The Fine Art of T-shirt Making
by Zach Royer, Apparently Apparel 2012
Today's generation is fashion conscious and wants a t-shirt with a 'different look' to stand out in the crowd. Fortunately, Apparently Apparel has a plethora of options in this field.
Designing graphic t-shirts requires a different approach, as these shirts can address an issue or sometimes convey something about the world. But there is also the 'not-so-serious' side of life, where t-shirts can show their enthusiastic and playful side.
Let me take you back a few decades. During the fad-ridden 1980s, so many new inventions were born.
If you weren't born then, it was called the 'pop culture', because many new inventions popped up so quickly. For example: board games, music, computers, video games and everyone's favorite, color tv.
The 1980s fashion was also influenced by many clothes with cartoon characters printed on them.
As many of you probably know, graphic design - and designs specifically for t-shirt printing - can be two totally different beasts.
Have you ever worked extremely hard for long hours on a t-shirt design for yourself or a client, only to have the printer tell you your design won't work for t-shirt printing?
This problem is not that uncommon, and here are a few tips on how to prepare your artwork for printing on t-shirts.
1) Use PMS Colors in Your Artwork
You may typically complete artwork in RGB and CMYK color modes, but to ensure the most accurate colours with a silk screener, use PMS Colours, which make the colour separations a lot easier and more accurate. As a side note, the printers should not charge you extra for PMS colour matching as you are actually doing them a favour in making the process easier. Here are two links on t-shirt designing http://www.gomediazine.com/tutorials/photoshop/how-to-create-photorealistic-shirt-mockups/ http://naldzgraphics.net/.
2) Convert All Text to Outlines
Sometimes your artwork may call for a very obscure font, or maybe even a custom-designed font. When sending your artwork off to the printers, the last thing you want to see is a substituted font in your design. By converting the text to outlines, any computer that opens the artwork will view the text as an image. Therefore, you should feel comfortable because no substitutions will be made.
3) Create Your Artwork at Actual Size
Do not rely on the printers to correct any boo boos. Remember, they are just printers and only responsible for the end work, which is solely printing. The vision you have of the end product is different from the printers' assumption. Remember, not all printers are graphic designers, and vice versa. Don't know what size you want to use? Slap a ruler to the shirt. Sounds simple, but it works.
4) Use Vector Artwork as Much as Possible:
This is not an argument over raster versus vector, but a suggestion and a general rule. It makes color separations cleaner with more details.
T-shirt Design Tools:
With every good designer comes a good set of tools. Your tools are like your 'hands'; they take the 'brain' ideas and practically form them. T-shirt drawings, computers, printers are all necessary tools for any designer. Another great tool that is used is the 'airbrush tool, which can be used on a photo editing application.
What software is best?
Let's have a look at this for both the beginner and the experienced designer. If you are a beginner, you might be asking yourself: "I want to design my own t shirts; what software is easy to learn?".... And that's the key,learning. By learning you are adding a "skill" for life that will be used many times again. Go for the challenge. Part of the fun is learning while designing.
I use Gimp2, but Illustrator is good, too. Gimp2 is a vector-based design program with excellent usability, and is capable of exporting files and formats for screen printing.
While Gimp2 has existed in the shadow of Illustrator and Photoshop for many years, recent alterations make it the superior software when it comes to design for screen printing and custom t-shirt design.
Illustrator is ideally suited to creating scalable images, specifically logos and very large print.
You will probably pay close to $300 for whichever program you choose, but it is well worth it. Having the right tool for the right job is like taking candy from a baby.
Below are a few more quality design applications for both Mac and PC. Vector-based t-shirt design programs, for layout and design: - Macromedia FreeHand MX; Adobe Illustrator CS5; CorelDraw Graphics Suite X5 .
Photo and image manipulation programs:- Gimp2 (Freeware), Photoshop CS5; Corel Painter and the Print Shop for Mac. Owning t-shirt graphic design software that is not only limited to t-shirts but can also be used in other areas of design is a plus.
Say it on a Shirt
Are you a 'sports lover? Well, 'sports t-shirts' and your 'love for design' is a winning combination. There is something special about sports; it's an area that is all about training, hard work, talent, passion and going the extra mile. However, team sports such as soccer, basketball and hockey require team uniforms that give a sense of pride.
