Your artwork and logo may look amazing on your computer, but once you send them to be printed on a mug or T-shirt, the result is blurry, dull, or off-color.
To avoid this, we recommend:
- Work in CMYK instead of RGB from the beginning.
- Work with transparent PNG images.
- Rasterize all of your text so it doesn’t become blurry when resized.
Alpha Imprint is here to help your design shine—not just on screen, but in real life. Before placing an order, read this article to know more about what to do and not to do when printing your artwork on promotional products Houston.
How to Prepare Artwork to Print
One of the most important steps is getting your artwork print-ready. Nevertheless, the majority of delays occur here. Incorrect file formats, low resolution, or missed design boundaries are the most frequent artwork errors we encounter.
Here’s the correct way to get it done:
• Use proper file types: JPEG or PNG files are not useful. Use vector-based files such as high-resolution PDFs, native files like AI and EPS files to ensure that your artwork scales smoothly on business cards and banners.
• Setting resolution not less than 300 DPI: Files with lower resolution often generate prints pixelated or blurry, which is especially noticeable on branded promotional items like apparel or business signage.
• Always use colors in CMYK mode: RGB-built designs that appear vivid on screen but erratically on print. To get a consistent color output for what you see on screen, always switch to CMYK.
• Provide safe zones and bleed lines: Keep important components away from the edge and add at least 0.125 inches of bleed. This stops logos or text from getting trimmed during production.
Preventing these kinds of problems guarantees that your branding appears polished and professional across all materials while also saving time when producing your promo items.
What Makes a Good Art to Print Houston Promotional Products?
Consider how customers will view your product—from a distance, while moving, and possibly even outside. Your best friend is simplicity.
Here is an example of quality:
- Clean lines when printed on plastic, steel, and fabric that don’t bleed or blur.
- High contrast to make the design stand out, that’s crucial in hectic settings like trade exhibitions.
- Fonts that are capable of being resized to fit on pens, custom USB drives, or keychains without losing legibility.
- Minimal detail on small surfaces—intricate illustrations and complex shading regularly don’t translate well at small sizes.
A gorgeous logo with gradients and fine lines might shine on your desktop wallpaper, but disappear when printed on a custom tote bag. Our advice? Stick with bold, clear designs, and don’t be afraid of white space. When you are sending artwork to print promotional products, less really is more.
You might also like: Understanding Pantone Color Matching to know the benefits of using a Pantone Matching System (PMS) when producing Houston promotional products.
How Do I Print High-Quality Art Prints for Custom Promotional Products?
To get the best printing results, we suggest:
- Resizing your logo to better fit the print area of the product.
- Modifying colors to improve material compatibility or contrast.
- To make smaller items readable, change the font.
- To ensure that your artwork prints precisely as intended, outline fonts and transform strokes or shapes into vectors.
Effective design is only half the fight; execution is equally important, and of course, we can help you with that!
We do more than just press “print” at Alpha Imprint. Our team reviews each file before it is sent to production. We flag anything that seems strange, from resolution, file format, sizing, color accuracy, to layout alignment, making sure every field is checked and ready to go.
Why Is My Print Quality Poor?
Some unseen factors that contribute to low print quality are:
- Using web-sourced images: Which are usually 72 DPI and intended for screens rather than printing.
- Upscaling small graphics: A small image becomes blurry when it gets larger.
- Fonts not converted into outlines or vectors: Your font may be replaced with a different one if the printer does not have it installed.
- Submitting RGB files: Unexpected outcomes may arise from colors shifting or becoming dull when printed in CMYK.
Usually, the original file setup is the reason why a finished product falls short of expectations. But don’t worry. These problems can be solved in just a few minutes with our design team. Typically, thanks to their vast experience working with imprint, they can quickly pinpoint the underlying issue and assist you in making necessary revisions before your next run.
Why Choose Alpha Imprint to Print Your Promotional Products Artwork?
At Alpha Imprint, we’ve helped hundreds of Houston businesses bring their branding to life—from corporate gifting to event-ready swag. We’re not just an imprint company—we’re a partner.
What you can expect from us:
✅ In-house artwork review for every order
✅ Real-time assistance to direct file configuration or design modifications
✅ Quick turnaround to fulfill deadlines for local events
✅ Experience with a wide range of promotional materials
One of our most recent clients said the following:
“I reached out to Alpha Imprint when we were getting ready for a trade show and didn’t really know what we needed. Their team was super helpful in walking us through different options for signage, giveaways, and branded apparel. They didn’t push anything-just offered good, practical suggestions that made sense for our budget and goals. The final product looked great and helped us stand out at the event. Would definitely work with them again.”
— Myles Hunter
As a Houston promotional products supplier, we know what works for our community—from rodeo-ready giveaways to sleek branded corporate gift sets. We’re not just here to take your order—we’re here to help you get it right.
📞 Let’s Talk!
Got questions about your design file? Wondering if your logo is print-ready? Let’s take a look together.
For a brief design consultation, contact us or stop by our local store. We are here to ensure that your promotional products create a positive first impression!
