Rushordertees Premium Cotton T-Shirt Buyer's Guide: Fit, Design, and Bulk Orders
By James H. Sterling
Most print defects do not originate on factory presses. They originate inside poor digital files uploaded by customers. The RushOrderTees online design studio includes automated pre-flight file checks, but understanding file architecture prevents costly delays.
Vector artwork built in Adobe Illustrator or CorelDraw (saved as AI, EPS, or vector PDF) yields the sharpest production output. Vectors scale infinitely using mathematical paths rather than fixed pixels, allowing press operators to output film separations at maximum crispness. If using raster graphics like PNG or PSD files, export them at physical print dimensions at 300 DPI with a clean transparent background. Uploading a 72 DPI thumbnail pulled from a website results in jagged pixelation across the chest.
Small typography requires deliberate tracking and sizing. Avoid micro-fonts with delicate serifs under 12 points. Screen mesh threads average 110 to 230 fibers per inch; fine lines thinner than 0.5 points (approx. 0.007 inches) risk washing out during the screen exposure and rinse cycle. Ensure high-contrast color pairings between garment dyes and graphic elements to maximize legibility from across a room.
James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.
