An umbrella canopy is not a flat sheet. It is a set of tapered panels joined at seams, curved in two directions, in a fabric that behaves differently to paper. Artwork that works beautifully on a business card sometimes needs adjusting to hold on a canopy, and knowing that up front is the difference between a smooth order and a week of back and forth.
- Supply vector artwork where possible, with all fonts outlined.
- Give PMS references rather than describing colours in words.
- Print areas are quoted per panel, not per canopy.
- A digital proof is prepared as part of the order process before printing begins.
What file to send
Vector artwork is what a printer wants: EPS, AI or a vector PDF. Vector shapes scale to any size without losing edge quality, which matters when the same logo has to work on a compact panel and a golf canopy. Convert or outline all fonts before sending, otherwise the type reflows if the exact font is not installed at our end.
- Best: EPS, AI or PDF, vector, fonts outlined
- Workable: a high-resolution PNG or TIFF with a transparent background
- Avoid: logos lifted from a website, screenshots, or images embedded in a document
If a vector file no longer exists anywhere in your organisation, send the highest resolution version you have and we will tell you honestly whether it will hold at print size or needs redrawing. Full detail is on the artwork specifications page.
Colour: PMS, CMYK and RGB
Give us PMS references. They are unambiguous, they travel between suppliers, and they are what we mix or match to. A description in words is not a specification: there are hundreds of blues that could reasonably be called navy.
Two practical notes. Screen colours are RGB and always look brighter than any printed result, so judge colour from a printed reference rather than a monitor. And ink on woven polyester reads slightly differently to the same PMS on coated paper, because the fabric absorbs and diffuses light. The PMS colour chart is a useful starting point if you do not have your brand codes recorded.
Print areas and panel geometry
Print areas are quoted per panel. On a golf umbrella, screen print areas run to roughly 185mm by 200mm by 250mm per panel, while transfer and sublimation areas are typically around 220mm by 165mm. Compact panels are smaller. The panel is tapered, wider at the hem and narrower toward the tip, so a wide horizontal logo sits differently to a square one.
Two consequences worth planning for. Artwork does not usually cross a seam, so a single logo is placed within one panel rather than spanning two. And a design intended to read as continuous around the canopy needs to be built panel by panel, which is a sublimation job rather than a screen print job.
The proof process
Once artwork and style are settled, a digital proof is prepared as part of the order process. It shows your logo positioned on the chosen umbrella at the correct scale, in the nominated colours, on the nominated canopy colour. Nothing is printed until you approve it.
Check four things on a proof: the logo is the version you intend to use, the colours reference the right PMS codes, the position and scale are what you expected, and any text is legible at the size shown. Approval starts the production clock, which runs approximately 10 working days from artwork approval, with rush orders accommodated where possible and subject to stock availability.
Common artwork problems
- Live fonts that reflow because they were not outlined
- Low resolution logos pulled from a website, which pixelate at canopy scale
- White elements that were invisible on a white background but appear on a coloured canopy
- Hairline strokes that disappear in screen print or fill in on fabric
- Gradients specified for screen print, which needs transfer or sublimation instead
All five are fixable, and all five are faster to fix before an order than after a proof. If you are unsure, send the file early and ask.
Common questions
What artwork file do you need for umbrella printing?
Vector artwork is best: an EPS, AI or vector PDF with all fonts outlined. A high-resolution PNG or TIFF with a transparent background is usually workable. Logos taken from a website are generally too low in resolution for canopy scale.
Why do you need PMS colours instead of a description?
PMS references are unambiguous and travel between suppliers, where a word like navy could describe hundreds of different colours. We match to your PMS codes and show the result on a digital proof.
How big is the print area on an umbrella panel?
On a golf umbrella, screen print areas run to roughly 185mm by 200mm by 250mm per panel, with transfer and sublimation areas typically around 220mm by 165mm. Compact panels are smaller, and exact areas vary by style.
Can my logo print across two panels?
A single logo is normally placed within one panel rather than crossing a seam. A design that reads as continuous around the canopy is built panel by panel and produced by sublimation rather than screen print.
When does production start on my order?
At artwork approval. Production runs approximately 10 working days from artwork approval, with rush orders accommodated where possible and subject to stock availability, so approving the proof promptly protects your deadline.
Send your logo and we will check it against the style you are considering. Get expert advice or call 1300 25 60 70.
