Do you supply files the printer can use directly?

Yes. All artwork ships print-ready with the correct bleed, trim, colour profile and embedded assets, plus a specification sheet so any commercial printer can produce it without asking for revisions.

Can you work with our existing printer or supplier?

Absolutely. We regularly prepare artwork to a third-party supplier's exact template and technical requirements, and we will liaise with them during proofing if that is helpful.

Do you handle packaging design as well as stationery?

Yes — packaging, labels, dielines, menus, signage, business cards and apparel all fall inside this practice, and all are designed against the same brand system.

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Creative/Print & Merchandise

Merchandise tees

Merchandise tees is a print and merchandise design project from the Pixel2Tech print & merchandise practice. We were brought in because artwork kept coming back from the printer with colour shifts because nothing was ever set up in CMYK with proper bleed. This page walks through the problem we were handed, how we approached it, and what changed as a result.

Brand: Merchandise Tees
Practice: Creative
Service: Print & Merchandise
Year: 2025

The Work

What we designed for Merchandise Tees

Deliverables

Print-ready artwork
Packaging mockups
Merch design
Vendor handoff

The challenge

When the project started, artwork kept coming back from the printer with colour shifts because nothing was ever set up in CMYK with proper bleed.

Our approach

We prototyped on the actual stock and substrate before signing off, because material changes how a design reads.

The outcome

The physical and digital sides of the brand finally look like they came from the same place.

Print-ready files: 16
Proofing rounds: 1
Production lead time: −30%

How we delivered this print & merchandise project

Step 01
Specification and material choice
Before layout, we agreed the stock, finish and print method with the supplier, because paper weight and coating change how colour and type read far more than most people expect.
Step 02
Artwork on the brand grid
Every piece was laid out on the same grid and type scale as the digital brand, so the printed items sit inside the identity rather than beside it.
Step 03
Production-ready files
Artwork was prepared in CMYK with correct bleed, trim marks, overprint settings and embedded fonts, accompanied by a spec sheet the printer can work directly from.
Step 04
Proofing and sign-off
We reviewed physical proofs on the actual substrate before approving the run, which is the only reliable way to catch colour shift and finish issues.

Technologies and tools used

The stack below was chosen for this engagement because it matched the scale of the work, the team that would maintain it afterwards, and the performance the brief required.

Adobe InDesign
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop
CMYK / Pantone colour management
Print production specs
Packaging dielines

Why this project matters

Physical touchpoints are where a brand becomes tangible. Packaging, stationery and merchandise are held, kept and photographed, so an inconsistency there is far more visible than one in a passing digital impression.

If you are weighing up similar work, our services overview explains how we scope engagements, and about Pixel2Tech introduces the team who would run it.

Frequently asked questions

Do you supply files the printer can use directly?: Yes. All artwork ships print-ready with the correct bleed, trim, colour profile and embedded assets, plus a specification sheet so any commercial printer can produce it without asking for revisions.
Can you work with our existing printer or supplier?: Absolutely. We regularly prepare artwork to a third-party supplier's exact template and technical requirements, and we will liaise with them during proofing if that is helpful.
Do you handle packaging design as well as stationery?: Yes — packaging, labels, dielines, menus, signage, business cards and apparel all fall inside this practice, and all are designed against the same brand system.