Before you start
Every SlickMinds design is a 4000 × 4000 pixel PNG at 300 DPI on a transparent background. That works out to about 13.3 × 13.3 inches at full size, so you'll scale it down for almost every product, and it stays sharp when you do.
- Download on a computer. The Etsy app can't save full-size files to every phone. Go to You › Purchases and reviews on etsy.com and click Download Files.
- Bundles come as one ZIP. Right-click it and choose Extract All (Windows) or double-click it (Mac) to get the PNGs.
- Keep the original. Save a copy before you resize or edit, so you can always start over.
Design sizes that look right
These are common starting points. Measure your blank and adjust for your style and garment size.
| Product | Typical design width |
|---|---|
| Adult shirt or sweatshirt, full front | 10–12 in |
| Women's fitted shirt | 9–10 in |
| Youth shirt | 7–9 in |
| Toddler shirt | 5–6 in |
| Baby bodysuit | 4–5 in |
| Left chest or pocket | 3–4 in |
| 11 oz mug | about 3–3.5 in tall per side |
| Tote bag | 10–12 in |
Tip: lock the aspect ratio whenever you resize, so the design doesn't stretch.
Sublimation
Sublimation works on white or light polyester shirts and on sublimation blanks like mugs, tumblers and coasters.
- Open the PNG in your design software (Silhouette Studio, Canva, Photoshop, Inkscape or your printer's software) on a page the size of your sublimation paper.
- Resize to your product. Mirror the image before you print.
- Print on sublimation paper with your printer's sublimation profile.
- Press at the time and temperature your blank and paper recommend.
Sublimation ink is transparent, so white areas in a design won't show on a colored shirt. For dark shirts, use DTF.
DTF transfers
DTF (direct to film) works on cotton, polyester and blends in any color, which makes it the go-to for dark shirts.
- Ordering gang sheets? Upload the PNG as is. The transparent background is exactly what DTF printers want.
- Printing your own? Size the design, mirror it if your software requires it, and print. Your printer adds the white underbase.
- Many designs include a second version made for dark shirts. Check the listing for what's included.
DTG & print on demand
For Printify, Printful, Gelato and similar services, upload the PNG straight to the product. At 4000 × 4000 pixels the file meets the print-quality check on most garment print areas. Place it, check the preview, and publish. Our commercial license covers print-on-demand products made from the design.
Cricut Print Then Cut
- In Design Space, choose Upload › Upload Image and pick the PNG. Choose Complex, then keep the transparent background as is.
- Save it as a Print Then Cut image.
- Resize it on the canvas. Print Then Cut has a maximum print area (about 6.75 × 9.25 in on letter paper), so very large designs need splitting or a different method.
- Print on printable vinyl, printable HTV or sticker paper, then let your machine cut around it.
Designs for dark shirts
Dark lettering disappears on black and navy. When a design includes a version for dark shirts, it's listed under what's included. Our bundles include a dark-shirt version of every design. If a design you love doesn't have one, message us.
Pro tips from the studio
- Test on a scrap first. Paper, ink, blanks and presses all vary. One test print saves a ruined shirt.
- Photograph in daylight. Clear photos of your finished product sell more than mockups alone.
- List early. Shoppers start looking for holiday shirts four to eight weeks before the holiday.
- Colors vary by screen and printer. Use your printer's color profile for the most accurate result.
Ready to make something? Browse all designs or visit our Etsy shop.