Personalized t-shirts say it best, especially when you are at a loss for words or stumped on what gift to give. A designed t-shirt is a gift that says: "I took the time to design this, especially for you". It is special and has that "pazazz". It's like a card that has personalized messages. For example, when a family member has just given birth to a new baby; a neighbor's toddler is having a birthday party; a youth group is going on a mission trip; your local church is celebrating the opening of their new building - send them all a personalized t-shirt with the name/s printed on it. Ensure it is minimal colour, a simple idea, and explore the fabric of the t shirt.
What is hot and what is not?
Designs speak a thousand words. So how do we know, then, what is 'hot' and what is 'not'? Sometimes your style might not be appealing to others, but it doesn't mean it's not good enough, only that it speaks a different language to a different audience. Each designer has a certain way of thinking and expressing thoughts on to t-shirts. As a designer, I have 'learned to adapt' and 'develop design skills' in all areas and different phases.
I used to love abstract-looking designs, then experimented with photo manipulation, collages and magazine.
I have now settled for realistic and practical approaches.
Try not to box yourself into one way of doing things, but instead have fun with different styles. Design is about 'interpreting an idea' into a way that others can enjoy and understand.
Language of T-shirt Design
Ask yourself what audience would be attracted to your style of t-shirt design? Take some time to think about 'what' you are trying to say and to 'whom' you are saying it.
T-shirt design messages should always start with a concept or an idea.
How that idea consummates is your thunder, as you may be a rotten designer with great ideas.
Don't limit yourself:
Designing is about growing and expanding your creative style, too.
When it comes to software, try not to always look at the "now", but look long-term. See yourself stretching your designs from your t-shirts to other print and web-based designs. Think of a t-shirt as a snapshot, since it captures that very moment in an instance. Your ideas are like a camera that takes the shot and creates a 'never forgetting picture'. Guess what; it's even framed by the person wearing it.
It is a battery free 'walkie talkie', where the people do the walking and your t-shirt designs do the talking. So until we meet again, have fun, enjoy life and stay on top of your game!
Zach Royer
Apparently Apparel 2012
Designing graphic t-shirts requires a different approach, as these shirts can address an issue or sometimes convey something about the world. But there is also the 'not-so-serious' side of life, where t-shirts can show their enthusiastic and playful side.
Let me take you back a few decades. During the fad-ridden 1980s, so many new inventions were born.
If you weren't born then, it was called the 'pop culture', because many new inventions popped up so quickly. For example: board games, music, computers, video games and everyone's favorite, color tv.
The 1980s fashion was also influenced by many clothes with cartoon characters printed on them.
As many of you probably know, graphic design - and designs specifically for t-shirt printing - can be two totally different beasts.
Have you ever worked extremely hard for long hours on a t-shirt design for yourself or a client, only to have the printer tell you your design won't work for t-shirt printing?
This problem is not that uncommon, and here are a few tips on how to prepare your artwork for printing on t-shirts.
1) Use PMS Colors in Your Artwork
You may typically complete artwork in RGB and CMYK color modes, but to ensure the most accurate colours with a silk screener, use PMS Colours, which make the colour separations a lot easier and more accurate. As a side note, the printers should not charge you extra for PMS colour matching as you are actually doing them a favour in making the process easier. Here are two links on t-shirt designing http://www.gomediazine.com/tutorials/photoshop/how-to-create-photorealistic-shirt-mockups/ http://naldzgraphics.net/.
2) Convert All Text to Outlines
Sometimes your artwork may call for a very obscure font, or maybe even a custom-designed font. When sending your artwork off to the printers, the last thing you want to see is a substituted font in your design. By converting the text to outlines, any computer that opens the artwork will view the text as an image. Therefore, you should feel comfortable because no substitutions will be made.
3) Create Your Artwork at Actual Size
Do not rely on the printers to correct any boo boos. Remember, they are just printers and only responsible for the end work, which is solely printing. The vision you have of the end product is different from the printers' assumption. Remember, not all printers are graphic designers, and vice versa. Don't know what size you want to use? Slap a ruler to the shirt. Sounds simple, but it works.
