Designing T-Shirts: When To Start And What To Consider

Designing a T-shirt can be a fun and creative process, but it can also be daunting if you're unsure where to start. Whether you're designing a T-shirt for your brand, a special event, or just for fun, there are a few key things to consider. Firstly, it's important to define your budget and the quantity of T-shirts you need as this will impact your design options. You should also familiarize yourself with the different printing techniques available, such as screen printing, heat press printing, and direct-to-garment printing, as this will affect the cost and appearance of your T-shirt. Choosing a colour palette that represents your brand or event is also key, keeping in mind that print designs use the CMYK colour model rather than RGB. When it comes to the design concept, you can browse online for inspiration or consider using your company's logo, a relatable quote, or an event name. Finally, decide on the style and fabric of the T-shirt, keeping in mind your target audience and what will be comfortable and appealing to them. With these considerations in mind, you can start bringing your T-shirt design to life!

Budgeting and quantity

Budgeting:

• Production Method: The method you choose to design and print your T-shirts can impact your budget. Online platforms like Custom Ink and Canva offer all-inclusive pricing, allowing you to design and print T-shirts with no minimum order quantity. This can be cost-effective, especially if you're creating a small number of shirts or have a limited budget.
• Printing Technique: Different printing techniques have varying costs. For instance, Direct-to-Garment (DTG) printing is known for being cost-effective, even for small orders, as it doesn't require bulk printing. This method also generates less garment waste. Other techniques, such as screen printing or custom embroidery, may have different pricing structures.
• T-Shirt Type and Quality: The type and quality of the T-shirts you choose will affect your budget. Basic T-shirts made from 100% cotton are generally affordable, while those made from cotton blends or tri-blends tend to be pricier but offer advantages like reduced shrinkage. Consider your budget and the desired quality of the T-shirts when making your selection.
• Design Complexity: The complexity of your T-shirt design can impact the cost. More intricate designs, multiple ink colors, or special effects may increase the price per shirt. If you're on a tight budget, consider simplifying your design or using fewer ink colors to reduce costs.

Quantity:

• No Minimum Orders: Some platforms, like Custom Ink and Canva, allow you to order T-shirts with no minimum quantity. This is ideal if you want to create a small batch of shirts or even a single custom T-shirt. You have the flexibility to order exactly the number of shirts you need.
• Bulk Orders: If you're planning a large event or want to outfit a group, such as a team or company, consider bulk ordering to take advantage of quantity discounts. The more custom T-shirts you order, the lower the price per shirt. Bulk ordering can help you save money and ensure you have enough shirts for your purpose.
• Group Order Forms: Some platforms offer group order forms to simplify the process of collecting sizes and payment information for bulk orders. This feature can be helpful when ordering T-shirts for a group, ensuring that everyone receives a shirt that fits well.
• Personalization: If you want to add personalized elements, such as names or numbers, to each T-shirt, this can impact the quantity and budget. Personalization may increase the cost per shirt, and you'll need to ensure you have accurate information for each individual.

When budgeting and determining the quantity of your T-shirt design project, it's essential to consider your specific needs and constraints. By evaluating the factors mentioned above, you can make informed decisions about production, printing, T-shirt type, design complexity, and order quantity to stay within your budget and achieve your desired results.

Printing options

There are several printing options available for designing T-shirts. The most popular methods are direct-to-garment (DTG) printing and screen printing. DTG printing uses an inkjet printer to print the artwork directly onto the garment, making it perfect for complex designs or photographic images. This method is cost-effective for small batches as there are no setup costs. However, DTG prints tend to wash out over time. On the other hand, screen printing involves applying ink to a T-shirt using a mesh screen stencil. This method is effective for producing vibrant and durable designs on various fabrics, but it is more suitable for designs with fewer colours.

