Are you looking to design a customized t-shirt but don’t know where to get ideas for your design? We got you covered. In this article, we will provide you with some steps on how to brainstorm ideas for custom t-shirts. Without further ado, let’s start:

1. Extremely detailed designs are great, but keeping things simpler is better

Yes, extremely detailed designs and attention to detail is great and can be appreciated by onlookers. However, look at some of the classic t-shirt designs and you will notice some similarity – their designs are simple, and their message is conveyed in a simplistic manner. Additionally, some t-shirts like apparel military should have a minimalistic design since the fabric used already have some colors.

2. Look at existing t-shirt designs for inspiration

When you just can’t get started with ideas on t-shirt designs, it is never a bad idea to look around on the internet and browse some t-shirt designs. However, make sure not to copy a design entirely and just changing some parts to make it unique. A customized t-shirt works best when it is created from the scratch.

3. Be aware of your budget and printing options

This is important so that your design will go in line with your budget and printing options. There is nothing more frustrating than designing a great concept only to find out that your budget cannot support it, or the printing choices you have cannot render it the way you like.

The number of colors used in your design will have a high effect on its printing cost. When designing a t-shirt with multiple colors, be sure that you are aware of your budget limitations. Below, we will discuss some of the printing types in greater detail.

Screen printing

This type of printing is the standard used in printing t-shirt, since it is able to print in large numbers without sacrificing the quality of the print.

Screen printing is reliable, not that expensive, and produces high quality output. This type of printing is well suited for large purchases of over 20 t-shirts. However, this printing option requires new screens for every color used in a t-shirt, or variations in design. This can get very costly, especially with designs featuring a lot of colors. As such, this printing type is only suitable for designs that do not contain a lot of colors.

Vinyl graphics

Vinyl graphics printing uses the heated transfer method, which makes vinyl printing more durable compared to regular printing using ink. Vinyl graphics produce designs that stand out, and they will last for longer too. However, vinyl graphics printing can get very costly the more you print. As such, this printing type is not recommended for huge orders.

Direct-to-garment printing

This type of printing is quite new, it uses inkjet to print directly on the cloth. This printing option is perfect for highly detailed designs that use a lot of colors. However, this is only suitable for low quantity orders.

4. Placement

Even though you might have an eye catchy design, the t-shirt can still lose its appeal if you didn’t position it on the t-shirt properly. The standard location for t-shirt design prints is on the front or back. You can use full or half print. If you are planning to use an unconventional printing location like on the sides, be sure to talk to other people involved in the project first.

5. Be sure to use up to date styles

A t-shirt design can be good, however, if its overall design is outdated, people might still not appreciate it. Be sure to go with the current trending designs, and base your design from there. The fonts you use, layout, and colors should be in line with the current trends to avoid making an outdated style.

6. Produce a sample

It is never a bad idea to just print a single sample once you have finished your design. It allows you to view your design physically, which means that you can properly judge if it’s good enough and make the necessary adjustments. Another advantage of printing a single sample first is that you can check the perfection of the design before committing to a final print that you cannot back away from.