T-Shirt Text Placement: Design Tips And Tricks

T-shirt text placement is an important consideration when designing a garment. While there is no one-size-fits-all answer, a few key factors come into play. Firstly, the type of printing method used, such as screen printing or direct-to-garment printing, will impact the final result. The location of the text is also crucial, with common placements including the centre chest, left chest, full front, back, and sleeve. Each of these locations has its own standard size range and design considerations. For example, a left chest design is typically smaller and simpler, allowing customers more freedom to style the shirt. On the other hand, a full-front design can accommodate more intricate details. Additionally, the anchor point, or the fixed centre point of the design, should be considered to ensure print consistency. Finally, it's important to take into account the shirt's size, as the placement will need to be adjusted accordingly.

Front of shirt design placement

The front of a t-shirt is one of the most popular locations for design placement. This is because it is a highly visible location that will be seen by the wearer when looking in the mirror and by others when worn.

There are several options for design placement on the front of a t-shirt. The first is a centre chest design placement. This is a commonly used spot, as it is highly visible and grabs attention. The centre placement is best for smaller designs, such as logos, text, quotes or small artwork. The placement should be about four inches below the collar and should not overlap with the shoulder seams.

Another option is a left chest design placement. This is a classic, versatile option that has been popular for decades. It doesn't offer much room for detailed art but is great for logos, symbols, smaller designs and text. The standard size for an embroidered left chest placement is around 4" x 4". This placement is also a good choice for work uniforms or branded clothing. When using fonts, the height of upper-case letters should be a minimum of 0.3", and for lower-case letters, a minimum of 0.25".

A full front design placement gives even more space for your art. The design should be centred from the middle point of the neck collar and can extend from the chest down to the length of the shirt. This placement is great for bold looks and maximum visibility. However, it may create a t-shirt that is not fabric-breathable, especially with screen printing, so consider playing with negative space and leaving parts of the design ink-free. The average size range for this placement is 10"-12" wide and 10"-14" tall.

When deciding on the placement of your design, it is important to consider the size and shape of your design, as well as the size of the garment. The top of the design should begin 4"-6" from the neck and be centred between the left and right seams. For kids' t-shirts, the design should be 1.5"-3" below the neck.

Back of shirt design placement

When designing the back of a t-shirt, it's important to remember that this placement will provide more room for intricate designs and larger frames. While the back of the t-shirt isn't often visible, it is a great way to fill space and give your creation more substance. Here are some tips for placing your design on the back of a t-shirt:

Collar/Small Upper Back Placement:

This is one of the most intricate design placements, typically used for branding. The design is placed around one inch from the base of the neck collar. This placement is best coupled with more prominent designs on the front or sleeves, acting as a watermark or signature for your logo. Since this is a small placement area, opt for a simple design with fewer details that will still be visible and unique, even when viewed from a distance. The average size range for this placement is 1"-3" wide and tall.

Upper Back Placement:

The upper back placement is versatile and medium-sized, covering the shoulder-blade region and prioritising the width of the back for complete visibility. This placement is typically about four inches below the collar. It is commonly chosen for employee uniforms as it naturally covers an eye-level position. This placement is also popular for event organisers, security staff, or any design that needs to be noticed in a crowd. You may also see more typographic design elements in this location, used to promote events, businesses, or a specific cause. The average size range for this placement is 10"-14" wide and 1"-6" tall, making it an excellent choice for typographic designs.

Full-Back Design Placement:

This is a popular choice for t-shirt graphic designers, as the back of the shirt provides a larger canvas for more colours and intricate details. Full-back designs typically start around three to four inches from the collar. This placement is perfect for grandiose design projects that deserve a larger space. Remember that back designs are rarely alone on a t-shirt. They are often complemented by a simpler logo placement on the sleeves or chest. For example, a sports jersey typically features a large name on the back with a smaller one on the left chest. The average size range for full-back designs is 10"-14" wide and 6"-15" tall, making it the most versatile option for larger design placements.

