Artwork Guidelines
Stevenage Branded Workwear Artwork Guidelines
To ensure timely delivery and premium-quality customisation—while avoiding additional charges—please take a moment to review our artwork guidelines below.
If your artwork isn’t in a format compatible with embroidery, we offer a file conversion (redraw) service for a fee of £25.00. We’ll always contact you for approval before proceeding with any adjustments.
shop by brands
Subscribe to our mailing list
Artwork file types explained
There are two types of artwork files: Raster and Vector. Raster files are flattened single layer image files made up of pixels (squares of colour). They are difficult to edit and often are low resolution. Raster file types include (but are not limited to): bmp (bitmap), jpg, png and tif. Raster files will require an artwork charge to redraw them for us to use them for printing. They are generally okay for embroidery.
Vector files are made up of points, lines and shapes and are multilayered. They can easily be edited and scaled without losing resolution making them ideal for graphics and embroidery. Vector file types include (but are not limited to): ai, eps and svg.
PDF files are a versatile file format used to display many different file formats including both raster and vector files. Think of a pdf as an envelope for a file that anyone can open to view the file inside. It is a myth however that saving a raster file as a pdf magically converts them into a vector file. It doesn’t. Though, saving a vector file as a pdf can retain the vector file’s editing capabilities as long as the pdf is set to preserve the attributes.
Our preferred file types are vector files.
Our Guidelines
Vector AI files and EPS files
We recommend submitting artwork in Vector AI or EPS formats, as these are best suited for high-quality embroidery. Vectors are easy to identify—when zoomed in, they remain sharp and free from pixelation. In contrast, bitmap images become blurry or blocky when enlarged.
Please avoid saving a bitmap image as an AI or EPS file.
Although the file extension may change, the content remains a bitmap and cannot be used for embroidery unless redrawn, which incurs a £25.00 fee.
Pantone spot colours
All colours must be converted to spot colours. In Illustrator and similar design software, you can select each colour and assign its corresponding Pantone value. For guidance on this process, consult your software’s documentation or search online resources.
Screen printing involves applying one colour at a time, which is why we require files with colour separations. This allows us to efficiently prepare and print each layer individually.
Let me know if you’d like it tailored for a specific audience or tone.
Embedding fonts and converting fonts to paths (or curves)
Any fonts or typefaces in your logo must be converted to outlines (also known as paths or curves, depending on your software). This ensures the text becomes a fixed graphic element and cannot be altered. If fonts aren’t converted, and we don’t have the exact typeface, we won’t be able to replicate your artwork accurately.
TIF and PSD bitmap files
For single-colour prints, artwork must be provided at the exact print size (or larger) and have a minimum resolution of 300dpi at that size. Colours should be separated into individual layers. Please note, this format is not preferred and may incur additional charges if file adjustments are required.
Note: This method is not compatible with CAD CUT.
Adobe PDF files
PDFs must be generated from vector artwork and retain full editing capabilities.
Please do not save a bitmap image as a PDF—despite the file format, it remains a bitmap and cannot be used for production. Files submitted in this way will require redrawing, which may incur an additional fee.
Artwork Approval
After submitting artwork, we’ll generate a proof for approval. Only once artwork is approved will we move forward with decorating garments.
High resolution JPG, BMP, TIF, EPS, AI
We accept all file types, provided the resolution is high quality.
For first-time customers, there is a one-time £20 digitising fee to convert logos or graphics into embroidery-ready format. Once digitised, your artwork will be stored for future use.
Embroidery text setup incurs a separate £5 fee.