Estimated studying time: 17 minutes
It’s stained, it’s ripped, it’s stuffed 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 methods to design a T-shirt that ticks all of the packing containers? You’ll discover out under.
Do you may have a killer T-shirt concept and suspect others will really feel the identical method? Are you searching for an alternate technique of selling your enterprise or making some aspect revenue with merch? Do you wish to commemorate a particular occasion, like a household reunion or bachelorette get together?
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 every step of the design course of, from the inception of an concept to getting your shirt mass-produced. Irrespective of how a lot (or how little) expertise you may have, these T-shirt design ideas will provide you with every little thing you’ll want to know. So try our video under or dive straight into the article. Both method, let’s get your T-shirt design underway!
Learn how to design a T-shirt in 8 steps
- Work out why you want a shirt
- Outline your finances at amount
- Know your printing choices
- Brainstorm your design idea
- Discover a designer
- Consider your design
- Get the suitable recordsdata
- Discover a kick-ass printer
1. Work out why you want a shirt
Irrespective of your motive for designing a T-shirt, it’ll all the time contain a little bit little bit of branding. When you’re utilizing T-shirts for promotional functions, branding is your foremost purpose. Even when it’s strictly style, you’ll nonetheless have to weave constant model themes into all of your merchandise. For private use—like commemorating an occasion, for instance—you wish to make sure that your T-shirt design communicates clearly.
When you haven’t already, write out an inventory of the important thing themes, kinds and persona traits you need your model and shirts to convey. Is your model playful or critical? Edgy or conservative? Luxurious or reasonably priced? A centered T-shirt design can reply all of those questions at a look.
What’s the Prince Adam model of the Brewmaster seem like? T-shirt design by yuyunarts by way of 99designs by Vista.
Take a fast peek on the instance above. What does it let you know concerning the Brewmasters firm? For starters, they don’t take themselves too significantly, and the wood devices recommend a extra conventional brewing fashion that hints at a traditional style. That’s loads of data from an illustration.
To get the simplest design, transfer away out of your private choice and rely extra on actual, quantifiable knowledge. Who’re your goal shoppers/prospects? What model traits do they wish to do enterprise with?
Beneath are 4 targets to assist information your T-shirt design course of that outline why you want a shirt and what you need it to do.
Promotional items
Your T-shirts are one thing you give away totally free to maintain your model within the minds of potential shoppers and prospects.
This may very well be one thing given away at conventions, conferences or different promotional occasions.
Inner firm utilization
Staff get shirts for solidarity, appreciation or even perhaps an organization uniform. The targets are just like promotional items as a result of there’s a robust want for branding.
Merchandise
Your T-shirts are a product you intend on promoting, so make sure that to consider fashion, marketability and enterprise technique.
You’ll want to know your shirt’s place available in the market, so contemplate conducting analysis to find the tastes of your prospects. Your individual preferences are a very good begin, however when it comes all the way down to promoting to the plenty, quantifiable knowledge all the time beats guesswork.
Occasion souvenirs
Particular occasions want particular souvenirs, and T-shirts are all the time an important choice. This selection shares lots of the identical targets as shirts for inside firm utilization, like solidarity and appreciation, however for a extra informal, wider viewers.
No matter their use, most T-shirts are promotional indirectly. Even when you’re designing T-shirts as merchandise, embody your model brand so folks know who made the shirt and if they need one thing comparable. Your brand ought to have a robust, even dominant, presence on the shirt.
Apply the identical design high quality and cleverness as you’ll a billboard commercial. Extra than simply garments, T-shirts present publicity each time an individual wears them in public.
When you’ve decided your targets, you possibly can then prioritize the totally different features of your T-shirt design. For instance, style may be a excessive precedence for merchandise tees however not for worker items. You wish to tailor your design in a method that most accurately fits your wants.
2. Outline your finances 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 possibly can focus your design higher: particularly, your finances and amount. How a lot you possibly can spend and what number of T-shirts you want will impression your design.
For instance, finances and amount will assist decide what number of colours you need to use. Relying in your printing methodology, extra colours could price more cash. In case your finances is tight, a great way to avoid wasting 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 the next price per shirt and are higher for small orders.
Earlier than you start to consider designing or printing, plan your finances and amount accordingly.
