A guide to digital mockups and the file types required to ensure a high-quality final product.

What are digital mockups?

Digital mockups are a must-have for garment printing, especially for high-visibility clothes with unique logos. These mockups show the design and its placement on the garment, as well as the proportions, which helps to check that the design is right and accurately placed before printing.

When producing digital mockups for high-vis clothes with custom logos, various processes must be taken. The bespoke logo must first be in an appropriate format, such that when it is printed it does not pixelate. A couple of ways to achieve that is by sharing your logo as a PSD or an AI vector, or a PNG of 300+ DPI. Following that, the clothing must be chosen while keeping safety regulations in mind. After deciding on a logo and a garment, the positioning and size of the logo on the garment must be selected. This is where mockups come into the picture. Being able to see what you’re finished garment would roughly look like, without actually having to pay for a sample.

Once we have the necessary files and the payment for the order has been received, you are sent a digital mockup that shows the approximate placement of the logo and its dimensions (not to scale)

The final step is to evaluate the digital mockup to approve the design and positioning of the custom logo on the garment. This stage is critical for ensuring that the final product fulfils branding and safety standards. Before the garment is produced, the digital mockup gives an accurate depiction of the final product that can be shared with stakeholders for inspection and approval.

Companies can avoid costly mistakes and changes throughout the printing process by using digital mockups in PDF format.

These mockups provide an accurate depiction of the final product, saving time and money. 

Finally, as a customer-first company, digital mockups are invaluable for businesses that demand custom logos on high-vis clothes. Companies can guarantee that the design is exact and correctly placed before printing by developing a digital mockup that shows the approximate location of the design on the garment as well as its dimensions. This stage is crucial for ensuring that the final product meets branding and safety criteria.

Allowed File Types:

When creating custom logos for high-visibility garments, it's critical to use the right file types to ensure a high-quality final product. The following are some of the most commonly used file types in garment printing:

AI files: AI is an abbreviation for Adobe Illustrator, a vector-based design programme. Because it can be scaled to any size without losing quality, this file type is ideal for creating logos. Because they retain clarity even when printed at large sizes, AI files are preferred for printing high-visibility garments as they do not pixelate when scaling.

JPG files: JPG stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group, and it is a popular photo and image file format. This file format is ideal for photographs or graphics with many colours or gradients. JPG files, on the other hand, are not ideal for printing high-visibility garments because they lose quality when scaled to a larger size.

PNG files: PNG stands for Portable Network Graphics, and it is a transparent file format. This file format is ideal for logos or graphics with a transparent background. PNG files are also suitable for printing high-visibility garments because they retain their quality even when scaled up.

EPS files: Encapsulated PostScript (EPS) is a vector-based file format. Because it can be scaled to any size without losing quality, this file type is ideal for logos. Because they retain clarity even when printed at large sizes, EPS files are also suitable for printing high-visibility garments.

PSD files: PSD is an abbreviation for Photoshop Document, a file format used by Adobe Photoshop. This file format is ideal for creating graphics or logos with many layers.

What "Not to Scale" Means and How It Affects the Final Product

It's important to keep in mind when creating digital mockups for custom logos on high-visibility garments that the logo may look different on different-sized vests but printed at the same size. This is because the logo is created at a specific size and then scaled up or down to fit the garment.

A digital mockup is labelled "Not to Scale" when it is created. This means that the logo is not exactly the size that will be printed on the garment. Instead, it provides an approximation of the final product

The same logo on a small and a large vest, for example, may appear different in size due to the size of the vest itself, as all artwork will be printed at the same size.

While the logo may appear differently on different-sized vests, the overall design should remain consistent. This implies that the logo's colours, layout, and placement should be consistent across all sizes.

Finally, when designing custom logos for high-visibility garments, it's critical to use the proper file types and understand what "Not to Scale" means. Companies can ensure that their logos are of high quality and meet the branding and safety standards by using the appropriate file types and creating digital mockups that accurately represent the final product.

We can break down the steps involved into three easy-to-follow stages:

To make ordering custom high-visibility garments with digital mockups even easier, we can divide the process into three simple steps.

The first step is to request a quote or place an order online. This can be done on www.workdepot.com.au. 

The second step is to upload the required files, such as the logo file in AI/JPG/PNG/EPS/PSD format, as well as any additional artwork or design files that may be required. It is critical to ensure that these files are of high quality and meet the printing specifications.

After the files have been uploaded, the third step is to wait for us to create and send digital mockups. These mockups will show the approximate placement and dimensions of the logo on the garment. After that, you can evaluate the mockups and approve the design and placement of the custom logo on the garment.

After you've approved the mockups, the printing process can begin, and you can expect to receive your high-quality custom high-visibility garments within the timeframe specified.