Designing T-Shirts With Procreate: A Step-By-Step Guide

T-shirt designing is made easy with Procreate, a popular digital art application that has become the go-to tool for many designers. To get started, you'll need an iPad, an Apple Pencil, and the Procreate app. Begin by opening Procreate and creating a new document, selecting the appropriate size and DPI for your design. Keep in mind that the file size and DPI are crucial, as a small file size or low DPI will result in a blurry and pixelated print. Choose the largest canvas size possible at the highest DPI available, depending on your iPad's memory and power. Once you have the basic framework, you can start customising your design, adding images, text, and effects. Procreate offers a range of brushes and tools to help you create unique and professional-looking designs.

Choosing the right file size and DPI

When creating a T-shirt design in Procreate, choosing the right file size and DPI is crucial. The file size and DPI will directly impact the quality of your print, so selecting the optimal combination will ensure your design is crisp and clear.

Firstly, let's break down what DPI means. DPI stands for "dots per inch", and it refers to the resolution of your image. The higher the DPI, the higher the resolution, resulting in a sharper image. For T-shirt designs, it is recommended to use a minimum of 300 DPI. This will ensure that your design doesn't appear blurry or pixelated when printed.

Now, let's discuss file size. The ideal file size for your T-shirt design will depend on the capabilities of your iPad. If you have a newer iPad model with ample memory and processing power, you can create larger file sizes. For example, the iPad Pro can handle a 12x16 inch file at 450 DPI, while the iPad Air is limited to a 9x12 inch file at the same DPI. It's important to remember that when designing on Procreate, larger is always better. This gives you more flexibility and ensures your design will not appear pixelated when printed on a T-shirt.

When creating your canvas in Procreate, aim for the largest size possible at the highest DPI your device can handle. For instance, if your iPad can manage a 12x16 inch canvas at 450 DPI, that would be the ideal setup. However, if you intend to upload your design to a platform like Merch by Amazon, be sure to check their specific file requirements. They might request a different size or format, such as a PNG file.

In summary, choosing the right file size and DPI for your T-shirt design in Procreate is essential for achieving high-quality prints. Opt for the largest canvas size and highest DPI that your iPad can manage. By doing so, you'll ensure your design looks crisp, clear, and impressive on a T-shirt.

Using quality brushes

When creating a T-shirt design in Procreate, the brushes you use will have a significant impact on the quality of the final product. Using low-quality brushes will result in a messy and pixelated design, which will not look good when printed on a T-shirt. Therefore, it is important to select high-quality brushes for your line work.

To ensure the best results, zoom in on your design and check that the lines are not pixelated. A brush that is too small or has a low resolution will affect the print quality of your file. For lettering and line work, consider using brushes like the BJ Bets Penmanship Round Tips from Tattoo Smart. These brushes will give your design a clean and professional look.

For shading, it is best to avoid gradients and "airbrush" brushes. Instead, opt for stippling brushes or solid fills, as screen-printed T-shirts tend to look best with solid fields of colour. A recommended brush set for this purpose is the Stipple Studio from True Grit Supply, which includes over 50 brushes designed specifically for stippling. This will help you create a high-quality T-shirt design.

Additionally, if you are an artist who prefers working with gradients and airbrushes, consider printing DTG (Direct to Garment) to ensure that the final print aligns with your original design.

Remember, the quality of your brushes is essential to achieving a polished and professional T-shirt design in Procreate. By selecting the right brushes and utilising the features and tools effectively, you can create designs that will look amazing when printed.

Keeping your line work, shading, and colours on separate layers

To keep your design organised, label each layer with a specific colour or element. This will make it easier for you and your print shop to make adjustments.

Step 1: Create a new layer for your line work

Start by creating a new layer specifically for your line work. This will be the foundation of your design. You can use the section tool in Procreate to create a new layer.

Step 2: Add shading on a separate layer

Once you have completed your line work, create another new layer for your shading. Shading can add depth and dimension to your design, so take the time to add shadows and highlights where needed. Remember to use high-quality brushes for shading, as low-quality brushes can result in a messy and pixelated design.

