Both are fine, but not for the same use. The PNG with a transparent background is the universal DTF format: simple, reliable, recognised by every RIP. The vector PDF is superior for a complete sheet prepared by a graphic designer: sharp text at all sizes, colours preserved, light file.
PNG: the safe bet
Export as a 24-bit PNG with transparency, at 300 DPI at actual size, with no exotic colour profile. What is transparent is not printed; what is white is printed in opaque white. Avoid “almost white” (a hastily cut-out photo background): it will be printed. Check the transparency by opening the file on a dark background.
PDF: for print-ready sheets
If you compose your 58 × 100 cm sheet in Illustrator, Affinity or Inkscape, export as PDF with fonts outlined or embedded, no background, at the exact size. The PDF keeps the vector paths: 6-point text stays sharp. Our designer reads the PDF page size and rejects a size that does not match, which avoids nasty surprises.
Classic mistakes
- A JPG instead of a PNG: no transparency, the white background gets printed.
- A 72 DPI PNG exported from a web tool: too small for the requested size.
- A “transparent” background that actually contains a white rectangle at 1 % opacity: it prints as a haze.
- A PDF with margins or trim marks: the DTF sheet does not want them, the file must be at the bare size.
- Mirrored artwork: send it the right way round, mirroring is applied at printing.
What about SVG, AI and PSD?
Export them: SVG and AI to PDF, PSD to PNG with transparency. We do not accept these formats directly for security and compatibility reasons, but the export takes a few seconds and gives a faithful file.