direction when you cannot describe it easily. Download the concept and include it alongside your original artwork when discussing the project.
Treat that image as a conversation starter. It is not a production proof, and uploading to the Print Lab does not send the original file to the shop. The editor keeps artwork in your browser. When you prepare the email request, attach the original artwork and any downloaded concept yourself.
Check the package before you send it
- Name files so the intended version and location are easy to identify, such as front-logo or back-artwork.
- Include the original artwork, useful reference images, and any existing embroidery file.
- Write down the garment style and color, decoration dimensions, and important color references.
- Proofread names, numbers, dates, spelling, and contact details shown in the artwork.
- List unresolved choices as questions so the shop knows where you need guidance.
Have the artwork? Start the conversation.
Add your project details to the brief, then attach the original files when sending the email. File suitability and production requirements are confirmed during review.
Build your project brief
