Designing T-Shirts: Affinity Design Basics For Beginners

Designing a T-shirt in Affinity Designer is a highly rewarding process, allowing you to express your identity and beliefs to the world. Affinity Designer is the perfect tool for creating high-quality T-shirt designs, offering accurate and innovative features that bring your ideas to life. With its user-friendly interface, you can easily prepare your workspace, choose the right colours and fonts, and export your design for traditional print or Print on Demand sites. Whether you're a novice or a pro, Affinity Designer empowers you to create stunning T-shirt designs that stand out and effectively communicate your message to your target audience.

Characteristics of T-Shirt Design in Affinity Designer

Preparing your workspace

Firstly, ensure you have the right tools for the job. You will need a computer with Affinity Designer installed. This software combines the best features of illustrator and Photoshop into one convenient program, giving you the power to create high-quality T-shirt designs. Familiarise yourself with the software and its various tools before beginning your design work.

Next, consider the physical space in which you will be working. A tidy, organised workspace will help you stay focused and efficient. Ensure your computer desk is clear of clutter and all the necessary tools are within easy reach. Good ergonomics are also important, so adjust your chair and screen height to a comfortable position.

Lighting is another key factor in preparing your workspace. Ensure your work area is well-lit to reduce eye strain and improve accuracy, especially when working with detailed designs. Natural light is ideal, so try to position your workspace near a window if possible.

If you plan to work with physical materials such as fabric, scissors, and printing equipment, ensure you have sufficient space to lay out your tools and create a tidy, organised system for your materials. This will help you work more efficiently and prevent losses.

Finally, prepare any supporting resources you may need during the design process. This could include design templates, colour palettes, font choices, and any other assets that will help bring your T-shirt design to life. Having these resources readily available will streamline your workflow and enhance your creativity.

Symmetry, colour, and font choices

Symmetry, colour, and font are essential elements of T-shirt design. These choices can make a simple shirt into a statement piece, setting the tone and conveying a message.

Symmetry

Symmetry is an important principle of design, and it can be used to create balance and harmony in a composition. In T-shirt design, symmetry can be achieved by placing elements in a way that creates a mirror image on either side of an axis. This could mean using identical or similar elements on both sides of the shirt, or it could involve creating a sense of balance through the use of colour, shape, or negative space.

Colour

Colour is a powerful tool in T-shirt design, and it can be used to evoke emotion, convey a message, or create a particular aesthetic. When choosing colours for a T-shirt design, it's important to consider the desired mood or theme. For example, bright and vibrant colours might be used for a fun and playful design, while muted or neutral colours could be more suitable for a minimalist or sophisticated look.

It's also important to think about the colour of the T-shirt itself and how it will complement or contrast with the design. For example, a light-coloured T-shirt might be a better choice for a design with dark or colourful elements, while a dark T-shirt could make a light or bright design pop.

Font

The choice of font can have a significant impact on the overall design of a T-shirt. Fonts can convey a range of messages and emotions, and they can also be used to set the tone and style of the design. When choosing a font, it's important to consider the readability, especially from a distance. Some fonts, like thick, chunky fonts, may work well for short, impactful logos, while thin, stick-like fonts might be better suited for designs that need to be read up close.

It's also important to think about the style or vibe you want to achieve. For example, serif fonts, which have small lines or strokes attached to the ends of their letters, are often associated with a vintage, sophisticated, or formal look. On the other hand, sans-serif fonts, which lack these decorative strokes, offer a cleaner and more modern aesthetic.

Additionally, consider the number of fonts used in the design. Combining too many fonts can make the design look cluttered and confusing. Stick to two or three fonts at most, and ensure they are paired harmoniously.