Step 3: Add colours on a separate layer

Create yet another new layer for your colours. Fill in the shapes within your line work with the desired colours. If you need to adjust the colours or make changes, having them on a separate layer will make it easier to do so without affecting the other elements of your design.

Step 4: Clean up your artwork

Before exporting your design, it's important to clean up any stray marks or colours that go outside the lines or don't meet up with your line work. Zoom in on your design file and carefully remove any mistakes or imperfections. This step will ensure that your final print looks clean and professional.

Step 5: Export and save your design

Once you have finished your T-shirt design, it's time to export and save it. Be sure to export your design in a high-quality format, such as TIFF or PSD. This will give your print shop the flexibility to work with the file in the way that best suits their printing process. Don't forget to back up your design on a cloud storage service, such as Google Drive, to ensure you don't lose your work.

Adding custom text, fonts and lettering

Adding custom text, fonts, and lettering to your T-shirt design in Procreate can be done in several ways. Firstly, it's important to note that Procreate does not offer the same font-based features as other software like Photoshop. While it does have some text features, you may find it easier to export your artwork to Photoshop and add fonts and text there.

If you want to keep everything within Procreate, the solution is hand lettering. You can simply hand-draw your text directly onto your design. To make this process easier, you can use lettering grids, such as the Letter Builder and Letter Grid Builder Brushes by Stefan Kunz and Ian Barnard. These allow you to place grids on your artwork so that you can easily draw your text over them, creating handcrafted text that is readable and stays in position.

Procreate also comes with a range of default fonts and gives you access to every font in iOS. You can preview all the fonts available on your iPad by adding text to your artwork and scrolling through the Font list in the Edit Text panel. Additionally, you can import your own fonts into Procreate through various methods such as AirDrop, the Files App, drag-and-drop, or bulk import. Procreate supports TTC, TTF, and OTF file formats.

To add text in Procreate, go to your ''Actions' panel and choose 'Add Text'. You can then type and edit your text as needed. If you want to create 3D typography, you can follow a similar process by adding text or drawing a letter, duplicating and merging layers, and adjusting colours and shadows to create depth.

Remember to consider the size and resolution of your canvas when adding text, as you want to ensure your design prints well. Additionally, keep in mind the number of colours you are using, as too many colours can increase printing costs.

Applying textures and vintage effects

Adding texture is a great way to enhance your T-shirt design and make it look more authentic and natural. By layering different textures, you can create a unique and eye-catching effect. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you add texture and vintage effects to your T-shirt designs in Procreate:

• Create a Texture Base: Start by creating a base layer of texture over your entire design. Select a textured brush, turn up the opacity, and use a medium brush size. Paint over your design to create a textured foundation. This will make it look like your design was printed on a canvas and has naturally weathered over time.
• Layer Textures: To achieve a natural and organic look, layer different textures on top of each other. Choose various brushes with different densities and apply them to specific areas of your design. For example, you can add texture to the edges of your design, as they would show wear and tear first. Play around with different brushes and textures until you find a combination that suits your aesthetic.
• Add Texture Outside the Design: To create the effect of your design breaking away from the main image, add some texture outside the lines. Use a finer, textured brush and select the colour of the element you're adding texture to. This technique will make your design look like it's flaking or eroding away, adding to the vintage feel.
• Experiment and Adjust: Adding texture is a subjective process, so feel free to experiment and adjust until you're happy with the result. You can always undo or redo changes using the two-finger and three-finger tap gestures in Procreate. Don't be afraid to play around with different textures and effects to see what works best for your T-shirt design.
• Vintage Printing Effect: To create a vintage printing effect, you can use Procreate's built-in filters. First, create a new layer below your main design layer. Choose a black shade and a brush with a paper-like texture. Reduce the opacity and use broad strokes to paint over the entire canvas. This will give your background a subtle paper texture.
• Enhance the Vintage Look: To further enhance the vintage effect, use a paper brush as an eraser and lightly layer it over your main design. This will create an authentic, aged appearance. Remember to adjust the opacity or undo if it becomes too dark.

By following these steps and experimenting with different textures and vintage effects, you can add depth and character to your T-shirt designs in Procreate. Remember to have fun and be creative during the process!

Frequently asked questions