
Redbubble offers a wide range of custom t-shirts, with various styles for men and women, such as tri-blend, long sleeve, graphic tees, and fitted v-necks. When designing an all-over custom printed t-shirt, it is important to use the highest resolution files possible, preferably with a transparent background, to ensure the design looks sharp and functions well. The placement of the design is also crucial, with most shirt designs being placed around 2 down from the collar to create a striking visual effect. Additionally, it is worth noting that Redbubble's third-party printers cannot print on the front and back of the same apparel product.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Design | Upload a high-resolution file (2400px wide by 3200px high) |
Design placement | 2" from the collar |
File type | Transparent and clean PNG |
Front and back printing | Not possible |
What You'll Learn
Using the highest resolution files possible
When designing an all-over custom printed t-shirt, using the highest resolution files possible is crucial to achieving a high-quality print. The recommended resolution for printing is 200 PPI or more at full size. This means that if your design needs to be printed at 12" wide, the image should be at least 200 PPI at 12" wide, not just 200 PPI at a smaller size.
The resolution of an image refers to the number of pixels it contains, and is measured in pixels per inch (PPI) or dots per inch (DPI). The higher the resolution, the more detail the image will contain. Web images typically have a resolution of 72 PPI, which is too low for printing and will result in a blurry or pixelated print.
When submitting your design for printing, it's important to check the recommended resolution and size requirements. For example, Printify recommends a maximum resolution of 30000 x 30000 px for their all-over-print design option.
If you're starting with a low-resolution image, simply increasing the document size or the number of pixels won't improve the quality significantly. It's always best to start with the highest resolution image possible and ensure it meets the required size and resolution for printing.
By using the highest resolution files, you can ensure that your custom t-shirt design will be crisp, clear, and free of blurriness or pixelation.
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Positioning your design 2 from the collar
When printing a design on a t-shirt, it's important to consider the placement to ensure the design looks its best. Here are some tips for positioning your design 2 inches from the collar:
- Left Chest Placement: This is a classic, versatile, and understated design placement that has been popular for decades. It doesn't offer much room for detailed artwork but is perfect for logos, symbols, and text. The standard size for an embroidered left chest placement is 4" x 4". When using this placement, ensure that your design is at least 3 inches from the top of the shirt and does not extend below the armpit seam.
- Full Front Design Placement: This placement gives you more space for your artwork and is great for bold looks and maximum visibility. The design is usually centred from the middle point of the neck collar and can extend from the chest down to the length of the shirt. The average size range for this placement is 10"-12" wide and 10"-14" tall.
- Sleeve Placement: Sleeve designs are a relatively new but exciting option that has been gaining popularity. They are a great way to enhance a more prominent design on the front or back of the shirt or to add your branding symbols or logo. The standard maximum sleeve placement size is usually 4" x 3.5", but some all-over print products offer a maximum size of around 20" x 12".
- Center Chest Placement: This is one of the most commonly used spots for t-shirt designs as it grabs attention immediately. It is about 4 inches below the collar and usually extends over the top half of the chest. Use the centre of the collar to place your design symmetrically, ensuring it does not overlap with the shoulder seams. The average size range for this placement is 8" tall and wide for most adult garments but can vary between 6"-10" depending on the design.
Remember, these measurements are just averages, and the specific placement of your design may vary depending on the t-shirt's size, manufacturer, template, and country of origin.
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Using transparent and clean PNGs
When designing a custom printed T-shirt, using transparent and clean PNGs is essential to achieving the desired result. Here are some detailed instructions to guide you through the process:
Understanding Transparent Backgrounds
Firstly, it's important to understand why we use transparent backgrounds. In most cases for T-shirt prints, you want the surrounding background to be transparent so that only the subject of the image is printed, and the T-shirt fabric itself serves as the background. This gives a cleaner and more professional look to your design.
Preparing Your Artwork
Before you start making your artwork transparent, it's important to check the requirements of the printing service you plan to use, such as Spreadshirt, TeeSpring, or UberPrints. These services usually accept specific file types, and the most universal option is often a PNG file with a transparent background. You can create this using programs like Photoshop or Illustrator.
Method 1: Photoshop (Simple)
If you have a flattened one-color image, here's a simple way to remove a white background:
- Load your image into Photoshop.
