Our bass drum head designer handles most of this for you — but if you're prepping artwork outside the browser, here's what gives you the cleanest possible print.
This page is the deep-dive on artwork prep specifically. If you want the full walkthrough of how to make a custom bass drum head — from picking the size to approving the print — start there and come back here when you're ready to prep files.
We accept PNG, JPG, PDF, SVG, EPS, and TIFF. PNG, JPG, and PDF upload fastest. Files over 100MB can't be uploaded directly — message us if you've got something that big and we'll figure out the best way to get it in.
Aim for 100–300 pixels per inch (PPI) at actual print size. Higher is better for fine detail.
If you'll be ordering multiple sizes, build your artwork at the largest size you'll need. Scaling down keeps quality intact; scaling up loses sharpness fast.
For example: artwork built for a 22" drum head will look great on an 18" drum head. Artwork built for an 18" drum head and stretched to 22" probably won't.
RGB color mode is preferred — colors come out more vivid that way through our print process.
One thing to know: monitors display in RGB but printing happens in CMYK. Very bright or fluorescent colors that pop on screen may shift slightly in print. We match colors as closely as possible inside the CMYK gamut.
Extend your art 1 inch beyond the live print area. You won't see the bleed area in our designer, but the extra image data prevents white edges if there's any shift during production.
If you can't add bleed because of your artwork's shape, we'll handle it.
Convert all fonts to outlines (curves or paths) before uploading. This eliminates any risk of font substitution — if we don't have the exact font installed, the design could shift unpredictably.
In Illustrator: select your text and choose Type → Create Outlines. In InDesign: Type → Create Outlines. In other apps, look for "convert to curves" or "flatten."
If you want a logo or graphic to layer over a colored or photographic background, save it with a transparent background — PNG, PDF, or EPS all support this. JPG does not.
Before you click approve, give your design a careful look:
A second set of eyes catches what you've stopped noticing. Have someone else look at it before you approve.
If you're scanning a CD cover, hand-drawn art, or another physical source to use as your design, scan at higher PPI than your final size needs. Rough rule: a CD cover scanned at 550+ PPI will hold up when scaled to a 22" drum head at 120 PPI.
Anything pre-printed (like a CD insert) may have a moiré pattern when scanned. Soften it in Photoshop with Filter → Blur → Gaussian Blur at a small radius (0.1–1 pixel) to clean it up before final use.
You can add a custom mic port hole to your bass drum head when you design it. Quick guide:
Port hole options include a simple cut ($12), a thin hole reinforcer ($17), a two-part snap-in port hole ring ($24), or a KickPort acoustic port ($54). You pick the type, size, and color right in the designer. See our full guide to bass drum port holes for what each one does and which to choose.
If you're not sure your art will print well, send it our way before you order. Drop us a line with the file attached and we'll take a look. No charge, no commitment.
Drop your art into the designer and see your custom bass drum head live in your browser.
Start a Design