4) Use Vector Artwork as Much as Possible:
This is not an argument over raster versus vector, but a suggestion and a general rule. It makes color separations cleaner with more details.
T-shirt Design Tools:
With every good designer comes a good set of tools. Your tools are like your 'hands'; they take the 'brain' ideas and practically form them. T-shirt drawings, computers, printers are all necessary tools for any designer. Another great tool that is used is the 'airbrush tool, which can be used on a photo editing application.
What software is best?
Let's have a look at this for both the beginner and the experienced designer. If you are a beginner, you might be asking yourself: "I want to design my own t shirts; what software is easy to learn?".... And that's the key,learning. By learning you are adding a "skill" for life that will be used many times again. Go for the challenge. Part of the fun is learning while designing.
I use Gimp2, but Illustrator is good, too. Gimp2 is a vector-based design program with excellent usability, and is capable of exporting files and formats for screen printing.
While Gimp2 has existed in the shadow of Illustrator and Photoshop for many years, recent alterations make it the superior software when it comes to design for screen printing and custom t-shirt design.
Illustrator is ideally suited to creating scalable images, specifically logos and very large print.
You will probably pay close to $300 for whichever program you choose, but it is well worth it. Having the right tool for the right job is like taking candy from a baby.
Below are a few more quality design applications for both Mac and PC. Vector-based t-shirt design programs, for layout and design: - Macromedia FreeHand MX; Adobe Illustrator CS5; CorelDraw Graphics Suite X5 .
Photo and image manipulation programs:- Gimp2 (Freeware), Photoshop CS5; Corel Painter and the Print Shop for Mac. Owning t-shirt graphic design software that is not only limited to t-shirts but can also be used in other areas of design is a plus.
Say it on a Shirt
Are you a 'sports lover? Well, 'sports t-shirts' and your 'love for design' is a winning combination. There is something special about sports; it's an area that is all about training, hard work, talent, passion and going the extra mile. However, team sports such as soccer, basketball and hockey require team uniforms that give a sense of pride.
Personalized t-shirts say it best, especially when you are at a loss for words or stumped on what gift to give. A designed t-shirt is a gift that says: "I took the time to design this, especially for you". It is special and has that "pazazz". It's like a card that has personalized messages. For example, when a family member has just given birth to a new baby; a neighbor's toddler is having a birthday party; a youth group is going on a mission trip; your local church is celebrating the opening of their new building - send them all a personalized t-shirt with the name/s printed on it. Ensure it is minimal colour, a simple idea, and explore the fabric of the t shirt.
What is hot and what is not?
Designs speak a thousand words. So how do we know, then, what is 'hot' and what is 'not'? Sometimes your style might not be appealing to others, but it doesn't mean it's not good enough, only that it speaks a different language to a different audience. Each designer has a certain way of thinking and expressing thoughts on to t-shirts. As a designer, I have 'learned to adapt' and 'develop design skills' in all areas and different phases.
I used to love abstract-looking designs, then experimented with photo manipulation, collages and magazine.
I have now settled for realistic and practical approaches.
Try not to box yourself into one way of doing things, but instead have fun with different styles. Design is about 'interpreting an idea' into a way that others can enjoy and understand.
Language of T-shirt Design
Ask yourself what audience would be attracted to your style of t-shirt design? Take some time to think about 'what' you are trying to say and to 'whom' you are saying it.
T-shirt design messages should always start with a concept or an idea.
How that idea consummates is your thunder, as you may be a rotten designer with great ideas.
Don't limit yourself:
Designing is about growing and expanding your creative style, too.
When it comes to software, try not to always look at the "now", but look long-term. See yourself stretching your designs from your t-shirts to other print and web-based designs. Think of a t-shirt as a snapshot, since it captures that very moment in an instance. Your ideas are like a camera that takes the shot and creates a 'never forgetting picture'. Guess what; it's even framed by the person wearing it.
It is a battery free 'walkie talkie', where the people do the walking and your t-shirt designs do the talking. So until we meet again, have fun, enjoy life and stay on top of your game!
Zach Royer
Apparently Apparel 2012
