Pixel design info and how it works
Pixel graphics are multicoloured images or photos composed of individual pixels (picture elements). The pixels are arranged in a grid, hence the term "grid graphics" (sometimes called "raster graphics"). Each pixel is assigned colour information, the sum of which produces the picture. With Spreadconnect, pixel graphics serve as a template for digital printing. So that we can achieve the best possible result in printing with your graphics, please bear in mind the following tips.
Pixel Design Overview
| Well suited for pixel graphics | Photos or designs with a high degree of detail, as well as drawings, illustrations and designs with color gradients. |
|---|---|
| Print methods: | Digital printing, laser transfer, thermal sublimation |
| Design/structure: | Each graphics file consists of individual pixels. |
| Save/file size: | Each pixel has its individual color information. An example: In a red circle with 1,000 pixels, the position and the colour values of each individual pixel are saved. |
| Resolution | The resolution of a design is usually provided in dpi (dots per inch). 200 dpi means that there are 200 pixels per inch (= 2.54 cm). |
| Loss of quality: | The lower the resolution of a design (the fewer pixels per inch), the more easily the individual pixels can be detected. An enlargement of the design is only possible with a loss of quality. When creating high-resolution images from smaller images, a lack of quality will show when enlarged. |
Optimising image resolution
Photos or graphics in PNG, JPG, GIF, or BMP formats consist of pixels (picture elements) arranged in grid form, each of which is assigned multiple colour information. The number of pixels in width and height also later determines the size of the print.
We print textiles at 200 dpi. The abbreviation dpi stands for dots per inch, and this provides information on the density of the picture elements. A graphic that is 1000 pixels wide, for example, produces a design 5'' wide when printed at 200 dpi. A 2000 pixel-wide graphic produces a 10'' wide design, etc.
A design with a low pixel width or height (for example, 800 x 600 pixels) cannot, therefore, be easily enlarged without loss of quality (for example to 4.7" x 4" or more). Because of the "missing" pixels, the print would probably look blurry and out of focus. So only upload designs with sufficient resolution and number of pixels. We recommend 200 dpi and a maximum of 4000 x 4000 pixels, so as not to exceed the maximum file size of 10 MB.
Removal of unwanted backgrounds
People frequently want to print a motif cut out of a photo or picture, and not the background itself. But it is not enough simply to create a white background, because this will mean that a white area is printed, which will be visible on both colored and white products. Backgrounds must be transparent so that they are ignored by our printer. Isolate your motif in a graphics program and save it as a PNG. Perhaps the following instructions for removing the background from an image in Photoshop will be helpful:
Removing the background with Photoshop
Open your pixel graphic in Photoshop.
Select the "wand" tool.
With the wand, select the area to be removed, e.g. the background.
Remove the selected area (with "del").
Repeat the process until the background is completely removed.
Make sure that all areas of the background have now really been removed. Zoom in to see if small groups of pixels still remain at the edges. Remove these if possible.
Save the isolated graphic in PNG format. If this format is not an option when saving, change the color space under "Image -> Mode" to RGB color space. This is important because some file formats, such as for example JPG, do not recognize transparent surfaces and provide the isolated image with a white background when you save it.
Removing the background with GIMP
Go to the Layers Palette (on the right side. If it is not there go Window > Layers - Brushes). If the name of your file is Background, then it will need to be renamed by right-clicking on the name and choosing ‘Edit Layer Attributes. Change the name to anything.
Next, make sure that the image is in the RGB color scale. Select ‘Image’ from the top menu, then select ‘Mode’ from the box and make sure RGB is selected.
Create a new layer that is transparent. Right-click on your original layer and choose ‘New Layer’. Under Layer Fill Type, choose Transparency. Click OK.
Click and drag your new transparent layer (which should look like a checkerboard) underneath your original layer.
Right-click your top layer and click ‘Merge Visible Layers’. In the pop-up box click Merge.
Select the ‘fuzzy select tool’, the first row, a second tool from the right in the toolbar.
Set the threshold (located under Tool Options in the Toolbox) to around 15.
Click anywhere in the background and hit ‘Delete’ on your keyboard. This should reveal a checkerboard.
Go Select > None to deselect the ‘marching ants’.
Export the file as a PNG image. File > Export.
Speckling color transitions
Digital printers work in a similar way to inkjet printers: the ink is sprayed directly onto the product. To achieve the highest possible fidelity to the colors of the design, a white layer is first sprayed onto colored products as a base. If your design has a transparent color transition running to the edges, this white base can show through on dark products. To prevent this, use the "speckle" tool in your graphics program. Advanced users can also use the "dither" function.
Taking color differences into account in CMYK and RGB mode
Pixel graphics are printed onto shirts in CMYK color mode. However, your screen displays the motif in RGB mode. This may make the colors look different. Colors are often brighter on the screen than on the printed shirt. In order for the colors of your printed shirts to have a similar intensity to the colors on the monitor, you should set the contrast of your graphic higher and the colors bolder.