Start with the clearest version of your logo
The best file to send is the cleanest version you have, preferably a vector artwork file such as AI, EPS or PDF with editable outlines. If you do not have that, send the highest quality version available. A sharp image with clear edges gives a better result than a small picture lifted from a letterhead or social media page.
For embroidery and printing, the important thing is legibility. Fine lines, tiny text and fuzzy edges can turn into problems once the artwork is scaled for a cap, shirt chest or back print. If your logo has changed over time, send the most current version and mention which version should be used on your garments.
- Best file type: vector artwork
- Good backup: high resolution PDF, PNG or JPG
- Helpful detail: tell us if the logo is for left chest, back, cap front or sleeve
- Also useful: a clear image of an old sample if the logo has been used before
Keep colours simple and named clearly
Colour information matters because embroidery thread, print inks and sublimation behave differently. If you know your brand colours, include them by name or by a reference system if your designer uses one. If not, describe the colour in plain terms, such as navy, maroon, forest green or gold.
Do not rely on a screen grab if you can avoid it. Screen colours often shift from one phone or laptop to another. A school in Hazyview may call the same shade blue that a supplier in White River calls royal blue, so a simple written description is often more useful than a picture alone. If exact colour matching is important for a corporate order, say so at the start.
- List the main logo colours in order of priority
- Say whether the background should be white, transparent or a garment colour
- Let us know if black, white or single colour versions are needed
- If you have brand guidelines, send them with the artwork
Size the artwork for the garment from the start
A logo that looks good on a letterhead may be too detailed for a cap or too small for embroidery on a chest pocket. Tell us where the logo will go and what garment type it is for. A shirt chest, golf shirt sleeve, cap front, sports bag or apron all need different treatment.
As a guide, small text and thin lines become risky on compact placements. For embroidery, we often need to simplify the artwork so the stitches hold cleanly and do not close up. For screen printing, the artwork should stay crisp at the final print size. If you are ordering for staff in Mbombela and branch teams in Barberton or Malelane, it helps to confirm one standard size for the whole group.
- Tell us the garment type and placement
- Say whether the logo must fit a fixed area
- Flag any small text, fine lines or tiny symbols
- Let us know if the same logo will be used across shirts, caps and bags
Remove extras that cause delays
Artwork files often arrive with hidden layers, background boxes, old slogans or draft notes that should not be printed or stitched. The cleaner the file, the quicker the setup. If the logo was copied from a brochure or a scan, there may be marks, shadows or cut-off edges that need to be sorted before production can begin.
For schoolwear and corporate clothing orders, a tidy file also helps when mock-ups are prepared for approval. That approval stage matters because it prevents misunderstandings about spelling, layout and colour placement before the job goes into production.
- Remove watermarks and crop marks unless they are needed
- Check for spelling mistakes in taglines or school names
- Make sure the background is not carrying unwanted colour blocks
- Delete old dates, outdated phone numbers or retired slogans
Send the right information with the file
Artwork alone is not always enough. A good file with missing instructions can still slow things down, especially when an order includes multiple sizes, names or item types. The more context we have, the less back and forth there is before we can start digitising or print setup.
When businesses in Nelspruit Central or schools in Kabokweni place a bulk order, clear instructions help us organise the work properly. That includes packing by size, department or class group, and matching the right branding method to each item. If your order is for a winter staff issue, say which items need embroidery and which need print.
- Quantity per item and per size
- Garment or product type
- Names, initials or role titles if personalisation is needed
- Deadline or event date
- Preferred branding method if you have one in mind
A simple Lowveld example that saves rework
Take a school in White River ordering golf shirts, tracksuits and caps for a tournament. If the school sends a low quality logo copied from a WhatsApp image, the cap version may need extra redrawing, the shirt version may need adjusted stitch paths, and the print version may need a cleaner outline. That can add time on both sides.
Now compare that with a school sending one good logo file, a short note about placement, and the exact school colours. The setup is quicker, the proof is easier to approve, and the final garments are more likely to match across shirts, caps and bags. The same applies to a company in Hazyview or Malelane preparing staff wear for a trade show, especially when deadlines are tight and load shedding can interrupt production windows.
In practice, good artwork is not about being fancy. It is about making sure the file can be used without guesswork, so the final result looks right the first time.
