| Artists and graphic designers spend hours, even days, | | | | hard to learn. To draw in Illustrator, you can use the |
| on creating the perfect look for companies. Whether | | | | pencil tool or the more accurate pen tool for tight, |
| it is an advertisement, packaging, a logo, or even a | | | | crisp lines. There is also the type tool to easily insert |
| t-shirt, a lot of talent and a lot more time is put into | | | | copy, as well as the shapes tool to apply interesting |
| the process of effective design. Thus, the mere | | | | shapes to your design. Both Corel Draw and Adobe |
| thought of constructing a practical, yet provocative, | | | | Illustrator tutorials are available on numerous websites |
| design for a company, personal, or promotional t-shirt | | | | on the internet, with basic drawing to complex |
| can seem daunting. What programs should I use? | | | | rendering to make understanding these programs |
| How do I learn how to use those programs? What if | | | | exponentially easier. |
| I absolutely cannot draw? These question, though | | | | Basic Design Principles |
| perhaps discouraging, all have simple answers that | | | | Now that you know how to run the program you |
| can turn a design-rookie into a compelling computer | | | | are using, how do you know what kind of design you |
| artist who can apply their skills to their own t-shirt | | | | want to create for your t-shirt? Keeping basic design |
| designs! | | | | principles, that every accomplished designer uses, in |
| Where To Start? | | | | mind can help you in copious ways. First, ask |
| The first thing any designer must consider is the | | | | yourself, "What is the message of my t-shirt?" Is it a |
| media he is going to use. With screen printing, it is | | | | corporate bank t-shirt or is it a sorority fundraiser |
| important to use computer programs for high-quality | | | | t-shirt? Is it targeted for children or for adults? |
| designs on your t-shirt. Popular programs used by | | | | T-shirts for children can be brighter with fun fonts |
| graphic designers include: Adobe Illustrator, | | | | and shapes. On the other hand, if your target |
| CorelDRAW, Corel Paint Shop Pro, and Adobe | | | | audience is adults, try to keep the colors limited and |
| Photoshop. Corel products are significantly less | | | | the font easier to read. Colors that are dependable |
| expensive, however, most designers prefer the | | | | and inoffensive include blue, black, and white. If you |
| superior capability of Adobe products. However, both | | | | want your design to catch eyes in an anything but |
| companies offer free trials at their websites if you | | | | subtle way, go for red, orange, or even yellow. Also, |
| only need to use it for a one-time design! If you | | | | consider if you want the shirt to be more functional |
| absolutely do not consider yourself computer savvy, | | | | or more fashionable. Last, keep in mind your |
| some companies, like DesignAShirt.com, offer | | | | demographic (children, adults, teenagers, there is a |
| design-consultations. These consultations offer | | | | whole range of groups of people to target your shirt |
| customers the chance to get a personalized, original | | | | to.) Remember that design is only limited to your |
| design without the customer having to think | | | | imagination and that these are not rules, but mere |
| creatively. | | | | suggestions to steer you in the right direction! Your |
| How Do I Use These Programs? | | | | options are unlimited! |
| The basics of computer drawing programs are not | | | | |