How to order with Inkthreadable
How do I place an order?
Once you’ve registered to the Inkthreadable site you can place drop shipping orders through your account through your Products page (but you'll need to create your products first!).
How do I place a bulk order?
If you're interested in ordering in bulk you'll need to get in touch with us to discuss quantity, printing options and pricing. You can email or send a message through our live chat service.
Can I amend my order after it has been placed?
Unfortunately not. If you need to make any changes to an order you'll need to cancel it and place a new order with the amendments already made.
How do I cancel my order?
If you've already paid for the order you'll need to let us know, either by email or live chat. This must be done within 12 hours of the order being paid since after this time production may have begun. We may be unable to cancel any orders after this time.
If production has already begun within 12 hours we will be unable to cancel the order at this time too.
If your order has not yet been paid you can cancel at any time by logging in to your account and heading to the Order Tracking page. Select the order you'd like to cancel from the drop-down menu and click the Cancel this order button.
How do I send you my designs?
During the product creation process, you'll upload/assign a design to your products. When you place an order, any associated print files and product mockups are sent through to our fulfilment team.
What format should artwork be supplied in?
Preparing and uploading artwork files appropriately is crucial to ensuring high-quality prints with Inkthreadable. To achieve sharp, high-quality prints, it is essential to prepare your artwork correctly. This involves designing at the correct size, choosing the right file formats, and following specific export guidelines. Inkthreadable accepts only raster files (PNG or JPG), so understanding how to optimize your artwork for these formats is crucial.
File format & transparency
Use High-Resolution PNG Files: Inkthreadable requires artwork files to be saved in a high-resolution PNG format with a transparent background. This ensures precise and clean printing. The minimum quality is 300 ppi at the size you want your design printing.
Backgrounds
Preserve transparency: For anything with no background, saving as a PNG will preserve the transparency. Saving as a JPG will add a white background which will be printed if uploaded as Inkthreadable does not alter print files.
Anything with a background: Include your background in your print file. Inkthreadable won't add a background colour to your design on request, we print what's uploaded.
Sizing and Rescaling
No automatic resizing: Inkthreadable does not rescale or resize artwork files. All files are printed exactly as submitted. To ensure designs fit appropriately on different products, create artwork at the correct dimensions for each product's designated print area. You can find templates on each product page to help with this.
By following these guidelines, you can ensure your artwork is prepared for sharp, high-quality prints. Design at the final print size, use vector tools during creation if possible, and export your files correctly as PNG or JPG at 300 ppi. Avoid common mistakes like upscaling low-resolution elements to achieve the best results.
FAQs
Should I upload vector files for printing?
No, Inkthreadable only accepts raster files (PNG or JPG). You can create your artwork as a vector to maintain crisp edges during design, but you must export it as a raster file at 300 ppi and at the final print size before uploading.
Why does artwork with soft edges result in soft-looking prints?
Soft or anti-aliased edges in your artwork will print with the same softness because the printer reproduces the pixels as provided. To improve sharpness, use artwork with crisp, clean edges and design at the final print size with a resolution of 300 ppi.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid these common pitfalls to ensure your artwork prints with sharp edges:
Upscaling Low-Resolution Elements: Do not import small or low-quality images into your canvas and enlarge them. This will result in blurry or soft edges.
Designing at Low Resolution: Always design at 300 ppi to ensure sufficient detail for printing.
Using Anti-Aliased Edges: Soft or anti-aliased edges in your artwork will result in soft prints. Use clean, sharp edges wherever possible.
Best Practices for Exporting Files
Exporting your artwork correctly is essential to achieving sharp prints. Follow these best practices:
Export your design as a PNG or JPG file at 300 ppi.
Ensure the file dimensions match the final print size to avoid any scaling.
Use PNG format if your design includes transparent elements; otherwise, JPG is acceptable.
Guidelines for Using Vector and Raster Formats
While Inkthreadable does not accept vector files for upload, creating your artwork as a vector during the design phase can help maintain crisp edges. Here’s how to approach this:
Use vector tools to design your artwork, as they allow for clean, scalable shapes and text.
Once your design is complete, export it as a raster file (PNG or JPG) at 300 ppi and at the final print size.
PNG is recommended if your design requires transparency, while JPG is suitable for non-transparent designs.
Importance of Designing at the Final Print Size
Designing your artwork at the exact size you want it printed is critical to maintaining edge sharpness. Avoid creating smaller designs and upscaling them later, as this stretches the pixels and results in softer edges. Follow these steps:
Set your canvas to the final print dimensions for your product (e.g., the print area for a t-shirt or poster).
Use a resolution of 300 pixels per inch (ppi) to ensure high-quality output.
Create all elements at the correct size within this canvas to avoid resizing issues later.
Is Inkthreadable available to those outside the UK?
Yes! Prices are listed in GBP by default but can be changed to either EUR, USD, AUD, CAD, CHF & NOK. Prices listed in any alternative currently to GBP are only estimates and will be confirmed when checking out. We also ship worldwide, so international customers can place orders for international delivery.