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File prep, formats and machine settings explained in plain words, for crafters, print shops and brands.
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Or follow the RSS feedLaser & Signs
Acrylic logo signs look simple but need precise files: cut paths, mirrored prints, white ink and mounting holes. Here's how to set them up.
3 min readby TracingVector Team
Vector Basics
300 DPI, 150 DPI, 72 DPI: what the numbers mean, how to check your file, and the resolution you need for shirts, flyers, banners and billboards.
3 min readby TracingVector Team
Vector Basics
Illustrator's Image Trace and online converters are fast and free. Here's when they're fine, and why logos, text and production files need hand tracing.
2 min readby TracingVector Team
Embroidery
Every embroidery machine brand has its own stitch format. Here's which file your machine needs, and why you can't just convert a JPG.
3 min readby TracingVector Team
DTF & DTG
Resolution, transparency, color and line thickness: a step-by-step checklist for DTF files that print sharp, with no fuzzy edges or ghost boxes.
3 min readby TracingVector Team
DTF & DTG
Direct-to-film and direct-to-garment both print full-color designs, but they suit different fabrics, quantities and budgets. Here's how to choose.
3 min readby TracingVector Team
Cricut & Silhouette
Which file to upload to Cricut Design Space or Silhouette Studio, why SVG usually wins, and the Silhouette Basic Edition catch that trips people up.
3 min readby TracingVector Team
Vector Basics
Why your logo looks sharp on screen but blurry on a banner, and how to tell whether a printer, cutter or website needs a vector or a raster file.
3 min readby TracingVector Team
