| So does everyone else in the world! You may not | | | | businesses most often opt for a conservative print |
| have realized it until just now, but there are a lot of | | | | on the left chest and back. However, if you're a |
| t-shirts out there in the world today and just about | | | | senior in high school you might want a side print with |
| all of them have some kind of print on them - but | | | | a destroyed look for your class shirts, probably not a |
| where did they come from? Obviously we all can get | | | | left chest. My best advice is to look around at other |
| a printed shirt from the mall or a department store, | | | | people's shirts and see what print styles/locations |
| but where do the department stores get their | | | | you like and dislike. |
| printed shirts from, and where can someone like me | | | | -Is My Artwork Good Enough? |
| get shirts printed for an event, activity, club or | | | | This is a very important question to ask because if |
| organization? All the information you need on how to | | | | you aren't starting out with good, clean looking |
| get your shirt printed is right here! We'll step you | | | | artwork your t-shirts or apparel will inevitably come |
| through conception of an idea, design, placement on | | | | out looking differently than you had envisioned in |
| the shirt, and selecting a screen printer. | | | | your mind. When screen printers print shirts they use |
| Conception of a T-Shirt Printing Idea | | | | the artwork that is given them (or created by |
| Before you do anything you must decide on what | | | | themselves) as a master which they can use to |
| you need the shirts for. This may sound foolish | | | | make films which get used to make the screens for |
| because you obviously have an idea of what you | | | | printing (read more about the screen printing process |
| need t-shirts for or you wouldn't be reading this | | | | here). Knowing this, there are a couple of things to |
| article! Nonetheless this decision may effect whether | | | | keep in mind when designing artwork to be screen |
| or not you are able to skip some steps in the | | | | printed. |
| process. For example: If you are a leader of a Cub | | | | - Draw your artwork with clean, black lines |
| Scouts pack and need shirts to hand out to the | | | | In general if you are hand drawing your artwork do it |
| members and are not making any profit on the shirts, | | | | with a black, felt tip pen or some other type of |
| you'll need to come up with at least an idea of a | | | | marker to create thick, clean lines. Use some sort of |
| design for the shirts you need printed. However, if | | | | guide if you have to in order to get straight lines. |
| you're a softball coach seeking to make money to | | | | - Do not shade or color in areas on the artwork |
| pay for your teams uniforms, maybe you'll opt for a | | | | Instead give the screen printer more than one copy |
| screen printers apparel fundraising programs (which | | | | of the artwork - one with only black outlines and |
| many screen printers do offer). | | | | another colored in or with the color name written in. |
| Fundraising programs allow the customer (you) to | | | | Keeping these in mind will save your screen printer |
| give the screen printer a general idea of what you'd | | | | from having to do extensive work on your artwork |
| like to see in the design of a print (or prints) and | | | | which should, in turn, save you from having to pay |
| what types of garment you'd like to see offered. | | | | extra in artwork fees. It'll probably suprise and |
| This type of program puts the burden of design on | | | | impress the screen printer too! |
| the screen printer and keeps you from getting too | | | | Selecting a Screen Printer |
| involved in the details. In many cases the screen | | | | Now for the big question: How do I select a screen |
| printers provide the flyers and order forms needed | | | | printer to print my shirts? Obviously this is one of the |
| for the salespeople so all you have to do is pass | | | | most important steps because as you've read from |
| them out and make a profit! Be sure to ask the | | | | the article the screen printer can play an integral part |
| printer you select about these programs as they | | | | in designing the artwork and consulting you on your |
| may not specifically advertise it. | | | | design before it's printed. Therefore, it's usually good |
| T-Shirt Design | | | | to pick a good printer that you feel comfortable with |
| Now that we know what we're printing the t-shirts | | | | that you can quickly call with your printing questions. |
| for, we're ready to design the print for the shirts. | | | | Use some or all of the following steps if you can to |
| There are two options when considering your t-shirt | | | | help in your decision of selecting a screen printer: |
| design: | | | | - Look for Local Printers |
| The screen printer can design your artwork. | | | | I can't stress this enough! Contrary to what you |
| You can design your artwork. | | | | might believe, there is most definitely a screen printer |
| While you may choose the first option, it is still | | | | in your vicinity! Many people believe that you have to |
| important to be informed on the design of you shirt | | | | pay a premium to order shirts online because there |
