| | | | | element. Again, think about the person wearing it |
| When designing a custom T-shirt using online design | | | | before your own company branding; a T-shirt that |
| software, the challenge becomes coming up with a | | | | shouts "I'm raising money for XYZ" with your logo as |
| great design, rather than mastering technical skills. | | | | a badge will be much more popular for example. |
| When using online T-shirt design websites such as | | | | The custom designed T-shirt's purpose may also |
| Shirtlab, it's a good idea to plan before starting the | | | | influence the visual design |
| design to get the best results, focusing on two | | | | A good example of this are T-shirts designed for |
| components: The purpose of the T-shirt and basic | | | | conventions (fan events) and rock concerts. Both |
| principles of good T-shirt design. | | | | tend to have attendees that prefer black T-shirts - |
| Here are a few questions that you should answer | | | | proven by increased sales in that colour. If you know |
| before starting your T-shirt design. | | | | that your T-shirt design is likely to be printed onto a |
| What is the T-shirt for? | | | | particular colour, make sure your design works well |
| People create customised T-shirts for a wide variety | | | | with that colour as a background. |
| of events, and bearing the final purpose for the | | | | The principles of good T-shirt design |
| T-shirt in mind can help you at the start of the | | | | Once you have a clear idea of your T-shirt's final use, |
| design process. | | | | there are a few things to bear in mind to help make |
| The purpose for the customised T-shirt will dictate | | | | your customised T-shirt design a success. |
| the information that you need to put on it before | | | | Advice regarding colours used in your T-shirt design |
| you even think about pictures, colours and fonts. For | | | | The best way to place a design onto most cotton |
| example, if you are you're creating sport team | | | | garments is by screen printing. Screen printed clothing |
| T-shirts, you might need to have a person's team | | | | washes well, lasts longer than heat transfer prints |
| position and number printed prominently on the back. | | | | and looks more professional in quality. Each colour in a |
| If your T-shirt design will be worn by employees | | | | T-shirt design requires a screen, so if four colours are |
| working at a particular event, you may need to | | | | used, four screens are required. If you are creating |
| include your company name very prominently, along | | | | customised T-shirts on a budget, keep the number |
| with your company website address, or perhaps a | | | | of colours to a minimum to keep the costs down. |
| simple "Here to help" on the back. Once you know | | | | Take care to choose complimentary colours |
| how much critical information needs to go on, you | | | | If you are producing promotional T-shirts for |
| can begin the design without worrying about leaving | | | | corporate use, your design will probably be guided by |
| something important out. | | | | your logo, but if you are adding other elements, or |
| Will the T-shirt be uniform, a give-away gift or for | | | | designing something from scratch, take care to |
| sale? | | | | choose colours that compliment each other. |
| If you are creating T-shirts for your staff at a trade | | | | Minimal colours often look good on T-shirts |
| show, having a prominent logo is a good idea for | | | | When you look at the most popular T-shirt designs |
| brand visibility. However, if you want to create | | | | over recent years, they often only contain 3 colours |
| T-shirts for give-away gifts, you might want to | | | | or less - or go to the other extreme and make |
| consider coming up with a funny message or industry | | | | having many different colours the centre of the |
| in-joke which will be the most prominent design | | | | design. Only the very best designers pull the latter |
| feature, with your logo and website more subtle in | | | | off well; the simpler you keep your design, the |
| the design. | | | | better the final result. Simple T-shirt designs have an |
| Whilst this may seem counter-intuitive from a | | | | impact either close up or when seen from a distance. |
| branding perspective, think about the people who will | | | | Know the limitations of T-shirt screen printing |
| be taking the freebie T-shirt. If the T-shirt just has | | | | Whilst you can use different colours to create your |
| your company logo on it, they are unlikely to wear it | | | | T-shirt design, remember that it's almost impossible |
| out and about - only the huge global brands can | | | | to get a photo-realistic image onto a T-shirt using |
| expect T-shirt wearers to do that for them. Those | | | | cost-effective screen printing because elements such |
| kinds of customised T-shirts end up being worn for | | | | as half tones and shading don't reproduce well. Solid |
| gardening or DIY, decreasing the potential exposure | | | | line art is a safe bet, with the lines used no smaller |
| for your business. However, if your T-shirt design is | | | | than 1mm in thickness to ensure that they print well. |
| funny, and the logo present but smaller, it's likely to | | | | Be careful with images that you use |
| be worn in more places, thereby increasing your | | | | There are many T-shirts on the market that adapt |
| brand exposure as people will ask where they got it | | | | corporate logos to make a pop culture comment or |
| from. | | | | joke, but if you intend to use an image that you |
| Creating T-shirts for sale also favours this approach, | | | | haven't created (or own the rights to already) ensure |
| and will be even harder to design and sell - unless | | | | that you get permission to avoid any legal problems. |
| there is a good incentive such as a charity fundraising | | | | |