3. Know your printing choices
There are loads of issues to contemplate once you’re searching for the very best T-shirt printing methodology for you. Price, look, manufacturing time, supplies—they’re all essential. The extra about every methodology, the better will probably be to determine which one is finest for you.
Display printing
That is the gold customary for T-shirt printing. Your printer makes unique screens of your design (one for every colour) so you possibly can print in bulk.
Display printing
Through CaliPrints
Execs: Dependable customary for printing. Reasonably priced and top quality. Ideally suited for giant orders over 20.
Cons: A brand new display screen is required for each new colour or design revision (which will get expensive). Colourful designs find yourself being costly.
Vinyl graphics
One other methodology of heated switch is vinyl printing, which makes use of extra sturdy vinyl as a substitute of simply ink.
Vinyl graphics
Through BlueMaize
Execs: Extraordinarily sturdy and top quality. Ideally suited for once you need your design to face out (actually).
Cons: Extra colours price extra, so sophisticated designs get costly. Not nice for giant orders.
Direct-to-garment (or print-on-demand)
A more moderen choice, direct-to-garment (DTG) printing, makes use of inkjet printing that prints immediately on cloth.
Direct-to-garment
Through Printaura
Execs: 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 really occurring along with your T-shirt! Be sure to don’t bounce to this step first. The extra effort and time you set into making ready for this, the higher.
Your design may go in 1,000,000 totally different instructions. As you’re brainstorming, listed below are some ideas to assist focus your creativity.
T-shirt sorts
All this speak about T-shirts, and it’s straightforward to neglect that there are many various kinds of shirts.
Take into consideration your viewers and meant targets earlier than deciding on the suitable kind of T-shirt. A revealing crop prime may not be the very best promotion for a regulation agency.
As you begin sketching out T-shirt design concepts, make sure that they’ll translate to the precise dimension. When designing your T-shirt, use an 18” x 18” canvas and bodily place your designs on a shirt. That doesn’t imply it’s a must to fill the entire house (like when you’re maintaining it minimal with a small brand), however a realistically sized canvas will assist you get the proportions proper.
After getting your design, contemplate the way it will look on bigger and smaller shirt sizes. When you select a display screen printing course of, totally different sizes could require totally different screens, which implies extra prices.
Model and imagery
T-shirt design by Prim by way of 99designs by Vista.
At this stage, it’s a must to depend on your inventive and creative instincts to speak the messages you wish to say. Don’t neglect 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 good to your wants.
For instance, check out the dinosaur T-shirt design above. It is a child’s merchandise model, so the fashion is cute and cartoony, interesting to its market.
Evaluate that to the successful entry for the Pumpkin T-shirt design under. This German hardcore music pageant is certainly not marketed to children. That opens up the designs to be edgier, which fits the clientele of the pageant higher.
T-shirt design by DiditRed by way of 99designs by Vista.
After all, there are extra choices than being terrifying or sugary candy. The design under reveals us methods to design knowledgeable, risk-free T-shirt with out being boring. The model’s brand is entrance and heart, however the feel and appear are spiced up, so it appears extra trendy than an ordinary enterprise tee.
Datafinity t-shirt design by Alex Lalov by way of 99designs by Vista.
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 comparable causes, you additionally wish to keep away from detailed imagery, reminiscent of delicate colour gradients and complicated linework. All the time err on the aspect of easy.
Designer Monkeii makes use of a 2D picture and two colours that match the background nicely—all with out sacrificing the creative high quality by way of 99designs by Vista.
T-shirt typography
The fonts you select say loads about your model. Serif fonts or script fonts look extra traditional. Sans-serif fonts make a design extra trendy. T-shirts supply a chance to play with enjoyable, loopy show fonts, however do hold readability in thoughts. If the phrases in your shirt are essential to speak your message, make sure that they don’t get overshadowed by swirly, grungy, crazy typography.
Coloration in T-shirt design
The factor of design that’s finest at immediately speaking persona 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 observe {that a} coloured canvas can have an effect on what inks seem like, so ensure you discuss to your printer about that!)
Pantone colours vs. CMYK printing
Due to the way in which T-shirt inks work, printing colours can get a little bit difficult. The least costly method to print your design will likely be to approximate the colours. Simply know that your “teal” may not match your printer’s “teal.”
