11-18-2020, 07:11 PM
Thanks Rich your reply is really helpful.
I think I am getting very close now to deciding on the best file format for my situation.
Just one more question.
"Logos, bold designs etc. You can use png for these although truthfully logos are best made as vector images with Inkscape."
At this stage, I will stick to GIMP as I don't have the time nor skills to use a new program such as Inkscape.
"Using tiff, this format is really a wrapper, more variations than enough, from fax images to scientific imaging. It has some use in Gimp in conjunction with the DP program Scribus. Probably not the best format for your intended use."
OK this is good to know!
"A PDF does not support transparency. As the name says, Portable Document. Think printed on paper.
Which leads to the printing process. There is no white ink. The printer uses primary colours Cyan, Magenta, Yellow + Black. White is whatever the colour of the paper / fabric / ceramic. When white is required in the image it is has to be specified, then becomes a custom job for the printing company and (much) more expensive."
OK this is very helpful!
Transparency is a must for t-shirt printing, to eliminate white background and also other white spots.
GIMP takes care of this nicely.
"Advice:
Get to know the relationship between image size in pixels / printing resolution and printing size see: https://www.gimp-forum.net/Thread-Image-size-in-Gimp "
Thanks I will definitely check the above out!
"If you are going to send your images off for printing on a tee-shirt, then find out the size requirements. A maximum size of say, 12" gives you an image size in Gimp of 12 X 12 (inches) x 300 pixels-per-inch (ppi) = 3600 pix x 3600 pix.
A coffee cup might be 3" x 6" @ 300 ppi = 900 pix x 1800 pix. No good sending the same image for both.
Image format: Back to jpeg for photographs and png for others. PDF if you must."
It sounds like for my situation .png will be the best way to go.
To cover situations where users will download the file to use on an assortment of wares
in addition to t-shirts, would it make sense to come up with the highest resolution file (also large)
and let them downsize the file for smaller print jobs, or offer a few different .png file sizes to download?
It seems like you were advising the latter?
I think I am getting very close now to deciding on the best file format for my situation.
Just one more question.
Quote:...I would like to get the best possible resolution file that I can make available for download on a site
so people can use it to print t-shirts and other wares...
"Logos, bold designs etc. You can use png for these although truthfully logos are best made as vector images with Inkscape."
At this stage, I will stick to GIMP as I don't have the time nor skills to use a new program such as Inkscape.
"Using tiff, this format is really a wrapper, more variations than enough, from fax images to scientific imaging. It has some use in Gimp in conjunction with the DP program Scribus. Probably not the best format for your intended use."
OK this is good to know!
Quote:...I have made a few transparent background versions: 900x1200 trans.png 393k
900x1200 trans.pdf 312k (shows with white background in viewer)
"A PDF does not support transparency. As the name says, Portable Document. Think printed on paper.
Which leads to the printing process. There is no white ink. The printer uses primary colours Cyan, Magenta, Yellow + Black. White is whatever the colour of the paper / fabric / ceramic. When white is required in the image it is has to be specified, then becomes a custom job for the printing company and (much) more expensive."
OK this is very helpful!
Transparency is a must for t-shirt printing, to eliminate white background and also other white spots.
GIMP takes care of this nicely.
"Advice:
Get to know the relationship between image size in pixels / printing resolution and printing size see: https://www.gimp-forum.net/Thread-Image-size-in-Gimp "
Thanks I will definitely check the above out!
"If you are going to send your images off for printing on a tee-shirt, then find out the size requirements. A maximum size of say, 12" gives you an image size in Gimp of 12 X 12 (inches) x 300 pixels-per-inch (ppi) = 3600 pix x 3600 pix.
A coffee cup might be 3" x 6" @ 300 ppi = 900 pix x 1800 pix. No good sending the same image for both.
Image format: Back to jpeg for photographs and png for others. PDF if you must."
It sounds like for my situation .png will be the best way to go.
To cover situations where users will download the file to use on an assortment of wares
in addition to t-shirts, would it make sense to come up with the highest resolution file (also large)
and let them downsize the file for smaller print jobs, or offer a few different .png file sizes to download?
It seems like you were advising the latter?