5 Key Points for Art Submissions

Sending us your artwork, designs, or images is a breeze when you know the right format for printing! To make this process super smooth and hassle-free, we’ve compiled a few handy tips just for you.

Let’s get started!

Tip #1: Understand Raster vs. Vector Art

Raster art is made of pixels and may lose quality when enlarged, while vector art is mathematically defined and can be scaled without loss of quality.

For raster art, ensure it is at least 300 dpi at printed size.

Tip #2: Know Your (Color) Limitations

Screen printing at Body Billboards has a max color limitation of 9 colors on light fabrics and 8 colors on dark fabrics.

Artwork may need adjustments to comply with these limits to achieve optimal results.

Tip #3: Photographic Images Require CMYK

Attempts to create photographic-quality images may require specialized printing processes like CMYK or simulated process printing, which can incur additional costs.

Discuss these options prior to submission.

Tip #4: Try Using Halftone Design Elements

Halftones can be used to replicate photos, blend colors or transition between images. They can enhance your design but also affect costs.

This will be addressed once your artwork is submitted.

Tip #5: Understanding Screen Color and Print Color (They Really ARE Different!)

When you want your colors to remain consistent across different mediums, specifying a Pantone Color rather than just an RGB or hex value is essential. If you’ve designed the perfect shade on your laptop but notice that the printed version looks "off," it’s important to understand why. Screens emit and create colors by mixing red, green, and blue, while printers absorb light and layer (CMYK) to reflect specific wavelengths back your eye. These systems are fundamentally different, and when your design converts from RGB to CMYK for printing, some colors simply can't be reproduced—particularly vivid blues, electric greens, and neon tones.

As a result, we (the printer) will select the closest ink combination that we can achieve. Let us know if you have any questions.

Ideally, we would always encourage our clients to submit 100% vector art for printing, but any artwork can be adapted into a printable format. Initial design assistance is available for $30 for the first hour, with further edits at $75/hour.

Contact us to start creating your custom merchandise, or email us with specific art inquiries at artwork@bodybillboards.com