The Perfect Spot: Company Logos On T-Shirts

The placement of a company logo on a T-shirt is a crucial aspect of merchandise design, impacting brand recognition and marketing efforts. While the decision is influenced by brand preferences, design aesthetics, and target audience, understanding popular print locations and effective strategies can enhance the overall look and functionality of the T-shirt. This introduction will explore various factors to consider when deciding where to place a company logo on a T-shirt, from print locations and design types to visibility and marketing goals.

Left chest placement

When printing a logo on the left chest of a T-shirt, it is important to ensure that it is not placed too far to the left, as this may result in the logo ending up in the armpit area when the shirt is worn. A simple trick to avoid this is to draw an imaginary vertical and horizontal centre line on the shirt. The vertical line will be just off the side of the collar, and the horizontal line will start at the armpit seam. The logo should be centred on the intersection of these lines, and may need to be adjusted depending on whether the design is more portrait or landscape-oriented. It is also important to consider the size of the logo in relation to the size of the shirt—while the logo will typically be placed about 3 inches below the collar, for larger shirts, it may look like it is "floating" too far from the collar when laid flat, but will look correct once worn.

Full front placement

The full front placement is a versatile option that can accommodate a wide range of print sizes. This placement is ideal for bold and complex designs, as the larger space allows for more intricate details to be seen and appreciated.

When opting for a full front design, it is important to ensure that the logo or design is centred. The design should be placed directly in the middle of the product, not too close to the collar or the bottom of the shirt. This ensures the logo can be seen from all angles without extending beyond the print area.

The size of the design is an important consideration for the full front placement. It is recommended that the design measures around 10-12 inches (25-31cm) in width and 10-14 inches (25-35cm) in height. This size ensures the logo is appropriately scaled for visibility without being too large, which could result in the design being broken up by the seams of the t-shirt.

A full front placement is a great option for detailed designs and can be paired with outerwear such as a zip-up hoodie to showcase the logo. However, it is important to consider the potential drawback of reduced fabric breathability with this placement, particularly with screen printing. This can result in an uncomfortable feel for the wearer, so it may be worth considering an alternative printing method.

Overall, the full front placement is a bold choice that guarantees maximum visibility for your logo or design.

Back design placement

The back of a t-shirt is a common placement for sports uniforms and large designs because it offers more surface area. Back designs are also great for adding substance to your t-shirts and complementing the design on the front.

Upper Back Placement

This placement is usually located 2-4 inches below the collar seam and is positioned between the shoulder blades. It is perfect for subtle branding, tags, slogans, event names, sports and team apparel, and personal touches such as initials. This placement is also commonly used for employee uniforms as it covers an eye-level position. The average size range for upper back designs is 10-14 inches wide and 1-6 inches tall, but this may vary depending on the t-shirt's size and style.

Full Back Design Placement

Full back placement provides maximum visibility and impact, making it ideal for t-shirts with bold statements or detailed graphics. This placement is often used for band merchandise, sports jerseys, promotional events, and educational shirts. It is also a good option for designs that require a lot of space. The average size range for full back designs is 10-14 inches wide and 6-15 inches tall, but it is recommended to leave some margin space to avoid having parts of the design cut off during printing.

Outside Neck Collar Back Placement

This placement is situated directly below the collar on the back of the t-shirt, adding a polished and professional touch. It is commonly used for small brand logos, taglines, initials, and event identifiers. The typical size range for this placement is 1x1 to 3x3 inches to avoid interfering with the collar and ensure wearer comfort.

Inside Neck Collar Back Placement

The inside neck collar back placement is a good option for including important information and branding while maintaining the t-shirt's external appearance. This placement is located on the inside of the t-shirt, below the neckline, and is usually aligned with the collar seam. It is commonly used for brand labels, care instructions, and product information. The size for this placement is typically small, ranging from 1x1 inch to 2x3 inches, to fit within the collar area without extending into the shoulder seams or lower back.

When deciding on the back design placement, it is important to consider the overall aesthetic and functionality of the t-shirt. Proper placement will improve visibility and complement the wearer's movement, ensuring that the design's message is effectively conveyed.

