Heat transfer printing is a method where your design is first printed onto a special transfer paper and then applied to the product using heat and pressure. This process allows for vibrant, full-colour results and is ideal for detailed images, gradients, and complex artwork. It’s commonly used for textiles, tote bags, and promotional items where high-resolution visuals are a priority.
Tips for Designing for Laser Engraving
Use high-resolution artwork (minimum 300dpi)
To get the sharpest possible print, your design should be created or exported at 300dpi at actual size. This helps avoid blurriness or pixelation, especially in detailed or photographic images.
Design in CMYK colour mode
Since your design will be printed using CMYK inks, make sure your file is set up in CMYK to give a more accurate preview of how colours will appear once printed.
Ensure transparency where needed
White ink can be printed—so it’s important to double-check that any areas you don’t want printed are truly transparent, not just filled with white. A white background will be printed if it’s present in the artwork.
Avoid closely spaced design elements
Ink can spread slightly during the heat press process, especially on fabrics. To avoid elements blurring together, leave sufficient spacing between text, outlines, and graphic details.
Use a minimum font size of 8pt
Small text may lose clarity during the heat transfer process. Keep fonts at 8pt or larger to maintain legibility and preserve the sharpness of your design.
Outline all fonts and convert strokes to shapes
To prevent missing elements or formatting issues, make sure all text is converted to outlines, and any strokes are converted to solid shapes. This ensures your design appears exactly as intended.