I've looked and not found an answer to this. I do my designs at least 2000x2000 @ 200dpi. My question is, what is the smalled size line that will show up in print. I think my default lines (like if I am outlining an object) is .5 pt. Will this show up on shirts & stuff or do I need it larger? If the latter, what is the smallest pt or inch that will be visible?

Wish I could say, but I always go by "That looks about right." I know that the text I use for my (C) notice is 20pt Arial bold, at least according to my software -- I've never actually measured it -- and on t's and other fabric it is about as small as will be legible, based upon multiple printed samples.

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Originally posted by KLC Lewis:
Wish I could say, but I always go by "That looks about right." I know that the text I use for my (C) notice is 20pt Arial bold, at least according to my software -- I've never actually measured it -- and on t's and other fabric it is about as small as will be legible, based upon multiple printed samples.

20pt? wow. I use 6pt...because that's what someone suggested a mnth or so ago.

Yeah. As I said, I haven't measured it, and in real-life it's probably smaller than that. But in real life printed goods, it looks right. Any smaller it would be unreadable.

I had something that printed fine on dark tees but I can't find that design original right now.

My suggestion is to create a "test pattern" an order it. Include various colors to see how they print, different gradients, a section line sizes, various fonts you may use in different sizes, etc. That way you know for sure how it will print and you'll have something to reference when doing your designs.

Text on some of my (paper) items are as small as 4pt w 300ppi and print great! - then on fabric 10pt may be 'broken' at 200ppi.

You will need to find, for yourself, what sizes will work for the kind of thing you want to print, and on what surface.

The first thing -I- do in CorelDRAW is to find out what magnification is needed to display that particular image at 'full size' exactly. If you are doing 2000px, measure 'something' in that image that should be X inches, then change the magnification so that 'something' displays at exactly X inches. That only gives me a good idea of what my lines and text will look like when printed 'best' - then I can guess at how they might look at half-size, or ?%, and consider the 'deterioration' that printing on any fabric brings.

One way you can get a better idea is to create a specific image with a wide variety of lines and text, in a variety of colors and order it as a test on a T-shirt, a small print (or preferably the size print you will offer), and on say a display tile ... chalk this up to advertising (you can make that 'test' image from your logo or similar and actually wear it or display it for others to see IF it comes out as you predict.

Thanks for all the responses.