- In the Layers Panel, click on the lock symbol to unlock the layer.
- Make a selection for the background. You can do this by using the Select > Subject command.
- Invert the selection to select the background by using Select > Inverse or the shortcut Shift + Cmd + I (Shift+Ctrl+I on PC).
- Delete the selected background by pressing the Delete key (backspace on PC).
- Remove the selection using Cmd+D (Ctrl+D on PC) so that there are no marching ants.
- Crop your image to the desired size.
- Save your file as a PNG, making sure to check the Transparency Box to retain transparency.
Method 2: Layered Photoshop File (Non-destructive)
If your Photoshop file has multiple layers, this method will allow you to keep your artwork intact:
- Group all the layers that you want to texture.
- Highlight the layer group in the Layers Panel and go to Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal All.
- With the layer mask highlighted, paint in black using one of the texture brushes to add texture to your design.
- Hide the background layer if there is one.
- Save a copy of your file as a PNG and upload it to your chosen T-shirt print vendor.
Method 3: Illustrator Opacity Mask
If you're using Illustrator and your design doesn't have a background, you won't need to worry about transparency. However, if your design includes bitmap or vector textures that need to adapt to the T-shirt fabric color, follow these steps:
- Export your artwork as a PNG with a resolution between 150-300 DPI at the dimensions you want it printed.
- Ensure the transparency box is checked when exporting so that your textures become transparent.
- When uploading your files, specify the desired dimensions and placement of your graphic on the T-shirt.
By following these methods, you can effectively use transparent and clean PNGs to create custom T-shirt designs that will print beautifully on any color T-shirt.
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Avoiding gradients for dark shirt designs
When designing a dark shirt, it is best to avoid using gradients. This is because, unlike light-coloured shirts, where all pixels will be printed as they appear in the design file, dark shirts are printed on top of a white base layer. This means that artwork with opacity set to any percentage other than 100% may not come out as intended. Gradients and fades are also unlikely to print as expected, so it is best to avoid these design elements when creating a dark shirt.
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Using halftones
Halftones are a graphic technique that simulates shading through the use of dots. They are used in screen printing to create intricate details on a garment. The process involves translating the different grayscale tones of a photograph into dots of various sizes. The size of the dots is determined by the Lines Per Inch (LPI) and Angle, which can be adjusted by printers to change the angle, lines per inch, and more.
Halftones are created based on a grid, with the dot pattern being so tiny that it appears as a regular image. This technique allows for the printing of photographic or otherwise multi-tonal artwork using only one ink colour, often reducing order costs.
When creating halftones, it is important to use high-resolution photos to ensure the best results. Additionally, the ink being used should ideally be darker than the shirt to achieve the best print possible.
To create halftones, Raster Image Processing (RIP) software is needed. This software recognises tonal values and applies a halftone effect. While programs like Adobe Photoshop can be used, RIP software is the easiest and most efficient way to create halftones.
When determining the optimal LPI based on the mesh count, a simple equation can be used. By dividing the mesh count by 5, you can find the ideal LPI. For example, a 160 mesh count screen would have an ideal LPI of 32. If you want to push for greater detail, divide the mesh count by 4 to get a higher LPI, but keep in mind that this will result in smaller dot sizes and more difficulty in retaining detail.
The angle of halftones also plays a crucial role in the printing process. Dots that fall at right angles on the screen (0°, 90°, 180°, and 270°) will line up with the mesh and won't be printable. Angles at 45° will result in a loss of detail. For the best results, use an angle that bisects the mesh, such as 22.5°, so that the dots fall between the threads of the mesh.
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Frequently asked questions
Use a transparent and clean PNG file with the highest resolution possible, preferably 2400px wide by 3200px high. This will ensure your design looks sharp and functions well across all shirt styles.
Generally, shirt designs are printed around 2" down from the collar. This placement allows the design to interact with the shape of the torso, making it more visually striking. When using the Redbubble template, set your design at the top of the file to hit this sweet spot.
Before exporting your file, make sure only the portions you want to be printed are included. Create a new layer to clean up any stray pixels, and ensure your design is on a transparent background. Avoid using gradients, especially for dark shirt designs, as they may not print as intended.
No, the third-party printers that fulfill Redbubble orders do not have the ability to print on the front and back of the same apparel product.