How do I know if my artwork is print ready?

Print-ready artwork has enough resolution at the intended print size, a color count your press can handle, clean edges, and detail thick enough to hold on press. The AI Print Doctor checks all of that automatically and grades the file with a readiness score, so you don't have to eyeball it.

What resolution does screen printing artwork need?

For screen printing, roughly 150 ppi at the actual print size holds up well; DTF prefers about 300 ppi. The Print Doctor calculates effective resolution from the pixel size and your print width, then warns if it's too low and suggests upscaling or printing smaller.

Should this design be screen printed or DTF?

Flat designs with a few solid colors suit screen printing; full-color, gradient-heavy, or fine-detail multicolor art usually prints better as DTF. The Print Doctor weighs color count, gradients, and fine detail and gives a screen-vs-DTF recommendation.

Why do transparent edges cause DTF glue residue?

Semi-transparent or feathered edge pixels pick up adhesive powder during DTF, leaving a hazy glue halo after pressing. The Print Doctor flags how much of the art has soft alpha and recommends flattening or knocking out the edges first.

Print Readiness Check — Is Your Artwork Print Ready?

See every print problem before it costs you a screen

Bad customer files are how shops lose money — a low-res JPEG, a gradient that bands, a 12-color photo someone wants on a dark hoodie. The Print Doctor reads the artwork and grades it with a plain-English readiness report, so you catch the problems while you can still fix or re-quote them.

What it checks

Low resolution — effective ppi at your actual print size, with an upscale recommendation.
Too many colors for your press — significant color count vs your screen limit.
Banding gradients — smooth tonal areas that posterize as halftones on a coarse screen.
DTF glue residue risk — semi-transparent / feathered edges that grab adhesive powder.
Fine detail that closes up — hairlines and small text below the press minimum.
Underbase needed — opaque colors on a dark garment that need a white base.
Screen vs DTF — a recommendation based on color, gradient, and detail.
Profitability — whether the screen count makes the job worth running.

A readiness score, not a guessing game

Every finding is colour-coded and comes with a fix — thicken the lines, upscale the file, knock out the soft edges, switch to DTF — plus a 0–100 readiness score and a one-line verdict. Save the report as a clean PDF to send the customer when a file genuinely needs better art.

Stop printing problem files blind

Download the free trial and run your next questionable customer file through the Print Doctor. The full toolset unlocks for $179 one-time — no Photoshop, no subscription.

Download the free trial

Then quote the job instantly, separate to the inks you stock, or read simulated process vs spot color.