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Print placement and size on a T-shirt: chest, back, sleeve
365.APParel team·Published
Logos and small prints go on the chest and large artwork on the back; the sleeve takes a logo or a short word. Decide the place first, then check that the design fits our limits and the T-shirt size you need.
Chest: logos and small prints
A small print or logo covers little fabric on the chest and feels lighter than a large solid fill.
Back: the biggest area
Large artwork goes on the back, the biggest area of the shirt, tall designs included. If yours is tall, look at the height limits in the table below first.
Sleeve: a logo or a short word
The sleeve is narrow. It takes a logo or a short word; embroidery works too.
How big the print can be
DTF goes up to 30 cm wide, recommended height is up to 50 cm and 100 cm is possible; screen printing goes up to 50 cm wide and 80 cm high.
| Technique | Width | Height |
|---|---|---|
| DTF | up to 30 cm | recommended up to 50 cm, up to 100 cm possible |
| Screen printing | up to 50 cm | up to 80 cm |
Above 50 cm, DTF works for a tall, narrow design, a line running down the back, for example. 100 cm is the limit.
T-shirt size and height version
The same print looks bigger on a small T-shirt and smaller on a large one. T-shirts come in sizes XS to 5XL, and every size has two height versions: up to 180 cm and from 180 cm.
Each version is cut for a different height. Give us the height along with the size. If your team wears a mix of sizes and heights, send the list: we look at each design separately.
Artwork at 1:1
Send the artwork at 1:1 scale, as a vector file or a layered PDF. At 1:1 the size in the file is the size of the print on the T-shirt. You measure the design in centimeters and compare it with the table above. A vector file keeps sharp edges at any size. The other checks before you send the file are in How to prepare artwork for printing and embroidery.
Which technique
You pick the technique by the design and the number of pieces. We compare all three in DTF, screen printing or embroidery for team merch. DTF printing carries color and fine detail, gradients included, and screen printing suits simple graphics in a larger run. If you are thinking about embroidery, ask us on Telegram how big the mark can be before you plan it.
