Resources > Decoration Capabilities

Laser Etch

What it is: The process of using lasers to engrave artwork into our powder-coated products.
Files accepted: Vector only: Ai, EPS, or PDF
Colors: Single Color
Line Weights: 1pt positive minimum 1pt negative minimum

Artwork Tips & Tricks

• Consider reversing your artwork depending on product colors you choose
• Ensure both positive and negative line weights are met as etching can otherwise result in overspray, etching away areas otherwise intended to be maintained

Decoration Examples

Digital Print

Single Color or Multi-Color Print

What it is: Printing digital-based images directly onto the product body with the use of ink toner and exposure to replicate your image. Unlimited colors and full wrap possible.
Files accepted: Vector: Ai, EPS, or PDF - Raster: jpeg, TIF, png, or PDF
Colors: CMYK Unlimited Colors
Line Weights: 1pt positive minimum 1pt negative minimum

Artwork Tips & Tricks

• Ensure all artwork fonts are converted to outlines
• Straight-sided vessels are optimal for digital printing (ie. not tapered)
• The busier the artwork the better outcome for digital printing
• Avoid large areas of color to reduce banding and watercolor issues (blue, green, brown and pastels are the most prone to banding and watercolor issues)
• Eliminate clipping masks and compound paths
• Embed any images or fonts that are in your artwork
• UV Gloss finish available
• Limited size digital print available on Handled products

Decoration Examples

Screen Print

Single Color or Multi-Color Print

What it is: Printing technique using a stencil mesh screen to imprint layers of ink onto our products. Limit of 5 colors and solid color Pantone callout is required.
Files accepted: Vector only: Ai, EPS, or PDF
Colors: 4 Color Maximum
Line Weights: 1pt positive minimum 2pt negative minimum*

Artwork Tips & Tricks

• Leave all artwork in layers; Overlapping colors will be printed as such
• Keep in mind that screen printing inks let on a bit of transparency and overlapping colors will create a new color at the overlap
• Convert text to outlines where necessary

Decoration Examples

Vector vs Raster

Raster files are images built from pixels - tiny color squares that form highly detailed images such as photographs. The more pixels an image has, the higher quality it will be, and vice versa. Providing a raster for digital printing? Make sure it is at least 300dpi at size.

Vector files use mathematical equations to produce an image so there are no pixels in a vector file. Because the mathematical formula recalibrates to any size, you can scale a vector image up or down without impacting its quality. Vector files are required for laser etching and screen printing.

Need more information on converting a raster file to a vector file? Please reach out to wholesale@miir.com.

Pantone Matching and Critical Color Match

We use solid coated Pantone book, the global standard for communicating color, to ensure accuracy of your artwork colors. To ensure your colors will match your vision, please provide our team with the closest matching SOLID COATED Pantone Color number found online or in the swatch book.

Art Reversals

Would your artwork look better reversed? Sometimes reversing your artwork can dramatically improve how it looks on the finished product. Two common situations are laser etching and printing on light vs. dark garments:

• Laser Etching: This is a subtractive process - the laser removes material rather than adding ink or pigment. Because the etched area usually appears lighter than the surrounding surface, reversing your artwork (swapping light and dark areas) can create stronger contrast and make details - especially faces or fine lines - stand out.
• Printing on light vs dark products: When the product color changes, the “positive” and “negative” spaces in your artwork shift as well. If you plan to print on both light and dark products, consider creating separate versions of your artwork to maintain the intended look.

Lineweight 101

Lineweight is sometimes spelled as two words: line weight. It is a term used frequently in art to describe the relative 'weight' of the line against the background or support. In simpler terms, lineweight refers to the strength, heaviness, thickness, or darkness of a line.

Each decoration method has a bit different guideline for how thick line weights need to be to ensure a clean, clear print.

(Positive line weight refers to the etched surface of the product. Negative line weight refers to the powder-coated (untouched) space between the etched areas)