How to create your own t-shirts

Md Wahid
Md Wahid
Jul 27, 2017 · 4 min read

By creating your own t-shirts, you will spend a pleasant, creative time, especially since it will bring you money if you decide to sell them afterwards. Whether you intend to print your t-shirts on your own or entrust the job to a professional printer, you can quite conceive your own designs!

Now we talk about how to create a beautiful t-shirt. First of all you need t-shirt design software; it can be Photoshop, Illustrator or any online software. Below we start a step by step guide, just follow it.

Think about what your model will represent. This may be an advertisement for your cleaning company, your rock band or your favorite sports team. You can also opt for a completely personal model: in any case, the message you want to pass will be decisive for the model to be printed.

· If the goal is to advertise a company, a sports team or a brand, you must first focus on the logo. Consider the famous comma of the Nike sports equipment manufacturer: the logo is simple, but oh so effective. If it is a model intended for a sports team, the logo can highlight the colors of the team in question or its mascot. If you choose to make a logo for your rock band, it can be a picture of the members or a particular design that represents your musical trend.

· If your t-shirt is designed to highlight an illustration or design that you are the author of, first imagine what the illustration or drawing will look like when printed. Visualize how the colors will showcase this original creation.

· Why not use a photo? It can be a personal photo or a photo downloaded on the internet (and is not governed by any copyright). You can also purchase a picture in a stock image database.

Choose a color. Important thing when creating a t-shirt: the contrast of colors. This causes you to study how the colored pigments will be perceived once printed on the t-shirt, whether the t-shirt is light or dark. On the screen, some pigments look particularly shimmering on white fabric or dark fabric. However, reality can be quite different!

· If you opt for clear fabric, be careful to avoid pastel shades such as yellow, blue or light pink. The impressions made on the fabrics of these colors are difficult to see from a distance. The goal, when you print a logo on a t-shirt, is not it visible, especially from a distance?

· If you still opt for pastel tones, make sure to highlight the contours of your text or logo to make it more visible.

· When choosing dark t-shirts, you prefer clear print colors, such as pastel. Be careful, however: if you choose to print dark patterns on dark t-shirts (navy blue, brown, forest green), the pigments can give an unexpected result. Indeed, what appears on a screen can be different — brown or matt — when printed!

· If you create your model with Adobe Illustrator software, the “Global Colors” option will be of great help to you in terms of the range of colors.

Give relief to your model. Once you add color to your model, it may lack relief. Give depth to certain areas by adding color to nuance the underlying shade. Your model will gain in size and will catch the eye more.

· If you intend to use sharp software, such as Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, GIMP, Adobe Illustrator or Paint Shop Pro, you will be able to transform and adapt any image to suit your needs. Needs.

· You can also change the size of a photo with Inkscape. In such a case, there is nothing more efficient than vectorization!

Create a balanced set. To achieve a relevant result, you must combine several elements to form a concrete and balanced set. The way you go about it depends greatly on the elements that will compose your model. It may be a collection of several small elements, such as stars, plants or animals. If you prefer a large model, it can be a single photo or an image.

· Think about how you will make your model consistent, through a harmonious fit. A balanced design will catch the eye of those who meet it.

Choose where the pattern will be printed on the t-shirt. Do you think it will be more percussive by being placed in the middle, top left or appearing all around?

· If the t-shirt is intended to advertise a company or a brand, it is better to have the logo printed in the middle of the garment for more effective communication.

· Do not forget that the back of the t-shirt is a perfect support for writing a slogan (such as “Just Do It” from Nike!). If the t-shirt is meant to advertise a music band, this slogan can consist of a few lyrics, taken from one of their latest hit!

Finalize the model of your t-shirt. It is strongly advised to make a sketch of your model before printing on a t-shirt. You can try different combinations of shapes and models, while keeping in mind color contrasts and dimensions. Make sure the set remains harmonious and consistent.

· If you are unsure, ask for a second opinion. Your friends, your family, and your colleagues: no one will be stingy when it comes to giving his opinion on the model or his favorite color!

Written by

Md Wahid

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes." ~ Marcel Proust

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