1. 11oz for White and Accent mugs
2. 15oz for White and Accent mugs
3. 11oz Black Mug
4. 15oz Black Mug

TRANSCRIPT

This article explains how to use Podzilla’s mug design templates, including template differences by mug type, safe print areas, alignment guides, and best practices for preparing mug artwork for sublimation printing.

Key Takeaways

• Most mugs share templates based on size, with separate templates for black mugs

• Important design elements must stay inside the green dotted safe area

• White backgrounds are recommended for easier preview and do not print on sublimation products

• Templates must be removed or hidden before downloading artwork

Mug Template Overview

Podzilla mug templates are organized by size. Most mugs share the same template for their size, with a key exception:

• 11 oz white ceramic mugs and accent-color handle mugs use the same template

• 11 oz black mugs use a different template due to a different printing area

In general, there are:

• Two templates for black mugs (by size)

• Two templates for all other mugs (by size)

Accessing the Mug Template

1. Go to the Podzilla product catalog

2. Navigate to Mugs

3. Select the mug size and type

4. Scroll down to the templates section

5. Open the Canva or Photoshop template

Templates are pre-sized to the correct printing area and DPI. No resizing is required.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Understanding the Template Layout

The mug template includes multiple guide layers:

• Green dotted line: safe area for text and important graphics

• Blue bleed area: maximum printable area for full wrap designs

Design guidance:

• Important elements must stay inside the green dotted line

• Full wrap backgrounds should extend to at least the blue bleed area

Placement and Alignment

The template shows handle orientation guides:

• One side represents the front of the mug with the handle on one side

• The opposite side represents the back with the handle on the opposite side

Best practice for most mug designs:

• Center designs on the left and right alignment guides rather than the center of the document

• Keep designs well within the safe area to avoid cropping

Designing Front and Back Artwork

To place the same design on both sides:

1. Size and center the first design within the green dotted safe area

2. Duplicate the design

3. Align the duplicate to the opposite side using the guide lines

Eyeballing vertical placement is acceptable and often preferred for visual balance.

Preparing the File for Download

Before downloading your artwork:

• Remove the template by deleting it or setting transparency to zero

• Leave the background white for most designs

White backgrounds are recommended because:

• White does not print on sublimation products

• Artwork is easier to see against Podzilla’s gray order card background

The only Podzilla product that requires a transparent background is shirts.

Notes and Best Practices

• Avoid placing designs too close to the edges of the safe area

• Use the same template across all 11 oz white and accent mugs

• Always confirm you are using the correct template for black mugs

Final Notes

Following the template guides and safe area rules will help ensure mug designs print cleanly and consistently without unexpected cropping.