Here is something that happens more often than you would think.
A school in Gwalior places an order for 60 printed T-shirts. The design file arrives a blurry WhatsApp forward of a logo, screenshot from a Facebook page, roughly 72 DPI. Printing that file produces a pixelated, fuzzy result that no one wants on their annual day T-shirt.
Nobody intended for this to happen. The client had a logo. They sent it. What went wrong?
The file was not print-ready.
DTF printing in Gwalior produces sharp, vibrant, wash-durable results but only when the input design file meets basic quality standards. The printer can only work with what you send. Garbage in, garbage out and in this case, garbage ends up on 60 T-shirts.
This guide walks you through exactly how to prepare your design file before sending it to Krishna Trophies at Gola Ka Mandir, Morar, Gwalior. Seven steps. No technical background needed.
Step 1 - Use the Right File Format
The format of your design file determines how much detail we can extract from it.
Krishna Trophies accepts four file formats for DTF printing in Gwalior:
- PNG – best for logos and designs with transparent backgrounds. Most commonly used and easiest to send.
- AI (Adobe Illustrator) – vector format. Scales to any size without losing quality. Best option for complex logos and text-heavy designs.
- PDF – works well for designs created in professional software. Maintains quality and layers.
- JPG – acceptable for photographs and full-colour artwork, but does not support transparent backgrounds. Avoid for logos.
If you have your design in AI or PDF format, send that first. PNG is the practical everyday choice for most clients. JPG is a last resort; use it only if no other format is available.
Step 2 - Check Your Resolution - Minimum 300 DPI
Resolution is the single most common reason a design file fails at the printing stage.
DPI stands for dots per inch. It measures how much detail is packed into your image. A 72 DPI image looks fine on a phone screen but prints blurry on fabric. A 300 DPI image prints sharp, clean and exactly as intended.
How to check DPI on your file:
- On a PC – right-click the file, select Properties, then Details tab. Resolution is listed there.
- On a Mac – open the file in Preview, go to Tools, then Show Inspector. Resolution appears under the image tab.
- On a phone – send the file to a computer first. Checking DPI reliably on a phone is difficult.
Minimum 300 DPI at actual print size. If your logo is 10cm wide on the T-shirt, the file must be 300 DPI at 10cm. Enlarging a 72 DPI file does not increase its DPI it just makes the blur bigger.
Read – DTF Printing Order Checklist
Step 3 - Use a Transparent Background for Logos
This step matters more than most people realise.
A logo on a white background prints with a white rectangle around it even on a coloured T-shirt. A logo on a transparent background prints only the logo itself, sitting cleanly on the fabric.
PNG files support transparent backgrounds. JPG files do not always have a solid background.
If your logo currently has a white background and you need it removed, send us what you have. Our team can assess whether the background removal is straightforward for your specific file.
read – 7 Reasons Schools in Gwalior Are Switching to DTF Printing for Uniforms and Events
Step 4 - Set Your Colour Mode to RGB
Design files come in two colour modes – RGB and CMYK.
RGB is the colour mode used for screens phones, computers, televisions. CMYK is used for traditional offset printing newspapers, brochures, and packaging.
DTF printing uses RGB colour processing. Send your file in RGB mode for the most accurate colour output. If your file is in CMYK, colours may shift slightly during conversion — especially blues, greens and purples.
Most design files created in Canva, Photoshop or phone apps are already in RGB by default. If you are working with a professional designer, ask them to export in RGB specifically.
Step 5 - Confirm Your Print Size Before Sending
A design file that looks fine at one size may lose quality at a larger size.
Before sending your file, confirm:
- Where the design will be printed chest, back, sleeve or all three
- Approximate print dimensions standard chest print is 25cm to 30cm wide
This helps our team check whether your file resolution is sufficient at the intended print size before we start production.
Step 6 - Send Your File Correctly on WhatsApp
This is where files get damaged without anyone realising it.
WhatsApp compresses images automatically when you send them as photos. A 300 DPI file sent as a photo through WhatsApp arrives as a compressed, lower-quality version on the other end.
Always send design files as documents on WhatsApp not as photos.
Here is how:
- Open the WhatsApp chat with Krishna Trophies at +91-975-202-0535
- Tap the attachment icon (paperclip)
- Select Document not Camera or Gallery
- Find your PNG, AI or PDF file and send
This preserves the original file quality exactly. One small habit that makes a significant difference to your print result.
Step 7 - What Happens If Your File Quality Is Poor
Send it anyway.
If your design file does not meet the requirements above, our team will tell you exactly what the issue is and what options are available. In many cases:
- A low-resolution logo can be recreated as a vector file for clean printing
- A white-background logo can have the background removed if the design is clean
- A blurry photograph can sometimes be enhanced to an acceptable print quality
We will not print a file that will produce a poor result without telling you first. You will always see a digital proof for approval before a single T-shirt goes into production. What you approve on screen is what gets printed on fabric.
If the file genuinely cannot be improved to a printable standard, we tell you upfront not after 60 T-shirts are done.
Quick Reference Checklist Before You Send
Before WhatsApping your design file to Krishna Trophies, run through this quickly:
- File format is PNG, AI, PDF or JPG
- Resolution is minimum 300 DPI at actual print size
- Background is transparent (for logos on coloured fabric)
- Colour mode is RGB
- Print size and position are confirmed
- File is being sent as a Document on WhatsApp not as a photo
Not sure about your file? WhatsApp it to +91-975-202-0535 and we will check it for you.
Our team reviews every file before confirming an order. If something needs fixing, we tell you before production starts, not after.
Address: C-1, Rajnigandha Enclave, Gola Ka Mandir, Morar, Gwalior 474005, Madhya Pradesh Hours: Monday to Saturday, 10 AM – 7 PM