How to Get Your Logo Ready for Custom Apparel

You've picked your products, you know what you want, and you're ready to place your order. Then comes the question we ask every customer:

Can you send us your logo file?

For some people, that's easy. For others, it opens up a whole conversation about file formats, colour codes, and why the PNG you've been using on Facebook isn't quite what we need for production.

This guide is here to make that part simple — so your order moves smoothly from "let's do this" to finished product.

Why the File Format Matters

Not all logo files are created equal. The difference comes down to two types: raster and vector.

Raster files (JPG, PNG, GIF) are made up of pixels. They look fine on a screen, but when you scale them up for printing on a hoodie or embroidering on a hat, those pixels become visible — and the result is blurry or jagged edges. A PNG that looks sharp on your website may not be suitable for production.

Vector files (AI, EPS, SVG, PDF) are built from mathematical paths, not pixels. They can be scaled to any size — from a pen to a billboard — without losing any quality. For custom apparel, vector files are the gold standard.

What to send us ideally:

• Adobe Illustrator file (.AI)
• Encapsulated PostScript (.EPS)
• Scalable Vector Graphic (.SVG)
• High-resolution PDF with fonts outlined

If you only have a raster file: Don't panic — send us what you have. We may be able to work with a high-resolution PNG, or we can talk about having your logo vectorized. It's a common situation and we deal with it regularly.

Colours — Know Your Codes

If your brand has specific colours, we want to match them as closely as possible. The best way to ensure that is to know your Pantone (PMS) colour codes or your CMYK values.

• Pantone (PMS) — the industry standard for colour matching across print and apparel. If your brand guidelines include Pantone codes, share them.
• CMYK — used for print production. Four values (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) that combine to produce your colour.
• HEX codes — great for web, less precise for physical production, but still useful as a reference.

If you're not sure what your brand colours are — or you've never had them formally defined — this is a good time to sort that out. We can help point you in the right direction.

What Works for DTF vs. Embroidery

The decoration method affects what your logo needs to look like in production — and it's worth knowing the differences before you finalize anything.

DTF (Direct to Film) DTF is forgiving and versatile. It handles:

• Full colour logos with gradients or shading
• Fine detail and small text
• Photographic or complex artwork
• Multiple colours without added cost

For DTF, a clean vector file or high-resolution PNG (300 DPI minimum) works well.

Embroidery Embroidery translates your logo into stitches — which means some things that work on screen don't translate well to thread.

• Bold, simple shapes work best
• Very fine detail and thin lines can get lost
• Small text (under about 6mm tall) is difficult to stitch cleanly
• Gradients and shading don't translate — embroidery uses solid thread colours

For embroidery, we'll digitize your logo into a stitch file. A clean vector is the best starting point, but we can work from a good quality raster file too.

Screen Printing Screen printing works best with bold, solid-colour designs. Each colour in your logo is a separate screen, so simpler designs are more cost-effective. Gradients and photographic images aren't suited for this method.

A Few Things That Help Us Help You

Beyond the file itself, here are a few details that speed things along:

• Preferred placement — chest left, centre chest, back, sleeve? Let us know where you want the logo to sit.
• Approximate size — do you have a sense of how large you want it? Even a rough idea helps.
• Any colour restrictions — sometimes a garment colour limits what decoration colours will show up well. We'll flag anything that might be an issue.
• Multiple logo versions — if you have a horizontal and a stacked version of your logo, send both. Sometimes one works better than the other depending on the garment and placement.

Don't Have a Vector File?

You're not alone. A lot of small businesses and community organizations have been working with whatever logo file they were given years ago — and it's not always in the best format.

We can help. Logo vectorization is something we handle regularly, and it's often a quick turnaround. Send us what you have and we'll let you know what's possible.

Ready to Get Started?

Send us your logo and tell us what you're thinking. We'll take a look, let you know if anything needs adjusting, and get your order moving.

1-604-309-5988 wecare@sportxcanada.com Or contact us here →

Sport X Canada is based in Abbotsford, BC, with in-house DTF production and full decoration services for businesses, schools, sports teams, and community organizations across the Fraser Valley and beyond.