• White boxes or backgrounds
• Halos around the artwork
• Stray pixels
• Background-removal residue
• Unintentional shadows or glow
• Feathered outer edges
• Partially erased background elements

• 100% opaque pixels within the intended artwork
• 100% transparent pixels within the intended background

Hidden or unintended semi-transparent pixels are not acceptable.

These pixels may be created by AI image generators, automatic background-removal tools, feathered selections, anti-aliasing, erasing, shadows, glows, fading or other effects. They may be nearly or completely invisible during an ordinary on-screen review.

Even when the color portion of a semi-transparent pixel is difficult to see, the printer may still place white ink beneath it. This can cause unwanted white dots, speckles, halos or a dusty appearance around the finished design.

All unintended semi-transparent pixels must be removed from customer-supplied artwork.

Please be aware that hidden semi-transparent pixels may not be detectable during SoCal Makers Market’s normal on-screen artwork review. In some cases, they may only become apparent after the file has been processed and printed.

At the customer’s request, we can produce a test print for $10 and send a photo for approval before completing the full order.

If a test print reveals hidden transparency, stray pixels or similar file problems, the artwork may require additional preparation or recreation before the order can proceed. An artwork or design setup fee will apply.

Smoke, Glow, Fades and Similar Effects

Smoke, glow, fades, soft shadows and similar effects can be reproduced with DTF printing, but they cannot be reliably printed directly as standard semi-transparent pixels.

These effects must be professionally converted into DTF-compatible halftones before production.

Customer-supplied artwork containing intentional transparency effects will require additional artwork preparation, and a design setup fee will apply. The fee may vary based on the complexity of the design and the amount of preparation required.

Halftone conversion will slightly change the appearance of the effect compared with the original image viewed on a backlit screen.

Edges and Fine Details

Artwork should have clean, well-defined edges.

Extremely thin lines, tiny details, very small text and heavily distressed elements may not reproduce reliably when printed or transferred.

Soft or partially transparent pixels should not be used simply to smooth or soften the outside edge of the design. The artwork should have a clean boundary without a semi-transparent halo.

AI-Generated Text

AI image generators frequently create misspelled, malformed or distorted lettering.

Customers are responsible for carefully proofreading all:

• Names
• Dates
• Numbers
• Spelling
• Grammar
• Punctuation
• Logos
• Design elements

SoCal Makers Market will not assume that text contained within an AI-generated image is correct.

Artwork Review and Preparation

SoCal Makers Market may identify obvious technical concerns before production. Our standard artwork review is not a comprehensive proofreading, graphic-design or prepress service.

If submitted artwork requires background removal, rebuilding, vectorization, upscaling, text correction, halftone conversion, pixel cleanup or other significant preparation, an artwork or design setup fee will apply.

We will notify the customer before performing billable artwork services.

Minor differences may occur between the digital image and the finished DTF transfer because of printing, garment color, fabric, heat pressing and the difference between illuminated screens and printed color.

Customer-Supplied Artwork and Intellectual Property

By submitting artwork for printing, the customer confirms that they have the necessary rights or permission to reproduce all artwork, logos, photographs, characters, trademarks and other elements included in the design.

SoCal Makers Market reserves the right to decline artwork that we believe may violate intellectual-property rights or is otherwise inappropriate for production.

Customer Approval

Once customer-supplied artwork or a digital proof has been approved, the customer accepts responsibility for:

Spelling • Grammar • Names • Dates • Numbers • Artwork content • Placement • Size • Colors • Overall design

Errors contained in approved customer-supplied artwork are not considered printing defects.

Acceptance of Terms

By submitting artwork, approving a proof, paying an invoice or deposit, or authorizing SoCal Makers Market to begin production after receiving access to this policy, the customer acknowledges that they have reviewed, understood and agreed to these terms.

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Recommended AI Prompt for DTF Artwork

Copy and paste this prompt into your AI workflow to create professional, print-quality artwork based on the following concept:

[DESCRIBE THE DESIGN]

Create the artwork as a clean, isolated design. Do not place it on a shirt, garment, product mockup, wall, room, scenery or presentation background.

Compose the artwork for a final print size of [WIDTH] × [HEIGHT] inches at 300 DPI. Keep the complete design safely within the canvas. Do not crop any part of the design.

The design must contain the following text exactly:

“[INSERT EXACT TEXT]”

Carefully verify every letter, number and punctuation mark.

Use clean, crisp, well-defined edges and solid, print-friendly colors. Do not blur, warp, distress, bevel or distort the artwork unless specifically requested.

Critical Transparency Requirements

Create the finished artwork with a true transparent background.

For all standard artwork, the file must contain only two pixel states:

100% opaque artwork pixels

100% transparent background pixels

Do not create or leave any unintended semi-transparent or partially transparent pixels anywhere in the image.

Remove all:

• Stray pixels
• Translucent pixels
• Feathered pixels
• Semi-transparent halos
• Background-removal residue
• Partially erased pixels
• Unwanted shadows or glow
• Transparent anti-aliased remnants around the outside of the design

The transparent area outside the artwork must be completely empty at 0% opacity. Every pixel belonging to the standard artwork must be at 100% opacity.

Do not use partial transparency merely to soften the outside edges of the artwork. Create clean, defined outer edges with no semi-transparent halo.

This requirement is essential for DTF printing because partially transparent pixels may trigger a white ink underbase and create unwanted white dots, speckles, halos or a dusty appearance around the printed design.

Intentional Smoke, Glow or Fade Effects

If smoke, glow, fading, soft shadows or similar effects are an intentional part of the requested design, keep those effects visually distinct from the main artwork.

Do not scatter faint, unintended pixels outside the effect or around the rest of the design.

These intentional effects will require professional halftone preparation by SoCal Makers Market before DTF printing, and a design setup fee will apply.

Output the finished artwork as a high-resolution PNG with a genuine transparent background. Do not include a mockup or presentation background.

Important Notice

AI image generators do not always produce true 300-DPI, production-ready files, even when specifically instructed to do so.

SoCal Makers Market will evaluate the actual file submitted for printing. Additional artwork preparation and a design setup fee may be required before production.