It’s stained, it’s ripped, it’s filled with holes… However you simply can’t appear to throw it out. For lots of us, our favourite t-shirts are a method to categorical who we’re. (And for others, they’re free promoting!) However how you can design a t-shirt that ticks all of the containers? You’ll discover out beneath.
Do you might have a killer t-shirt thought and suspect others will really feel the identical means? Are you on the lookout for another technique of selling your corporation or making some facet earnings with merch? Do you need to commemorate a particular occasion, like a household reunion or bachelorette occasion?
We have simply despatched you your free t-shirt design book.
No matter your causes, the basics of t-shirt design stay the identical; it’s what you do with them that counts.
On this Final Information to T-Shirt Design, we’ll run by way of every step of the design course of, from the inception of an thought to getting your shirt mass-produced. Irrespective of how a lot (or how little) expertise you might have, these t-shirt design suggestions offers you every thing it is advisable to know. So try our video beneath or dive straight into the article. Both means, let’s get your t-shirt design underway!
Methods to design a t-shirt in 8 steps
—
1. Work out why you want a shirt
Irrespective of your motive for designing a t-shirt, it’ll all the time contain slightly little bit of branding. If you happen to’re utilizing t-shirts for promotional functions, branding is your most important objective. Even when it’s strictly vogue, you’ll nonetheless must weave constant model themes into all of your merchandise. For private use—like commemorating an occasion, for instance—you need to be certain your t-shirt design communicates clearly.
If you happen to haven’t already, write out an inventory of the important thing themes, kinds, and character traits, you need your model and shirts to convey. Is your model playful or severe? Edgy or conservative? Luxurious or inexpensive? A targeted t-shirt design can reply all of those questions at a look.
Take a fast peek on the instance above. What does it inform you in regards to the Brewmasters firm? For starters, they don’t take themselves too significantly, and the picket devices recommend a extra conventional brewing type that hints at a basic style. That’s quite a lot of data from a cartoon.
To get the best design, transfer away out of your private desire and rely extra on actual, quantifiable knowledge. Who’re your goal shoppers/clients? What model traits do they need to do enterprise with?
Listed here are 4 targets to assist information your t-shirt design course of by serving to you perceive why you want a shirt and what you need it to do.
Promotional items
Your t-shirts are one thing you give away without cost to maintain your model within the minds of potential shoppers/clients.
This could possibly be one thing given away at conventions, conferences, different promotional occasions or perhaps a leave-behind at a enterprise assembly.
Inner firm utilization
Staff get shirts for solidarity, appreciation or maybe even an organization uniform.
The targets are much like promotional items as a result of there’s a robust want for branding.
Merchandise
Your t-shirts are a product you propose on promoting, so be certain to consider type, marketability and enterprise technique.
You’ll want to grasp your shirt’s place out there, so think about conducting analysis to find the tastes of your clients. Your personal preferences are a superb begin, however when it comes right down to promoting to the lots, quantifiable knowledge all the time beats guesswork.
Occasion souvenirs
Particular occasions want particular souvenirs, and t-shirts are all the time an awesome possibility.
These share most of the identical targets as shirts for inside firm utilization (solidarity, appreciation) however for a extra informal, much less restrictive viewers.
No matter their use, most t-shirts are promotional indirectly. Even in the event you’re designing t-shirts as merchandise, embrace your model brand so observers know who made the shirt and if they need one thing related. It ought to have a robust, even dominant, presence on the shirt.
Apply the identical design high quality and cleverness as you’d a billboard commercial. Extra than simply garments, t-shirts present publicity each time an individual wears them in public, particularly if the proprietor likes the shirt and wears it typically.
When you’ve decided your targets, you may then prioritize the completely different elements of your t-shirt design. For instance, vogue is perhaps a excessive precedence for merchandise tees however not for worker items. You need to tailor your design in a means that most closely fits your wants.
2. Outline your funds and amount
You’re anxious to get to the precise t-shirt design. We get it. However let’s decide on some particulars first so you may focus your design higher: particularly, your funds and amount. How a lot you may spend and what number of t-shirts you want will affect your design.
For instance, funds and amount will assist decide what number of colours you should use. Relying in your printing methodology, further colours might price more cash. In case your funds is tight, a great way to save lots of is to preserve colours.
The variety of shirts you want may also affect your printing methodology. Some strategies are perfect for printing in bulk. Others have a better price per shirt and are higher for small orders.
Earlier than you start to consider designing or printing, plan your funds and amount accordingly.
3. Know your printing choices
There are quite a lot of issues to think about if you’re on the lookout for the perfect t-shirt printing methodology for you. Price, look, manufacturing time, supplies—they’re all necessary. The extra you recognize about every methodology, the better it is going to be to resolve which one is greatest for you.
Display screen printing
That is the gold customary for t-shirt printing. Your printer makes authentic screens of your design (one for every colour) so you may print in bulk.
