Have to finalize design before working with a shirt vendor.Requires cost or a marketplace subscription.Many shirt download packages have multiple shirt variations (such as the example above).Semi-custom design in your software of choice.The trick here is to create a single design that will work on whatever color shirts you order because you won’t be able to change it later. ( Envato Elements is great for this reason.) Marketplaces are packed with simple templates, there are great professional designs to choose from, and most are “free” with your current subscription. This option is great if you have an idea of what you want, but don’t have a lot of time. (You can even upload basic artwork to one of the vendors above and add additional elements with their tools.)

This semi-custom option requires a little more time and work but gives most designers the control they want when working on a shirt design.

This article was first posted on Creative Bloq in 09/2012.One more option when it comes to free t-shirt design tools is to download a template, customize it in whatever tool you prefer, and then upload it to a printer. Keep abreast of what's happening in fashion and elsewhere in pop culture, but try to forge your own path. Chances are that by the time any given T-shirt's been produced, its designers are already moving onto something else. It's fine to take inspiration from the latest trends, but to keep one step ahead you want to avoid copying them. One good book for reference is Vintage T-shirts (opens in new tab) by Lisa Kidner.

Even designs that you don't like yourself can provide inspiration and insight into what people like to wear. Tees have emerged from every subculture phenomenon that has ever existed, whether it's music, skateboarding, street art, sport or general pop culture.ĭo some reading, find out about T-shirt history and learn to appreciate it. To have a good understanding of anything, you need to study it and understand its context. To have a good understanding of anything, you need to study and understand its context

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