08/17/2026
More and more people are relying on AI tools for artwork. So here are some tips to help your local print companies have the best results with the artwork you provide them. Nothing yet will compare to using an actual graphic designer, and we understand ai is a better fit for some budgets and projects. Use the below information to help you get better results and hopefully learn a bit about prompt generation.
In your prompts, always ask it to output at high resolution with a minimum 300 DPI ex. "all artwork must be minimum 300 dpi"
Always ask to output a minimum width of 12 inches or whatever the max dimensions you think you may use are, this is especially important for apparel printing where you may print on the back of a shirt or you plan on using it for larger graphics. ex. "all artwork must be minimum 12" wide"
Ask to limit colors to a specific range, the more creative opportunity you give AI the wilder the results which can make it hard to replicate especially with screenprint processes. ex. "all artwork must include no more than 6 spot colors"
If you are looking for sharp crisp artwork, ask it to keep edges smooth and output for vector format if possible, not every ai has this capability but its worth a ask. ex. "all artwork must be output in vector format such as .ai, .pdf, .svg, .eps also include a high resolution raster image in .png format"
If the ai you are using cannot manage vector output, always ask it to output the image with a transparent background, some will try to simulate this with a checkered background which will be a nightmare for your printer to work with. ex. "output all artwork with a true transparent background in png format, do not simulate transparency via checkered background"
Ask for the style you are looking for, if you are going for sharp and vivid or maybe watercolor and muted, ask for those things. ex. "output artwork in a bold vintage style on a solid white background"
String them all together for a prompt that will give you a better output and better artwork - "A new logo for a coffee shop in a bold vintage style; all artwork must be minimum 300 dpi at 12" wide and contain no more than 6 spot colors, output in vector format such as .ai, .pdf, .svg, .eps also include a high resolution raster image in .png format, true transparent background in png format do not simulate transparency via checkered background"
The image below shows first shows a simple prompt of "a bold vintage logo for my coffee shop with a transparent background" And then below the full prompt noted above. You can see from the images generated that the one with more limited colors is crisper, cleaner, and will be much easier for any print shop to work with and has a true transparent background, whereas the top image the ai tried to generate its perception of transparency.