Professionals: Dependable customary for printing. Reasonably priced and top quality. Excellent for big orders over 20.
Cons: New display screen is required for each new colour or design revision (which will get pricey). Colourful designs find yourself being costly.
Vinyl graphics
One other methodology of heated switch, vinyl printing, makes use of extra sturdy vinyl as a substitute of simply ink.
Professionals: Extraordinarily sturdy and top quality. Excellent for if you need your design to face out (actually).
Cons: Extra colours price extra, so sophisticated designs get costly. Not nice for big orders.
Direct-to-garment (or print-on-demand)
A more recent possibility, DTG printing, makes use of the liberty of inkjet printing however prints instantly on cloth.
Professionals: Extremely customizable designs with most element and intensive colour decisions.
Cons: Use for small batches or maybe a single pattern. The extra you’re printing, the much less viable it turns into. Doesn’t work nicely on dark-colored clothes.
Check out our information to t-shirt printing for extra data.
4. Brainstorm your design idea
Right here comes the enjoyable stuff… Now you get to begin determining what’s truly happening together with your t-shirt! Be sure to don’t soar to this step first. The extra effort and time you place into making ready for this, the higher.
Your design may go in one million completely different instructions. As you’re brainstorming, listed below are some suggestions to assist focus your creativity.
T-shirt varieties
All this speak about t-shirts, and it’s simple to overlook that there are many several types of shirts. Simply to call just a few…
Take into consideration your viewers and meant targets earlier than deciding on the best sort of t-shirt. A revealing crop prime won’t be the perfect promotion for a legislation agency.
As you begin sketching out t-shirt design concepts, be certain they may translate to the precise measurement. Design utilizing an 18”x18” canvas and bodily place your designs on a shirt. That doesn’t imply it’s a must to fill the entire area (like in the event you’re maintaining it minimal with a small brand), however a realistically sized canvas will enable you to get the proportions proper.
Upon getting your design, think about the way it will look on bigger and smaller shirt sizes. If you happen to select a display screen printing course of, completely different sizes might require completely different screens, which implies further prices.
Fashion and imagery
At this stage, it’s a must to depend on your artistic and creative instincts to speak the messages you need to say. Don’t overlook these questions we talked about earlier than:
-
-
- What’s your model?
- Who’s your market?
- Why are you designing a shirt within the first place?
-
Put all of that collectively, and also you’re prepared to begin designing a t-shirt that’s excellent for you.
For instance, check out Prim’s dinosaur t-shirt design. It is a child’s merchandise model, so the type is cute and cartoony, interesting to its market.
Examine that to the profitable entry for the Pumpkin t-shirt design contest by 99designs creator DiditRed.
This German hardcore music pageant is certainly not marketed to children. That opens up their designs to edgier materials, which fits their potential shoppers higher.
After all, there are extra choices than being terrifying or sugary candy.
Alex Lalove reveals us how you can design knowledgeable, risk-free t-shirt with out being boring. His profitable entry promotes the Datafinity model with its brand entrance and heart however spices up the appear and feel so it appears extra trendy than an ordinary enterprise tee.
Additionally, do not forget that your design is being displayed on our bodies. Lumpy, bumpy our bodies that aren’t all the time as symmetrical as we’d like. Take into consideration flat, uncomplicated designs since there’s no telling the place the nooks and crannies will land in your picture.
For related causes, you additionally need to keep away from detailed imagery, resembling delicate colour gradients and complex linework. At all times err on the facet of easy.
T-shirt typography
The fonts you select say quite a bit about your model. Serif fonts (those with little arms) or script fonts look extra basic. Sans-serif fonts make it extra trendy. T-shirts provide extra of a possibility than different areas of graphic design to play with enjoyable, loopy show fonts, however do maintain readability in thoughts. If the phrases in your shirt are necessary to speaking your message, be certain they don’t get overshadowed by swirly, grungy, crazy typography.
Shade in t-shirt design
The component of design that’s greatest at immediately speaking character is colour. Every shade, hue and tint evokes an emotion, performing as a shortcut so that you can painting one thing about your model at only a look.
T-shirt designs have two units of colours to remember: the material colour(s) and the print colour(s). To make it possible for these two complement one another, all the time use your cloth colour because the background of your design concepts. (Additionally word {that a} coloured canvas can have an effect on what inks appear to be, so be sure you discuss to your printer about that!)
Due to the way in which t-shirt inks work, printing colours can get slightly tough. The least costly method to print your design will probably be to approximate the colours. Simply know that your “teal” won’t match your printer’s “teal.”
Precise colour matches are attainable with Pantone (PMS) or customized blended CMYK inks—however they’re dearer. PMS makes use of predefined, actual ink tones that your printers can buy. CMYK printing creates nearly any colour by combining Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key (black) inks. Test together with your printer to find out what’s accessible.
Specialty printing strategies
We have simply despatched you your free t-shirt design book.
Like every other printing medium, t-shirts have their very own set of distinctive ink choices.
