If you’ve ever created a design in Silhouette Studio and wanted to use it outside the software—whether for DTF (Direct to Film) printing, sublimation, print-and-cut, or any high-quality print project—this guide is for you! With just a few simple steps, you can save your design as a transparent PNG file directly from Silhouette Studio. This method is perfect for uploading to services like Siser®’s Easy® Transfers for vibrant, press-ready DTF prints, but it’s also a great option for any project that needs a clean, high-resolution image. In the video below, I’ll walk you through how to export your design as a PNG and show you exactly how to upload it to the Siser Easy Transfers site to order custom DTF transfers—plus, you’ll get tips to ensure your file is properly formatted for print success. You’ll also find written step-by-step instructions below the video in this post to make it even easier to follow along.
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Find the video – How to Save as PNG in Silhouette Studio + Upload to Siser® Easy® Transfers for DTF Prints on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel HERE or click the image below.
In the video linked above, I show how I created the design featured. I am going to skip right to the steps of saving as a PNG from Silhouette Studio Business Edition. If you would like to see how I create the design, check it out in the video HERE.
When creating your own designs, make sure you are starting with high resolution images. Photos and digital files that are 72 dpi are designed for internet quality images and you want 300 dpi for print quality.
How to Save As a High Resolution PNG File
In order to save as a PNG file type or any other file type, the Silhouette Studio Business Edition upgrade is needed. Find more details on Silhouette software upgrades HERE and how to activate an upgrade on the Silhouette software HERE.
Note: if you are on a MAC, the screenshots below may look a bit different as I am using a Windows computer, however, the process is the same.
Select all parts of the design to be saved. This can be done by left clicking and dragging across the entire design to “rubber band” select everything the mouse moves across.
In the top left corner of Silhouette Studio, select File > Save Selection > Save to Hard Drive.
Using this method will save the design at the size created and not the entire art board. I explain and show a demonstration of why I recommend this method in the video tutorial HERE.
Choose the location you want the file to be saved, name the file, and change the Save as type at the bottom to PNG (or whatever other file type you’d like to save as).
Silhouette has a default DPI (Dots per inch), this is NOT print quality. Highlight the number and change it to 300, then press the Enter key. You will notice that the Pixels for both Width and Height increase. Pixel size is directly related to DPI.
Check the box next to Transparent background if you want a transparent background.
PNG and JPEG files are rectangle shaped files. If a PNG was not designed with a transparent background, it will show as a white rectangle behind the design. JPEG files do not have transparent backgrounds.
The maximum pixel size that can be saved for either width or height in Silhouette Studio is 10,000 pixels.
Make sure to press Enter after changing the DPI or the change will not take effect.
Click the Save button to save the file as a PNG.
Check the file in the saved location to make sure it saved as you want. On a Windows computer, in the Windows folder, move the mouse over the image and it will tell you the pixel size.
To change how you view files in the Windows Folder, select View at the top and select how you want to see those files in the folder.
When using those steps, the design should be saved at 300 DPI from Silhouette Studio.
Upload your high resolution designs and order Siser® Easy® Transfers DTF prints HERE.
Supplies I used in the design featured:
Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.
Enjoy !
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