A custom design for a customer using in-house art services At Advanced Impressions, our mission is to deliver consistent, precise, and dependable printing solutions for our partners. We see our relationship as a partnership, not just a transaction, and a key part of a great partnership is clear communication and a smooth process. We’re confident in our craft and want to empower you to get the absolute best results for your clients. A flawless print starts with creating print-ready artwork. This guide is a simple, solution-focused checklist to help you prepare and send your files, ensuring faster turnarounds and the high-quality results you expect. 1. Vector Artwork is the Gold Standard For screen printing, vector files are essential. Unlike raster images (like JPEGs or PNGs) which are made of pixels, vector files (.AI, .EPS, .PDF, .SVG) are made from mathematical paths. Why it matters:  Vector art can be scaled to any size without losing quality, ensuring your lines remain crisp and clean. This is critical for creating the sharp film positives needed to burn a perfect screen. A quick note on PDFs:  The .PDF format can be tricky. Not all PDF files are vector. A PDF saved from a vector program like Adobe Illustrator will be a true vector file. However, a JPEG saved as a PDF from a raster program like Adobe Photoshop is still just a raster image. When in doubt, sending the original source file (.AI or .EPS) is always the safest bet. 2. Outline All Fonts When you send us a design file, our computers might not have the same fonts installed as yours. If a font is missing, it will be substituted, which can drastically alter your design. The solution:  Convert all text to outlines (or "create outlines") before saving your file. This changes the text from an editable font into a fixed vector shape that will look identical on any computer, preserving your design integrity. 3. Specify Pantone (PMS) Colors Your screen and our screen will always show color a little differently. To guarantee precise color matching, please provide Pantone (PMS) Solid Coated color codes for your artwork. Why it helps:  PMS codes are a universal standard that allows our ink technicians to mix the exact color you need, every single time. This commitment to precision is our standard . Custom made ink being checked against PMS color chart 4. Keep Your Design Clean and Simple The best artwork for screen printing is clean and straightforward. Before you finalize the file, take a moment to: Remove Stray Points:  Delete any stray anchor points or hidden shapes outside the artboard. Set A Single Stroke and Fill:  Avoid multiple strokes or fills on a single object. Check Line Weight:  Ensure lines are thick enough to print cleanly. We recommend a minimum of 1pt thickness for lines and details to ensure they hold up on the screen. This attention to detail allows our team to work efficiently and reflects the craftsmanship with care  we bring to every project. 5. Put It All in One Place Please package all necessary files into a single folder and compress it (.zip) before sending. Include the final vector artwork, a mockup of the design on the garment, and a text file with any specific instructions, like print dimensions and Pantone colors. Need a Hand creating print-ready artwork? We Offer Art Services We understand. Sometimes you’re facing a tight deadline or receive a client file that’s less than ideal. If you need help getting your artwork print-ready, we’re here for you. Our team can assist with a range of art services, including: Vectorizing low-resolution images Color separations Text and layout adjustments Cleaning up and simplifying complex files Being a true partner means being solution-focused . Just let our team know you need assistance when you submit your order, and we’ll be happy to provide a quote to get your artwork perfected for the press. Your Trusted Partner Behind the Scenes By following these guidelines, you help us move your project from screen to press quickly and accurately. We respect your time and process , and preparing your art this way is the best first step toward a successful run. Once we receive your print-ready files, our team takes over with the precision and care you trust us with—from producing high-resolution film to creating perfectly tensioned screens. We are here to help you create flawless prints, whether you're running a busy production shop...or solving a unique industrial printing challenge. Ready to start your next project or have a question about your artwork? We’re here to help. The Advanced Impressions Team

A step-by-step guide for Channel Partners (and their clients too!) Custom made inks numbered with PMS color codes At Advanced Impressions , we know that screen printing isn’t just “press and go.” Each project is a carefully crafted process—from blank garment to final box—built to deliver precision, quality, and consistency. If you’re a Channel Partner who resells our services to your clients, this guide will give you insight into how the magic happens behind the scenes. Understanding our workflow can help you plan better, communicate smarter with your clients, and make the most of our partnership. Let’s pull back the curtain. 🧾  Step 1: The Order Comes In Every great job starts with clear communication . To schedule a job, we need: ●A completed work order ● All blank garments delivered to our facility ● Final approval on the digital art proof  we send to you Please note: We will send you a digital art proof  for review—even if you’ve submitted final artwork. Your job will only be added to our production schedule  once you’ve approved that proof. 💡  Partner Tip:  Approve your proof promptly and send all blanks at once to keep your job moving on schedule. 🎨  Step 2: Art Preparation & Proofing Once your design is approved, our art team: ●Ensures it’s formatted for screen printing (think layers, separations, resolution) ●Maps out screen setup and registration marks ●Prepares a digital proof  so you and your client can see how the design will look This step is all about alignment—literally and figuratively. 🖥  Step 3: Screen Creation Each color in your design gets its own screen. That means a 3-color print = 3 screens, carefully burned using a light-sensitive emulsion process. These screens are the backbone of the print job—and they’re custom-made for your specific project. 🧠  Workshop Insight:  Screen setup is time-intensive and one of the biggest reasons why quality screen printing has a higher setup cost compared to other methods. 🏗  Step 4: Press Setup & Test Prints We mount the screens on our press, align them with hairline accuracy, and conduct test prints to: ●Dial in ink flow ●Ensure color accuracy ●Double-check placement, sizing, and registration Only when we’re fully satisfied do we hit “go". ”👕  Step 5: Production Printing Here’s where it all comes together. Shirts are loaded, one at a time, and passed through our press where: ●Each ink color is applied in sequence ●Garments are flash cured  (quick dried) between layers if needed (e.g., underbases) ●Final prints are cured through a conveyor dryer to ensure long-lasting, wash-resistant quality Every piece is carefully handled—because we know your name is on the line, even if ours isn’t. 🔍  Step 6: Quality Check & Finishing Before anything leaves our facility, we: ● Inspect each garment  for print consistency and garment defects ●Fold or bag according to your specs (if arranged) ●Organize orders for shipping 📦  Step 7: Blind Shipping (Your Brand, Not Ours) For Channel Partners, we offer blind shipping  directly to your client. That means: ●No Advanced Impressions branding on the box ●You stay front-and-center as the face of the service ●We can even include your packing slips or inserts, if provided 📬  Partner Tip:  Make use of blind shipping to save time, reduce handling, and strengthen your relationship with your clients. It’s a seamless experience—for them and for you. ⏱  Step 8: Delivery & Follow-Up We’ll send tracking info to you once your order ships. From there, you’re free to: ●Send final confirmation to your client ●Follow up with any support or next steps ●Celebrate a smooth, on-time delivery (yes, we love those too) 🤝  It’s Not Just Printing—It’s Partnership We’re more than just a print shop—we’re your production partner . And when we work in sync, the results are clear: ✅ Happy clients ✅ Beautiful prints ✅ Fewer surprises By understanding our process and keeping your jobs organized, you can set expectations, meet deadlines, and confidently scale your business. Have a Job Coming Up? Let’s walk through it together. Reach out to us anytime with questions, timelines, or custom requests. 📧  info@advancedimpressions.com 🌐  www.advancedimpressions.com