-
-
- Plastisol — The usual ink utilized in screen-printing
- Foil — Shiny and reflective
- Novelty — Glitter, hologram or perhaps a fuzzy really feel
- Excessive-density — For a dimensional look that pops out from the shirt
- Gel — Like high-density, however with a “wetter” look
- Water-based — No feeling in any respect; ingrained within the cloth
-
5. Discover a designer
Obtained design expertise? Get crackin’! If you happen to don’t, don’t fear. There are tons of execs on the market prepared to show your design idea right into a actuality.
The DIY route
The primary benefit of designing a t-shirt your self is the value. In case your funds is tight, the choice is already made for you. Design freedom is a big benefit, however don’t overlook that professionals know the technical considerations of t-shirt design (plus an entire lot extra). If you happen to broke out into a chilly sweat once we talked about acronyms like CMYK, you may sleep higher handing this off to a professional.
Hiring a professional
Relatively than instructing your self advertising, branding and graphic design, why not pay somebody who is aware of all of them already?
Collaborating with a freelancer will be tough but in addition quite a lot of enjoyable. Do your greatest to discover a designer that thinks such as you and understands what you’re on the lookout for. Contemplate the designer’s character, design type and experience. You may as well attempt working with a number of designers directly by launching a T-Shirt Design Contest on 99designs.
When you’ve discovered your designer(s), it’s a must to clearly talk your imaginative and prescient. Inform them what about your design concepts, messaging, and meant viewers. Embody particulars about colours, logos, visible type, t-shirt sort and printing specs. Ship them pictures of designs that match the type you’re on the lookout for. Give them every thing they should know so you may get the proper t-shirt design.
6. Consider your design
As your design choices begin rolling in, flick through each model and choose your favorites. Don’t overlook your advertising and technical necessities. Will your design match on a tank prime? Is the quantity of colour inside your funds? Is the messaging proper? This isn’t simply an artwork contest however a enterprise choice. Talk your suggestions clearly to your designer to verify your subsequent set of choices look even higher.
Then, be certain to run it by each key stakeholders and individuals who don’t have any connection to what you’re doing. Even when it’s simply your neighbor throughout the road, individuals not carefully related together with your t-shirt design will discover belongings you by no means did.
Contemplate asking them:
-
-
- What’s the one key message you get if you take a look at this shirt?
- Who is that this shirt for?
-
Their solutions to those questions will enable you to decide if the t-shirt is speaking what you need it to. If it’s not, return to your designer and work out what you may change.
7. Get the best information out of your designer
You’ve received the proper t-shirt design. Hell sure! Now return to that data you bought out of your printer and verify to be sure you have the best information.
You in all probability want the next:
-
-
- Your t-shirt design in vector format. It will doubtless be an Adobe Illustrator (AI), PDF, or EPS file. You’ll want one for every completely different t-shirt design you’re creating.
- Shade codes. In case your printer does customized colours, be sure you have the Pantone or CMYK colour codes in order that every thing seems wanting such as you need.
-
8. Discover a kick-ass printer
As soon as your design’s prepared, it’s printing time! Discover one that gives the strategy you want at a value you may afford. After all, additional options and reductions to sweeten the deal are nice, too. Sifting by way of printing choices to seek out the perfect one on your explicit venture often requires expertise and time… however we’re going to fast-track it for you!
-
-
- Discover out if the printer has an in-house artwork division. Not solely does this imply the printer does in-house prints, but it surely often means these of us do good work. Solely profitable printers can maintain an in-house artwork division.
- Request samples of completed shirts, not design pictures. Most printing firms love guests! Cease by their store to see and contact their shirts. Keep in mind: a printer’s job is to translate design to an precise print, and solely a completed product reveals that.
- Begin constructing a working relationship with a printer you may develop with. Discover a printer that prints six or extra colours. Even in the event you don’t want that many on your first venture, you may want them later.
- If you happen to’re doing a bigger order, be certain your printer gives pre-press proofs. You received’t know for positive how the design suits on the shirts till you see a pattern.
- Watch out for hidden prices, significantly with screens, movies or Pantone colour matching. Identical to every other trade, there are just a few rotten eggs. Go over all the costs earlier than cost to verify they’re being upfront.
- Discover out if the printer has an in-house artwork division. Not solely does this imply the printer does in-house prints, but it surely often means these of us do good work. Solely profitable printers can maintain an in-house artwork division.
-
Time to design a tremendous t-shirt!
—
Yearly t-shirt design and printing have gotten an increasing number of accessible. They’re one thing each enterprise can reap the benefits of… so long as they know what they’re doing. We hope this information on how you can design a t-shirt gave you every thing it is advisable to break into the world of creating t-shirts. Obtained questions? Ask them within the feedback beneath.
On the lookout for the proper customized t-shirt design?
Work with our proficient designers to make it occur.
This text was initially printed in 2017. It has been up to date with new examples and data.
