Are you thinking of designing your own shirt? Creating a design and printing it on a shirt is a great way to showcase what you’ve made. It can be used as an advertising tool or even just a unique way of expressing yourself.
Depending on the design, this can be more effective than other advertising methods. But what are the practical steps you should take to do this? In this guide, we’ll detail step by step what you need to consider while designing, how to print your new shirt and much more.
For personalised advice, contact our team at Gorilla Print today.
Designing Your Shirt
There are several key steps you should follow during the design process. Each of these steps are important factors that can help you narrow down your design, as well as your marketing angle.
Purpose
First, determine why you are designing a new shirt. Is it to create a unique product? Or perhaps you want new uniforms, to showcase your business in a stylish and professional way. Many people also design shirts as souvenirs for events. Determining your unique purpose will inform how you design your shirt.
For instance, you may want a small, elegant logo for your uniforms. On the other hand, eye-catching designs and phrases are a great way to get people engaged and interested.
Audience
Likewise, who you’re designing for can dictate a lot when it comes to the final print. Not taking your audience into account, could result in a product they are not interested in.
This is why understanding your audience is crucial. Whether you are designing for a crowd or not, you should outline who the audience is and what they want, to make the best shirt possible.
Typography
Typography is the art of styling letters. Simple, and easy-to-read lettering is crucial to be effective. However, utilising a more complex font in small doses is a great way to draw attention.
The placement of your words is just as important. Rather than following the rules of a text, follow the natural path of the eye. Guide the audience to the top with larger lettering and naturally follow it downwards with slightly smaller text.
Likewise, consider spacing. Leave room for natural stops or breaths. Make sure the spacing is even while ensuring your letters are not cramped.
Choose a Designer
While you could certainly design your own shirt, consider reaching out to a professional. A professional designer knows all the best ways to use art and graphics to make an impact. While they may be an investment, their contribution could be what ensures the effectiveness of your design.
Printing Your Shirt
Once your design is ready you’ll need to carefully consider the different printing methods available. Each one has unique benefits and potential drawbacks that can affect your shirt.
Screen Printing
Screen printing is a tried and true method of shirt printing. A screen of your unique design is created, with sections marked out to act as a stencil. The screen is pressed over the shirt and the ink for your design is pressed over the top.
The ink is allowed to seep through sections of the screen to create your design. However, a new screen needs to be created for the different colours used and then layered to create the complete design. Though this can be involved, it often creates the highest quality prints and is well worth the cost, especially for larger batches.
Direct to Garment Printing
Direct-to-garment printing is much more straightforward than screen printing. It is as simple as sending an image to a printer which then applies ink directly to your shirt fabric. Though simple, this process is generally quite expensive.
Likewise, the print usually doesn’t last as long as screen printing. Though its convenience is enticing, it is usually best for smaller batches of shirts.
Vinyl Printing
Viynl printing is also a simple process that is generally more affordable than other options. It uses vinyl sheets printed with the design and then pressed against the shirt fabric. Heat is then applied which transfers the design to the shirt.
While this is affordable, it is not as durable as other methods. Often there can even be issues with how the colours appear on the fabric as opposed to the design.
Each of the different types of printing can have a big impact on your final product. Consider how each will affect your design, before making your choice.
Shirt Care Instructions
Following these simple tips can help make your printed shirt last longer.
- Turn your shirt inside out before washing, this can help protect the printed ink.
- Avoid washing in hot or warm water as this can wear away the design faster than cold water.
- Avoid harsh chemicals like bleach as this can affect the integrity of the print.
Showstopping Designs With Gorilla Print
At Gorilla Print, you can trust us to create quality designs printed to last. With our trusted screen printing technique, your shirts will last longer and draw more attention. If your design is what’s stopping you, we also have experienced graphic designers available.
Make your shirt design everything it needs to be with our support. Don’t hesitate to contact our team today to get started.
