SVG for Screen Printing: File Preparation Guide
Screen printers need correctly formatted vector files. Here's exactly how to prepare your SVG for professional screen printing.
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What Screen Printers Need
Screen printing requires one screen per color. Your artwork must be separated into distinct colors with no gradients (unless doing halftone printing). Each color is a solid, separate layer.
- Maximum recommended colors: 4–6 for cost-effective printing
- No gradients in standard screen printing (gradients require halftone simulation)
- Clean, bold designs print better than intricate thin lines
- Minimum line width: 0.5pt (0.18mm) for fine detail printing
Color Separation in SVG
Each ink color must be a separate layer or group in your SVG. Use flat Pantone or spot colors — not RGB values.
- Pantone solid coated colors are standard: PMS 032 C, PMS 285 C, etc.
- Convert RGB to Pantone in Illustrator: Edit > Edit Colors > Recolor with Preset > Pantone
- In Inkscape: assign Pantone hex equivalents and label layers by color name
- Tell your print shop the Pantone numbers — they mix inks to match
File Format Requirements
Most screen print shops prefer AI (Adobe Illustrator) or EPS files. SVG is becoming accepted — confirm with your shop. Always include a PDF proof for color approval.
- Preferred: Adobe Illustrator (.ai) with all fonts outlined
- Accepted: EPS (Encapsulated PostScript), high-res PDF
- Increasingly accepted: SVG with outlined text
- Include: a flat color proof PDF + each color on a separate artboard or layer
- Convert all text to outlines before submitting (Illustrator: Type > Create Outlines)
Converting SVG for Screen Print Submission
Open your SVG in Inkscape. Verify each color is a separate layer. Export as PDF (File > Save As > Portable Document Format). For AI format, open in Illustrator and save as AI.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can screen printers work with SVG files directly?
Some modern shops accept SVG, but AI and EPS are more universal. Always ask your specific printer. When in doubt, export to AI-compatible PDF.
How do I handle white ink in screen printing SVG files?
White ink is a separate color layer. Create a white background layer in your SVG for any areas that need white ink on dark garments. Label it 'White' in the layer name.
What resolution should my screen print artwork be?
SVG is vector — resolution-independent. When exporting to raster for proofs, use 300 DPI minimum. For halftone screen printing, 600 DPI at final print size.
Can I use photos in screen printing?
Yes, via halftone simulation. Photos are converted to dot patterns of varying sizes. Discuss with your printer — photographic screen printing is more expensive and works best with high-contrast images.
Why do print shops want Pantone colors instead of RGB/CMYK?
Screen printing uses pre-mixed spot inks, not CMYK process printing. Pantone numbers tell the printer exactly which ink to mix. RGB/CMYK values are for digital output, not ink formulation.
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