Additional Tips:

• Consider the type of printing you will use, such as screen printing, direct-to-garment printing (DTG), or sublimation, as this will impact the final result.
• Remember to centre your design between the left and right seams of the shirt.
• For kids' t-shirts, designs on the back should be placed slightly lower, around 3"-5" from the collar.
• If you're placing text on the back of the shirt, make sure to choose a legible font size and style.
• Take into account the overall design and colour of the t-shirt to ensure your placement complements the rest of the shirt.

Sleeve logo 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. It is recommended to use small prints for this area. The standard print size for sleeve designs is a maximum of 2 inches high by 4 inches wide. However, the print size can vary, with some sources suggesting a standard size of around 3 inches wide by 1.5 inches high. This can be adjusted to accommodate different sleeve sizes and logo dimensions, with a minimum width of 1 inch and a maximum width of up to 4.5 inches.

When placing a logo on the sleeve, it is important to 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, and consider using high-contrast colours to make it stand out. The placement of your logo on the sleeve should be carefully considered as well. You can place it on the left or right sleeve, depending on where you want the focus of your design to be.

In terms of specific placement guidelines, sleeve designs should typically start 0.5 to 1 inch below the shoulder seam to ensure balance and visibility. This placement is ideal for small logos or text. For larger sleeve designs, it is important to ensure that they wrap well around the sleeve without extending into the underarm area, where the design might fold and decrease visibility.

Font pairing

When designing a T-shirt, the fonts you choose and how you pair them are crucial to the overall design. Here are some tips for font pairing to make your T-shirt design stand out:

Keep it Simple

It is generally best to limit your font choices to two different styles. This keeps your design clean, cohesive, and legible. Using too many fonts can make your design look cluttered and confusing. However, you can still create a dynamic design by sticking to one font but varying the size, bolding certain words, or using all-caps for emphasis.

Serif and Sans-Serif

Serif and Sans-Serif fonts are the two main categories of typefaces. Serif fonts, like Times New Roman, have small lines (called serifs) at the ends of the letter strokes, while Sans-Serif fonts, like Arial or Futura, do not have these lines. A simple way to pair fonts is to choose one from each category, ensuring they don't look too similar.

Subcategories

You can also explore subcategories within the Serif and Sans-Serif groups. For example, Old Style Serifs pair well with Humanist Sans-Serifs, while Traditional Serifs work well with Geometric Sans-Serifs. This helps to create a complementary contrast between the fonts.

Mood and Message

Consider the mood and message you want to convey with your T-shirt design. The fonts you choose should match the overall feel of your design. For instance, a playful and bubbly font would be suitable for a family vacation T-shirt, while a marathon T-shirt might call for a more serious and basic font.

Examples of Font Pairings

Some examples of font pairings that work well together include Sacramento & Montserrat, Cormorant & Pinyon Script, Playfair Display & Six Caps, and Proza Libre & Six Caps. You can also refer to font pairing guides and resources, such as those offered by Canva, to find more inspiration for your T-shirt design.

Print dimensions

• Print location refers to the area on the t-shirt itself, such as the front, chest, collar, or back. This will frame and determine your print placement.
• Print placement refers to the measured position of your design within the print location. It will vary depending on the size of the garment and your own choice or preference.
• Print area refers to the total surface area of your design. It defines where to place the ink and whether it will cover fabric features like seams, pockets, and buttons.
• Print size refers to the exact measurement of your design once it's printed on the fabric. Size measurements define the necessary print file quality and appropriate dimensions.

There are a few different size types to be aware of:

• Standard size is the default size determined by print providers. It is usually centred and based on a garment's average print area. Your designs will be this size unless you make a special request or modification.
• Oversize print refers to any measurement above standard. You can extend your artwork beyond regular limits if a design requires closer detail or a more prominent placement.
• Maximum size refers to the physical size limit that a fabric printer can manage on a garment. You can request or implement a full-size print, provided your design has a high enough resolution to remain sharp.

Anchor points

An anchor gives your design a fixed centre point. While it can overlap with the technical midpoint of rectangular or circular designs, anchor points are most useful for non-symmetrical art pieces. Defining anchor points provides print consistency, especially if you use shirt templates.

Frequently asked questions