DTF File Format Guide: PNG or SVG, DPI and More

Good artwork is the biggest factor in a good DTF print. The printer can only print what is in your file. A blurry, low-resolution image will print blurry. A design with a white background will print a white box. The good news is that a few simple checks fix most problems before you order.

This guide covers the best file for DTF, whether to use PNG or SVG, how resolution works, and how to get a transparent background.

Which file formats can you use?

The Mocked Up gang sheet builder accepts PNG, JPG, SVG and WEBP. You can upload from your device or pull files straight from Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Canva, iCloud and more.

Format	Transparent background	Scales without blur	Best for
PNG	Yes	No	Most designs, photos and artwork with effects
SVG	Yes	Yes	Logos, text and flat graphics
WEBP	Yes	No	Web images, if saved with transparency
JPG	No	No	Photos where a rectangular background is fine

PNG or SVG for DTF?

Both work well. The right choice depends on the design.

SVG is a vector file. It stores shapes as maths rather than pixels, so it stays sharp at any size. That makes it ideal for logos, text and flat graphic designs. If you have a vector version of your logo, use it.

PNG is a raster file. It is made of pixels, so it has a fixed amount of detail. PNG handles photos, textures, gradients and complex artwork that vectors cannot. It also supports transparency, which is why it is the most common file for DTF.

A simple rule: logo or text, use SVG if you have one. Anything else, use a high-resolution PNG.

Only have a small or blurry logo? Our guide on how to vectorize a logo explains your options, or our design team can redraw your logo for $25. You get a transparent 300 DPI PNG plus an SVG or PDF vector where possible.

Resolution: how many pixels do you need?

Mocked Up prints at 300 DPI (dots per inch). To print sharp, a raster image should have around 300 pixels for every inch of print size. That works out to roughly 118 pixels per centimetre.

Here are some common print sizes and the pixel sizes that match them at 300 DPI:

Left chest logo, 9cm wide: about 1,060 pixels wide
Front print, 28cm wide: about 3,300 pixels wide
A3 back print, 29.7 x 42cm: about 3,500 x 4,960 pixels

The builder needs images of at least 300 x 300px, and it checks the DPI of each design as you resize it. If an image is stretched too far, you will see a warning so you can shrink it or find a better file.

Watch out for upscaling. Making a small image bigger in an editor does not add real detail. It just makes bigger, softer pixels. Always start from the largest original file you have. Screenshots and images saved from social media are usually too small.

Transparent backgrounds

DTF prints exactly what is in your file, including backgrounds. If your design sits on a white or coloured rectangle, that rectangle gets printed. On a black tee, that looks like a sticker.

To avoid this:

Export your design as a PNG with a transparent background. In Canva, tick "Transparent background" when downloading. Most design apps have a similar option.
Check the file. Transparent areas usually show as a grey and white checkerboard in image viewers.
Remove leftover edges. Background removal tools sometimes leave a faint halo around the design. Zoom in and tidy it up.
Crop tight. Extra empty space around the design takes up room on your gang sheet.

Other artwork tips

Avoid very thin lines and tiny text. Lines thinner than about 1mm and text smaller than about 6pt can be hard to press cleanly.
Be careful with semi-transparent areas. Soft shadows, glows and faded edges can print unevenly. Solid colours give the cleanest result.
Think about the garment colour. Dark designs can disappear on black fabric. Preview your design on the colour you plan to use.
Keep text as real text or outlines. Blurry text in a photo will stay blurry. The builder's Add Text tool is handy for names and slogans.
Check spelling. It sounds obvious, but prints are made exactly as supplied.

Starting from scratch? The is free to try with three free designs a day, in styles like bold streetwear, clean line art, photoreal and retro badge. You can send designs straight to the gang sheet builder.