Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost?
Pricing varies depending on quantity, shirt style, shirt colour, and print colours. If you are working on a budget, let us know. We will do our best to suggest apparel choices and modifications to your artwork that will fit better with your budget constraints. Please send an email with your order details, or simply visit our “Get a Quote” page to get pricing info.

Will you match the price of my current t-shirt printer?
Our pricing is non-negotiable for a number of reasons. Blacklight A.D. prides itself on professionalism and quality; we want to be fair to our other clients and avoid the vicious cycle of undercutting. Our pricing system is based on the amount of time and materials we put into making your shirts great.

How many colours can you print?
We can print up to 6 spot colours and we also offer 4 colour process.

Can you print special inks ie Puffs, Glow in the Dark, etc?
We can print a number of different inks. Just ask us.

What type of files can I submit to you? (Art specs)
Vector art or a high resolution file - Adobe Files: .AI, .EPS
- Corel Files:  .CDR
- Or: .PDF, .JPG, TIFF, PNG - all must be 300 dpi
We do not accept files created in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel or Microsoft PowerPoint. We are not able to create separations from any files created with these programs.

VERY IMPORTANT, Files must be sent at 100% print size. If not, the print size must be specified by the customer. Mock-ups are good for placement and reference but there is no way for us to determine the actual print size.

What is the difference between a bitmap and a vector file?
Bitmaps are made up of pixels, while vector images are composed of curves and points. As such, they can be resized at will without losing quality. Making a bitmap larger makes the pixels larger too and the result can be blurry and jagged. Photos are bitmap images, and so are file formats like bmp, jpg, and psd.

Vector images have crisp lines and can be resized as big as a house without losing any image quality. Vector images are created in programs like Adobe Illustrator and Corel Draw.

Why do you require vector images?
Vector images are made out of lines and shapes. This helps us when we need to separate colours. Each shape that has the same colour is separated from the image. This can’t effectively be done with a bitmap image when printing with spot colours.

One time when it is ok to use bitmap images is when you want a full colour print using process CMYK colours. Sometimes bitmap images are ok for single colour prints as long as they are at least 300dpi and already at print size.

What if I can’t get a vector image file?
We charge $50/hr to re-draw your art work.

How do I get a specific colour?
All PANTONE colours must be specified using solid, coated colours. A colour copy of the artwork is extremely helpful for matching purposes. A proof is required for all 4 colour process and simulated process jobs.

Please consider the colour of your selected garment when submitting artwork. For your own reference place your artwork on a background colour of your selected garment colour. Artwork is separated differently for different colour garments.

What does “convert fonts to curves” or “embed fonts” mean?
Fonts aren’t automatically transferred with a vector file when it is created in a program like Corel Draw. When using fonts in the program, the text is linked to a font file located on your computer. If that text is not converted to curves in the program, when you send that file to us, (if we don’t have the font installed on our computer) the font you have used will be substituted for a different font that is installed on our system.

To get around this you need to convert fonts to curves. To do this in Adobe Illustrator you can right click on the text and choose “Create Outlines” alternatively if you go to Type>Create Outlines or finally you can use the hotkeys Shift+Ctrl+O. This will convert all you type to shapes and it will transport within your file.

Or alternatively, you can supply it as a separate file.

What are the Terms and Conditions of placing an order with you?
Upon placing an order we require a 50% deposit before your merchandise is ordered or printing work commences.

Can you design my shirt? Do you offer graphic design and logo design?
Yes! We will work with you to create your design. Basic artwork is charged at $30.00 per hour. All supplied artwork that is not finalized and ready to print will be charged accordingly.
For anything more involved we work closely with a local graphic arts studio.

Where are you located?
We are based on the Gold Coast, but supply Australia wide. Since we have a small staff, we're unable to take walk-ins. The best starting point for any order is to send us an email with your artwork and order details so we can provide you with some pricing info. Once we confirm that we can print your design, and you confirm that you are in agreement with our pricing, we'd be happy to set up an appointment to chat in person.

How long does it take?
Standard turnaround time is 7-10 business days (Monday through Friday, excluding major holidays). Turnaround time begins once we have received; the deposit, and all artwork and order details have been approved by the customer. Larger, more complex orders will often take a bit longer, though please note timeframes will be discussed upon placement of order. We do take on rush orders, at an additional cost, where our schedule accommodates.

Is there a minimum order?
We have no minimum order. We will happily print your one-off design.

Will I need to pay set-up again if I get a re-print?
We will keep your artwork on screen for a 12 month period. There is no set-up fees for re-prints within this time.

What's a screen cost?
A screen cost is what we charge to create the film and screen that we use in the printing process. However, you do not own the actual screen.