Precise colour matches are potential with Pantone colour values or custom-blended CMYK inks—however they’re dearer. Pantone colour values use predefined, actual ink tones that your printers can buy. CMYK printing creates just about any colour by combining Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key (black) inks. Examine along with your printer to find out what’s out there.
Specialty printing strategies
Like another 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
Acquired design abilities? Get crackin’! When you don’t, don’t fear. There are tons of professionals 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 finances is tight, the choice has already been made for you. Design freedom is a large benefit, however don’t neglect that professionals know the technical issues of T-shirt design (plus a complete lot extra). When you 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
Somewhat than instructing your self advertising and marketing, branding and graphic design, why not pay somebody who is aware of all of them already?
Designs by Budi A, dudeowl, and Natalia Maca by way of 99designs by Vista.
Collaborating with a freelancer could be difficult but additionally loads of enjoyable. Do your finest to discover a designer that thinks such as you and understands what you’re searching for. Contemplate the designer’s persona, design fashion and experience. With considered one of VistaPrint’s design providers, you possibly can rent knowledgeable designer or work with a number of designers by beginning a design contest.
When you’ve discovered your designer(s), it’s a must to clearly talk your imaginative and prescient. Inform them about your design concepts, messaging and meant viewers. Embody particulars about colours, logos, visible fashion, T-shirt kind and printing specs. Ship them photos of designs that match the fashion you’re searching for. Give them every little thing they should know so you will get the right T-shirt design.
6. Consider your design
As you consider your design take into consideration the way it aligns along with your targets. And don’t neglect your advertising and marketing and technical necessities. Will your design match on a tank prime? Is the quantity of colour inside your finances? Is the messaging proper? Talk your suggestions clearly to your designer to verify your subsequent model appears to be like even higher.
Then, make sure that to run it by your workforce or individuals who don’t have any connection to what you’re doing. Even when it’s simply your neighbor throughout the road, folks not carefully related along with your T-shirt design will discover stuff you by no means did.
Contemplate asking them:
- What’s the one key message you get once you have a look at this shirt?
- Who is that this shirt for?
Their solutions to those questions will assist you decide if the T-shirt is speaking what you need it to. If it’s not, return to the drafting board and determine what you possibly can change.
7. Get the suitable recordsdata out of your designer
You’ve received the right T-shirt design! Now return to that data you bought out of your printer and examine to ensure you have the suitable recordsdata.
You in all probability want the next:
- Your T-shirt design in vector format. It will seemingly be an Adobe Illustrator (AI), PDF or EPS file. You’ll want one for every totally different T-shirt design you’re creating.
- Coloration codes. In case your printer does {custom} colours, ensure you have the Pantone or CMYK colour codes in order that every little thing seems trying such as you need.
8. Discover a kick-ass printer
As soon as your design’s prepared, it’s printing time! Discover one that provides the strategy you want at a worth you possibly can afford. After all, additional options and reductions to sweeten the deal are nice, too. Sifting by printing choices to seek out the very best one to your specific mission often requires expertise and time, however we’re going to fast-track it for you!
Our designers create superior stuff for us, too! T-shirt design by Asael Varas by way of 99designs by Vista.
- Discover out if the printer has an in-house artwork division. Not solely does this imply the printer does in-house prints, nevertheless it often means these of us can assist out you probably have any questions.
- Request samples of completed shirts, not design photos. 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 possibly can develop with. Discover a printer that prints six or extra colours. Even when you don’t want that many to your first mission, you may want them later.
- When you’re doing a bigger order, make sure that your printer affords pre-press proofs. You received’t know for certain how the design suits on the shirts till you see a pattern.
- Watch out for hidden prices, notably with screens, movies or Pantone colour matching. Identical to another trade, there are a couple of surprises. Go over all the fees earlier than cost to verify they’re being upfront.
Time to design a tremendous T-shirt
Yearly T-shirt design and printing have gotten an increasing number of accessible. There’s something each enterprise can make the most of… so long as they know what they’re doing. We hope this information on methods to design a T-shirt gave you every little thing you’ll want to break into the world of constructing T-shirts.
Creator: Matt Ellis
This text was initially printed in 2017. It has been up to date with new examples and data.