Sleeve placement

The sleeve area is smaller than the front or back of the shirt, so you need to carefully consider the size, readability, and proportionality of your design. Small prints are recommended for this area. The standard size is around 3" wide x 1.5" in height, but you can go up to 4.5" wide or as small as 1".

• Choose a simple logo design that will be easy to read and understand, even at a smaller size.
• Avoid using too much text in your logo.
• Use high-contrast colours to make your logo stand out.
• Consider placing your logo on the left or right sleeve, depending on where you want the focus of your design to be.
• Experiment with different sleeve placements to find the one that looks best with your design.

If you pair sleeve printing with left chest printing, it is recommended to print your logo on the right sleeve to balance things out.

Printing methods

There are several printing methods you can choose from to print your company logo on a T-shirt. The most popular methods are direct-to-garment (DTG) printing and screen printing.

Direct-to-Garment (DTG) Printing

Direct-to-garment printing uses an inkjet printer to print artwork directly onto a garment. This method is perfect for complex designs or photographic images as it can produce high-quality, full-colour prints. DTG is ideal for small batches as there are no setup costs and it can print directly onto the fabric. The process involves pre-treatment to ensure proper ink fixation and prevent bleeding, and the T-shirt is heated before printing to activate this treatment. DTG is best suited for 100% cotton T-shirts or blends, and the ink seamlessly integrates into the fabric, leaving no texture. However, DTG prints wash out over time.

Screen Printing

Screen printing, also known as silkscreen printing, is the most popular printing method. It involves applying ink to a T-shirt using a mesh screen stencil. This method is effective for producing vibrant, durable designs on various fabrics. It uses special screen printing inks that are thicker than those used for other printing techniques, resulting in long-lasting, vibrant prints. Screen printing is better suited for designs with fewer colours and is ideal for large quantities of up to 500 T-shirts as it is relatively simple to set up and use. However, it can be more expensive for smaller orders due to the setup cost. Screen printing ink is deeply absorbed into the fibres, resulting in vibrant prints, and screen-printed T-shirts can withstand countless wash cycles without fading.

Direct-to-Film (DTF) Printing

Direct-to-film printing is one of the best T-shirt printing techniques and involves transferring designs from a special PET film to T-shirts using adhesive powder and heat. Unlike DTG printing, DTF doesn't require garment pre-treatment since the design is pre-printed on film. This method works on various fabrics, including polyester and cotton, offering vibrant results. DTF printing leaves a plasticky and shiny finish due to the fixing powder, enhancing colour vibrancy without affecting the shirt's base colour. It allows printing on various fabrics, including very light fabric options, and the prints are bright and beautiful. However, it can only be used on smaller items like T-shirts, cushion covers, or face masks, and the print feels plastic-like.

Heat Transfer Printing

Heat transfer printing is another popular method for printing custom T-shirts. It uses a heat press to transfer an image or design onto the T-shirt. This technique doesn't require any special inks or dyes, only a heat press machine and transfer paper. It lets you print almost any design or image onto a shirt, including all-over-print designs that cover the entire T-shirt. Dye sublimation or all-over printing (AOP) is a popular type of heat transfer printing. The designs are digitally printed onto a special heat transfer paper on a sublimation printer and then transferred onto T-shirts with a heat press. Dye sublimation uses heat to transform dye-based ink into gas, bonding it with synthetic materials like polyester. This process embeds the ink deeply into the fabric, resulting in vibrant, durable prints. However, it can't be used with cotton as it is very porous, causing 'bleeding', and it is more expensive than other printing methods.

Other Methods

Other printing methods include plastisol transfers, which fall under the screen printing category but with an extra step: the design is applied to a special printing paper before being printed on the T-shirt. This method is suitable for tougher fabrics like fleece and allows for durable prints with similar quality to screen printing. Vinyl cutting or vinyl printing is another versatile heat press technique suitable for both mass printing and smaller quantities. The design is cut from a vinyl sheet using computer-aided design (CAD) software and a laser cutter, then transferred to the T-shirt using a heat press machine. However, it tends to make the fabric lose flexibility, so it is better suited for smaller prints.

Frequently asked questions