What is the best resolution for image files?
Images with 300 dpi are ideal. A high dpi is optimal for fine art prints because the more dots of colour that can be printed in a small area, the more detailed your final image will appear.
Other products such as canvas may require lower image resolution. The specific dpi for each product can be found on the individual product pages.
What does ‘bleed’ refer to when it comes to images and printing?
‘Bleed’ refers to the area which gets trimmed off after printing. This is to make sure that the image goes to the edge of the printed product so that there are no unprinted edges. Photo prints usually have 3mm of bleed. However, our print API will automatically prepare your images with the correct amount of bleed, if you aren’t setting up your files independently.
What type of image files do you require?
We can work with a very wide variety of image file formats although our preference is for high-quality jpg or png files, depending on the product.
We prefer jpg files because the compression is very efficient and designed specifically for saving photographic and fine art images. Although some image data will be lost during the compression process, at there is no meaningful difference between an 80% quality (Level 10 in Adobe) jpg and a tiff when printed to paper.
We will respect any built-in transparency in png files, and they can also display higher colour depths, making them ideal for apparel.
Our Shopify Print on Demand App supports tiff, jpg and png files.
Other file formats such as psd and pdf are unfortunately not supported at this time. If your design has a transparent background, you can retain this with tiff or png.
| jpg (RGB) | jpg (CMYK) | png | tiff | psd | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| API | Y | N | Y | N | N | N |
| Online ordering | Y | N | Y | N | N | N |
| Shopify app | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | N |
What file size do I need for printing good quality prints at different sizes?
The following table provides a rough guide of the ideal sizes for your images.
| Image size in pixels | Print size at 300dpi (inches / cm) |
|---|---|
| 640 x 480 | 2.1x1.6” / 5.4x4.1cm |
| 1024 x 768 | 3.4x2.5” / 8.7x6.5cm |
| 1280 x 960 | 4.2x3.2” / 10.8x8.1cm |
| 1504 x 1000 | 5.0x3.3” / 12.7x8.5cm |
| 1632 x 1224 | 5.4x4.1” / 13.8x10.4cm |
| 2000 x 1312 | 6.7x4.4” / 16.9x11.1cm |
| 2240 x 1488 | 7.5x5.0” / 19x12.6cm |
| 2275 x 1520 | 7.6x5.1” / 19.3x12.9cm |
| 2272 x 1704 | 7.6x5.7” / 19.2x14.4cm |
| 2590 x 1920 | 8.6x6.4” / 21.9x16.3cm |
| 3008 x 2000 | 10.0x6.7” / 25.5x16.9cm |
| 4256 x 2848 | 14.2x9.5” / 36x24.1cm |
| 4536 x 3024 | 15.1x10.1” / 38.4x25.6cm |
| 5782 x 3946 | 19.3x13.2” / 49x33.4cm |
How do I set up my artwork so it prints correctly within the product shape?
For many print on demand products we provide product setup templates and guidance information to ensure your images perfectly match the product being ordered.
If you download the template for the product and size that you’re creating, it will highlight how much of the image is used as bleed.
Once you’re happy, you can then save your image and remove the guide layers before using it to create your products. If you’re intending to offer multiple sizes, we would recommend doing this for the largest size you expect to offer, as our print API can then scale the image down for the smaller sizes, saving you repeating these steps for each option offered.
How will you protect my images and intellectual property?
By submitting content to our platform you are giving Prodigi a worldwide, non-exclusive license to use your image files to produce your orders. But only your orders. We can not use your images or artwork in any other capacity.
You retain full ownership of your content as well as maintaining all other rights associated with your digital files and any intellectual property rights or other proprietary rights associated with your content remain yours. You also guarantee that the content is owned or duly licensed by you.
Having produced your orders, all images will subsequently be deleted from our systems subject to our data protection policies. Typically, around two weeks to ensure that we retain the file in case any reprints are required for lost or damaged orders.
What are your quality control processes for reproducing images?
We go to huge lengths to ensure your images are produced to the optimum quality possible; whether produced in-house or outsourced using our global print network.
We regularly colour proof test prints across our network to ensure machines remain consistently calibrated, measure all defects and complaints received by every individual lab, and churn any poor performing partners.
We believe we’ve created the world’s largest fine art print network and no one is able to provide you or your clients with our reach or attention to detail.
How can I replicate the woven effect on Jacquard woven blankets in Photoshop?
Follow the steps below to create an approximate preview of how your artwork will be reproduced:
- Reduce the saturation of the reds and greens. Select Image > Adjustments > Colour Balance. Drag the first slider away from ‘red’ towards ‘cyan’, and drag the second slider away from ‘green’ towards ‘magenta’. Click OK.
- **Reduce the resolution to 12 dpi. **Select Image > Image Size. Clear the Resample check box. Type ‘12’ into the Resolution text field, and type the original dimension into the Width text field. Click OK.
- **Add a textured weave transparent overlay. **Add this image of a woven texture as a new layer on Photoshop. You’ll need to play with the opacity of the layer and the blending mode until your mockup looks like a blanket and you can see the design underneath.
Please note: This process is designed to create an approximate preview of how your artwork will be reproduced and is for mockup purposes only. Please do not print this image.