On this page 7 sections
A good file is the difference between a mug that looks right and one that comes back with questions. Every upload is checked before it prints, and if something will not print well we tell you before production starts, but getting it right first saves you days.
Mug artwork: the 60-second check
- Right shape: a mug wrap is wide and short. On an 11oz personalised mug the print area is about 200 × 80 mm. Branded mugs, bottles, cups and coasters show their print area and print method on the product page.
- Clear of the handle: keep faces, names and logos away from the handle and from the top and bottom edges.
- Sharp enough: 300 dpi at the printed size. For a full 200 × 80 mm wrap that is roughly 2400 × 950 pixels.
- Colour: photos straight from a phone are fine. For a brand colour on a business order, give us the Pantone number.
- Fonts: outlined or embedded in a PDF, one design per page.
- Spelling: check every name, date and web address twice, because we print the file you send.
Which file to send
For photo and name mugs, a JPG or PNG straight from your phone or camera is usually enough, as long as it has not been shrunk by a messaging app. For logos and business orders, a PDF with the fonts embedded or outlined is best; AI, EPS and SVG are fine too. Made it in Canva, Word or PowerPoint? Export a full-quality PDF rather than sending the original.
Print areas, product by product
| Product | Print area | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Personalised and colour changing mugs (11oz) | about 200 × 80 mm, wrapping round the mug | keep the middle of the design opposite the handle |
| Printed coasters | 90 × 90 mm, edge to edge | keep words a few millimetres in from the edge |
| Branded mugs, travel mugs, tumblers and bottles | shown on each product page | the print method (full colour, screen print and so on) changes what works best |
| Reusable and paper cups | shown on each product page | bold, simple logos read best on a curved cup |
Photos on mugs
Pick a photo that is in focus and well lit, with the faces filling a good part of the frame. A mug is curved, so the far ends of a wide wrap are hard to see at once: put the main face or name in the middle and use the sides for background, a second photo or a short message. Very small text and thin lines can disappear on a curved surface, so keep wording large enough to read across a table.
Logos and print methods
Full-colour print suits photos, gradients and logos with many colours. Screen printing suits one or two solid colours and simple lettering, and gives a crisp, bold finish. Logos are best as vector artwork, which stays sharp at any size; a logo copied off a website usually is not. If a product offers both methods, the options on its page explain the difference.
Colour changing mugs
A colour changing mug looks plain when cold. Pour in a hot drink and your photo or message appears, then fades as it cools. Strong, clear photos and bold text show the reveal best.
No artwork? Three ways round it
Every product has an Artwork choice. Upload your own file, design it yourself in the online designer where a product offers it, or pick a fixed-price design option: typesetting, design from your brief, a logo redraw or a new logo. The fee appears as its own line in your basket and covers the whole quantity of that item. The artwork and design service can also be booked on its own, and includes 1 design and 2 rounds of changes.
Still unsure? Read the questions answered page or ask us.