Other printing options include heat transfer printing, direct-to-film (DTF) printing, dye sublimation or all-over printing (AOP), vinyl printing, plastisol transfer printing, and embroidery. Heat transfer printing uses a heat press to transfer an image or design onto the T-shirt. This method is ideal for printing almost any design or image, including all-over prints. DTF printing is a type of heat transfer printing that uses a special PET film to transfer designs onto T-shirts. It offers vibrant results and can be used on various fabrics. Dye sublimation is another heat transfer printing method that uses dye-based inks and vapour blending to create integrated and durable prints. However, it is not compatible with natural fabrics like cotton.

Vinyl printing involves cutting a design from a vinyl sheet and using a heat press to apply it to the T-shirt. This method is commonly used for sports team jerseys and lettering-based designs. Plastisol transfer printing combines screen printing and heat transfer methods, using a plastic-based transfer sheet to apply ink to T-shirts. It can achieve special finishes like glosses and textures but is not suitable for bulk orders. Finally, embroidery is a durable and sophisticated option for graphic tees but is limited in terms of design complexity and colour variations.

Design concept

The design concept is the fun part of the process, where you get to start figuring out what's going on with your T-shirt. It's important to first define your target audience and goals. For example, if you're designing a T-shirt for a law firm, a revealing crop top might not be the best option. Think about the key themes, styles, and personality traits you want your T-shirt to convey. Is it playful or serious? Edgy or conservative? Luxurious or affordable?

You can also consider printing your company logo on the T-shirt, which is great for branding. Many companies, such as Adidas and Calvin Klein, have been doing this for years. However, if you're a startup with a wordmark logo, people might not want to wear your brand name on a T-shirt. In that case, you could opt for a pictorial marks logo or a mascot logo.

Another idea is to print a relatable quote on the T-shirt. This could be something funny, motivational, or a hashtag that aligns with your brand's niche. For instance, a fitness brand could use #eathealthy or #stayfit, while a travel company could use #wanderlust or #exploretheworld. Just be sure not to copy someone else's quotes or designs to avoid copyright infringement.

If you're designing T-shirts for a special event, you can mention the name or location of the event. Be sure to get permission from the event organizers first. You can also play with typography to make the design more appealing. For example, you could use a rustic serif or a chubby retro font to convey a certain mood or tone.

No matter what design you choose, be sure to test it on different backgrounds and T-shirt sizes to ensure legibility and that it looks good on different body types.

Design evaluation

Once you have a design in mind, it's important to evaluate it to ensure it aligns with your goals and that it will be effective for its intended purpose. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Does the design fit with your brand image and convey the right message about your brand?
• Is the design appealing to your target audience?
• Is the design simple and uncomplicated, bearing in mind that it will be displayed on a 3D body with lumps and bumps?
• Is the text easy to read?
• Will the design work on different T-shirt sizes and colours?
• Is the amount of colour within your budget?

Get feedback from your team or people who are not closely associated with the design, as they may notice things that you didn't. Ask them: what is the key message conveyed by the design? Who is the target audience? Their answers will help you determine if the T-shirt design is communicating what you want it to.

Finally, make sure you have the right files for your design, including vector format files and colour codes.

File formats

When designing a T-shirt, it is important to be aware of the different file formats and their respective qualities. The two main types of image files are vector and raster (also known as bitmap). Vector files are the best option for T-shirt printing as they produce the highest-quality image format and can be resized without losing quality. Vector file types include AI, EPS, and PDF. Adobe Illustrator, for example, uses AI as its native file type.

Raster files, on the other hand, are made of pixels and tend to be larger in file size. While they can be useful, especially for photographic images, they should be high-resolution with minimal compression to achieve the best results. Examples of raster file types include JPEG, TIFF, PSD, GIF, and PNG.

It is also important to consider the resolution and compression of your image file. A higher resolution will result in a more detailed image, which is ideal for printing. Additionally, lossless compression settings, such as TIFF or PNG, will preserve the image quality while reducing the file size.

When in doubt, it is recommended to consult with the printer or T-shirt producer to determine the most suitable file format for your design.

Frequently asked questions