Printing JPGs: how can this happen?

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I gave our screen printer JPGs of our Fall t-shirt designs to print film and get the shirts done.

This particular JPG is 1200 dpi (other shaded layers go through a linescreen filter so easier for the whole PS file, then JPG layers to be high res).

Here's my printout, both on a laser printer and then inkjet on film. Each letter has perfect, crisp edges.






And here's what they are printing. Edges are entirely pixelated. How does that happen? I could understand if a PS file and they didn't have the font, but this is a JPG. Any ideas?

[GH85Carrera]

It is likely their RIP software. It is down sampling the file or their printer is not set up right.

[gorthar]

Edit: nevermind, misunderstood question..

[wdfifteen]

The RIP is screwing it up. I've had this problem in the past, but not since I started sending everything to my printers as PDFs. Apparently the JPG standard has been around long enough to have developed a few mutations that RIPS don't like.

[sammyg2]

IT'S HAUNTED!

run away, run away

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Thank you Glen and Patrick, I'll send some PDFs and see what happens, also ask them to disable their RIP software.

[wdfifteen]

?? If they are going to turn it into a screen they have to rasterize it.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

We just print on film, like you would print on paper, tape the positive to a screen, burn it, wash it out (where there is printing, the screen washes out), done.

[stomachmonkey]

General rule of thumb, don't send service bureaus files in a compressible format.

If you are designing the text in Illustrator (you should be) send an outlined version. Never have to worry about missing fonts or quality.

Select all then Command+Shift+O

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Scott, I do (Illustrator text, outlined, then pasted in PS).

They wanted the JPGs. I had originally given them PS files.