While we have in the past, we no longer decorate customer-supplied items at SDCT.shop. This helps us protect the quality of your finished piece, control the materials we’re working with, and stand behind every stitch. When we source the garment or brandable gear, we can recommend items built for decoration, maintain consistency for future reorders, and replace anything if an issue occurs during production.

Read the full blog post →

The best file type depends on what we’re decorating, but high-quality artwork always creates a better finished product.

For logos, brand graphics, and clean design files, vector artwork is preferred whenever possible. High-resolution raster images may also work when provided at the correct size and quality.

Vector Images — Preferred

Best file types:
.AI (Adobe Illustrator), .EPS, .SVG, or a Vector PDF

Vector images are built from shapes, lines, curves, and points instead of fixed pixels, so they can usually be resized without becoming blurry or pixelated. This makes them ideal for logos, text, and brand graphics.

For best results, please send vector files with:

• Fonts converted to outlines or curves, when possible
• Artwork cropped close to the design
• PDF files saved as one-page documents

Raster Images

Common file types:
.PNG, .JPG, or .TIF

Raster images are made from pixels. Photos, screenshots, web images, and most AI-generated images are raster files. These can work well, but they lose quality when enlarged too much.

For decorating, raster images should be 300 DPI or higher at the actual size the artwork will be produced. For example, if a T-shirt design will print 10 inches wide, the file needs to be clean and high-resolution at 10 inches wide.

When in doubt, send the largest, highest-quality version you have. Transparent PNG files are often helpful.

A quick note about screenshots and web images

Images pulled from websites, social media, Google Image Search, screenshots, or email signatures are often too small for clean decoration. They may look fine on screen but reproduce poorly on apparel, hats, drinkware, gifts, and gear.

A quick note about AI-generated images

AI-generated images are usually raster PNG or JPG files and must meet the same quality standards above.

You may need to prompt your AI tool to create the image large enough for the intended use. As a general guide:

• Embroidered logos are often around 3.5 inches wide
• T-shirt designs are often around 10 inches wide
• For other items, size the artwork to match the decoration area

When in doubt, larger is better.

AI-generated image review incurs a $25 artwork review fee to make sure the file is ready for decoration.

A quick note about Canva designs

If your design was created in Canva, please share the editable design with us by email rather than only sending an exported file. Canva exports may not be ready for production.

Use Canva’s instructions here:
Canva.com — Sharing designs via email or links

Canva file review incurs a $25 artwork review fee to make sure the design is ready for decoration.

Not sure what you have?

Send us the best file you have. Our art team will review it and let you know whether it is ready for production or needs cleanup before we decorate your order right here in Marietta, GA.

To guarantee your design turns out just right, we review it thoroughly and get your final approval before moving forward to payment and production.

Review Process

1. Submit your artwork file through your chosen product page or to georgia@sdct.shop, including details on placement and size. If you're unsure, we’re happy to assist you!
2. We will assess the image resolution, determine the color count, and create a physical “proof of concept” mockup of your design.
3. Once the mockup is ready, you will receive the mockup image as a text message. You’ll have the option to approve the mockup or request (1) revision. Revisions may include size, colors, or placement. If the artwork itself isn’t quite right, check in with your designer before you proceed with us.
4. After final approval, payment will be requested and production will begin.

We are happy to take artwork you already love and put it in your favorite item! If you don’t love your artwork, we’re not ready to talk to you yet.

Please note: If your file is being exported directly from Canva.com, it is likely that your file is not ready for production. Please share the editable version of your design with us via email using the following instructions: Canva.com - Sharing designs via email or links

At SDCT.shop, we offer a variety of decoration processes depending on the item, material, design, and final look you’re going for. Our four main branding techniques include:

• Embroidery - A classic, professional option where your design is stitched directly into the item using thread. Embroidery is a great choice for polos, hats, jackets, bags, uniforms, and pieces where you want a polished, long-lasting finish.

• Heat-Applied Vinyl - A flexible decoration method where a design is cut from specialty vinyl and applied with heat and pressure. This works well for names, numbers, bold graphics, team shirts, event apparel, and smaller-run custom pieces.

• Sublimation - A process where the design becomes part of the surface of the item rather than sitting on top of it. Sublimation is especially useful for select drinkware, gifts, and polyester-based items, and it allows for bright, full-color designs.

• Laser Engraving - A precise process that etches your design into the surface of an item. Laser engraving is a great option for certain drinkware, wood, metal, leatherette, and gifts where you want a clean, permanent, elevated finish.

Not sure which process is best? That’s where we come in. Tell us what you’re making, and we’ll help recommend the best decoration method for your project.

Please note: we do not decorate customer-supplied items.

We do! Everything we create for you or your team is decorated right here in our shop in Marietta, Georgia by the SDCT team. That means real people are handling your order, checking the details, and making sure your custom apparel, gifts, and gear are created with care. When you work with SDCT, you are not sending your project off into the unknown - you're working with a local team that takes pride in getting it right.