Technologies for printing

There are several technologies available for printing designs onto T-shirts, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Here is an overview of some of the most common methods:

• Screen Printing is one of the most popular and traditional methods, dating back to ancient China. It involves using screens to apply ink to T-shirts and is known for producing high-quality, vibrant prints. Screen printing is versatile and effective, allowing for the mixing of colours and special finishes. It is best suited for large orders and simple designs with a small number of colours.
• Direct-to-Garment (DTG) Printing is a newer, digital method that works like a paper printer, injecting ink directly onto the fabric. DTG offers almost unlimited colour options and can create photo-realistic prints and complex designs. It is ideal for small batches and custom T-shirts but is more expensive and less durable than screen printing.
• Transfer Printing involves printing the design onto a non-textile surface, such as vinyl or transfer paper, before transferring it onto the fabric using heat. This method is suitable for various fabrics and can be used for complex designs and all-over printing. Transfer printing has low set-up costs and quick production times but may result in a less soft finish.
• Plastisol Transfer Printing is a variation of screen printing that uses a plastic-based transfer sheet instead of a mesh screen. This method allows for special effects and can produce high-quality, durable prints. However, it is not suitable for photographic images or large orders.
• CAD-Cut Heat Transfer Vinyl Printing is a type of transfer printing that uses computer-aided design to cut out designs and letters on vinyl, which are then heat-pressed onto the T-shirt. This method is ideal for small orders and simple graphics, such as text-based designs, and can be applied to all kinds of fabrics. However, it is a time-consuming process and cannot match Pantone colours.
• Dye-Sublimation Printing is a popular variation of heat transfer printing that uses dye-based ink, which turns into a gas when heated, becoming part of the fabric. This method creates long-lasting, vibrant prints that are soft and breathable. However, it only works with polyblend-based T-shirts and is quite expensive.

Business of T-shirt making

The T-shirt making business is a great way to express your creativity and build a brand. It is also a fast-growing market, with more and more people looking to purchase custom and unique T-shirts. If you're thinking of starting your own T-shirt business, there are a few things you should keep in mind.

Firstly, you need to familiarise yourself with the different technologies available for printing. This will ensure that you can make your design work in any format and provide your customers with the best possible product. You should also consider the different aspects of T-shirt design, such as symmetry, colour, and font choices. These elements will make your T-shirts visually appealing and help you stand out from the competition.

Another important aspect of the T-shirt making business is marketing and branding. You need to create a strong brand identity that will make your business recognisable and memorable. This includes designing a logo, establishing a colour palette, and determining your target audience. Utilise social media platforms and online marketplaces to showcase your designs and reach a wider audience.

Additionally, pricing your T-shirts correctly is crucial for the success of your business. Consider the cost of materials, printing, and labour when setting your prices. Research your competitors to get an idea of the market rate for similar products. It's important to price your T-shirts competitively while also ensuring you're making a profit.

Lastly, customer service is key. Respond to inquiries promptly, offer customisation options, and provide a user-friendly purchasing experience. By following these steps and utilising resources like the Affinity Designer, you can successfully turn your T-shirt making hobby into a thriving business.

Printing T-shirts

Once you have designed your T-shirt in Affinity, you will need to export it in a format that can be used by your chosen print-on-demand service. The most commonly used print-on-demand services are Teespring, Printful, Printify, and Zazzle.

The file format you should choose will depend on the print service you are using. Generally, it is recommended that you export your finished T-shirt design in PNG format. This format will preserve the transparent elements of your design, whereas other formats, like JPEG, do not retain transparency.

If you are printing your design on a black T-shirt, you will need to ask your print service for a CMYK colour chart for safe colours.

If you are using your design for cutting vinyl, you will need to export it as an SVG file. To do this, you will need to combine the layers and expand the strokes. First, select the heart layer in the Layers panel on the right side. Then, click on the Layer Menu at the top and select "Expand Stroke". Next, in the Layers panel, select the first text layer, click the Layer Menu, and select "Convert to Curves". Then, click on the Layer Menu again and select "Ungroup". Finally, click "Add" in the Boolean Operations to combine your text together. Repeat these steps for any other layers of text.

Frequently asked questions