The Classic Shirts
Journal

Field notes.

Deep dives, print prep guides, and the occasional rant about auto-tracers.

Design 101

Vector vs Raster: What Your Printer Actually Needs

If your file looks pixelated on press, it is almost always because you sent a raster where a vector was needed. Here is the clean explanation — with examples.

Jul 6, 2026 · The Classic Shirts Team
Print Prep

Preparing Artwork for DTF Printing — A Field Guide

DTF is the fastest-growing print method for apparel. Here is exactly how to prep artwork so it presses cleanly and lasts wash after wash.

Jul 6, 2026 · The Classic Shirts Team
Apparel

What is Embroidery Digitizing (and Why Auto-Conversion Fails)

Auto-digitized files look great on screen and shred on the machine. Here is why manual digitizing exists — and what a good file actually contains.

Jul 6, 2026 · The Classic Shirts Team