How to Prepare Your Artwork for DTG Printing (24×24 Prints)
Everything you need to submit clean, print-ready files for oversized 24×24 DTG.
Why This Matters
DTG (Direct to Garment) printing is extremely detailed, but it only works when your artwork is prepared correctly. Following these steps ensures accurate colors, sharp details, and clean prints — no surprises.
Whether you're submitting samples, test prints, or final production artwork, the steps below show you exactly how to prepare your files in Photoshop for DTG printing at 24 × 24 inches, so what you see on screen is as close as possible to what prints on the garment. Follow this guide carefully and you'll get cleaner prints, preserve fine details, save time during production, and get consistent results every time.
Artwork Requirements — Transparency
Step 1 — Create the Correct Document
- Open Adobe Photoshop.
- Go to File → New.
- Set the exact values in the Recommended Canvas Size below.
Step 2 — Place Your Artwork Correctly
- Go to File → Place Embedded.
- Select your artwork and press Enter to place it.
📌 Do not stretch small images to fill the canvas. Artwork must be created or scaled at final size.
Step 3 — Set Up for Light vs. Dark Garments
For light garments (white, beige, light gray):
- Keep all artwork visible.
- White areas will print white.
- Use true colors as designed.
For dark / black garments (very important):
- ❌ Do not fill black areas with black ink.
- ✔ Delete black areas instead so they become transparent — the shirt color acts as the black.
To remove black for black garments: select the black area with the Magic Wand / Select Color Range, press Delete, and the area becomes transparent.
- A transparent background is best.
- If using a background color, make sure it matches the garment color exactly.
- If an area of your design is meant to appear black because the shirt is black, that area should be transparent in your Photoshop file.
Recommended Canvas Size
- Canvas size: 24 × 24 inches
- Resolution: 300 DPI
- Canvas size in pixels: 7200 × 7200 px
- Color mode: RGB / 8-bit
- File type: .PNG
⚠️ Lower resolution may cause blurry or pixelated prints.
Production Notice
Properly prepared artwork helps reduce production time and ensures faster, more consistent results. While our team always reviews every file before printing, submitting print-ready artwork lets us quickly approve your design and move it directly into our customizer — eliminating unnecessary adjustments, back-and-forth, and delays. When files follow these guidelines, the process is smoother for everyone, and your order moves to print faster.
— NYC Factory Team