| for a couple of reasons: | | | | isn't a printer near them (myself included before I got |
| -Screen Printers may charge you for designing the | | | | into the business) - but it's simply not true! The town |
| artwork. | | | | that I live in (yes its a town - not even big enough |
| -Not just anything can be printed, there are a few | | | | for a city!) has 3 screen printers!! I guarantee you |
| limitations. | | | | that there is one near you. |
| -You need to decide what design elements you'd like | | | | Local screen printers will most likely be your best |
| your artwork to have (destroyed look, | | | | option because they will work with you the best. |
| contemporary, traditional/conservative, classic). | | | | They may even know more about the group or |
| -You need to decide where you'd like the design(s) | | | | organization your getting your shirts printed for than |
| printed on the shirt. | | | | some one you found online in another state would |
| First of all when designing the artwork for your | | | | ever know. If a screen printer is more knowledgeable |
| shirts, you are going to want to decide on the basics: | | | | about what your needs are for the shirt, the more |
| -What's the primary message that I want to get | | | | likely they will be to offer good, solid suggestions for |
| across with my shirts? | | | | the design and style of the shirt - which in turn helps |
| Do I want to simply put a logo on my t-shirts to | | | | you! |
| identify members of a group with my organization or | | | | Local screen printers may not have the cheapest |
| am I not looking to advertise a business, organization, | | | | prices, but many of them are extremely competitive |
| etc.? | | | | considering the fact that they are a small business. |
| -Do I need to include specifics? | | | | Your best bet for pricing is to look the printers up in |
| Do I need to include a date for the event, a phone | | | | the phone book, give them a quick call, quickly explain |
| number of a business, a number of a troop or pack. | | | | what you want to them and ask for a quote (they |
| This is an important one - as a screen printer I | | | | should give you one on the spot). |
| constantly have to ask businesses if they want their | | | | -Look At Their Portfolio |
| phone number and address included on their shirts - | | | | An ordinary screen printer probably doesn't have an |
| some businesses do not include this information but | | | | actual book filled with the previous jobs they've |
| they almost always do. | | | | done. But the probably DO have a lot of their |
| -What type design elements or theme do you want | | | | previous work hanging around their shop. If you're |
| to use? | | | | worried about a screen printers quality then pay a |
| -You should know whether your shirts need a more | | | | visit to their shop and take a look around. A quick |
| conservative look (for businesses usually), a | | | | visit can tell you a lot about a screen printers |
| contemporary look (for bands, youth organizations), a | | | | equipment and their capability. |
| classic look (high schools and universities usually fall in | | | | -Look At Their Price |
| this category) - just to name a few. | | | | While I think you should seek a local screen printer to |
| -You should decide on a graphic to use for your | | | | do your work for you, I don't want you to get taken |
| shirts (if any). It's often wise to see what your | | | | advantage of. In general, the cost of a plain jane |
| screen printer has to offer as they can more easily | | | | t-shirt, such as the one Gildan makes, is right around |
| provide a higher quality image. Many screen printers | | | | the $2 mark. Anything more than that is what the |
| either have talented graphic designers in-house, or | | | | screen printer is making in profit. There are other |
| have a membership to an artwork club where they | | | | costs like equipment and ink for the screen printer, |
| can download graphics from the internet for a | | | | but in general this rule works. Before you start |
| discounted rate. | | | | badgering the screen printer for how much profit he's |
| -Where do I want my design printed on the shirts? | | | | making consider how many pieces you're asking to |
| In some circles there are only a few known print | | | | be printed and how complex the design is - there can |
| locations on t-shirt: left chest print, full back, and full | | | | be a fair amount of time an effort put in to setting |
| front prints. However, as people have become more | | | | up a job and it has to be worth the screen printers |
| experimental, more print locations are now offered | | | | while to do so. |
| by many screen printers. While the t-shirt printer | | | | Hopefully these tips will be of some help as you go |
| should work with you and print wherever you like on | | | | through the selection process. There are definitely |
| the shirt, here are a few interesting print locations | | | | more things to consider, but they aren't as significant |
| I've seen: | | | | as the few that I chose to highlight. |
| -Right or Left Side Print | | | | Conclusion |
| -Right or Left High Chest Print | | | | Getting your very own design printed on your shirts |
| -Small Print Between Shoulders | | | | can be very fun and exciting - who doesn't want the |
| -Sleeve Prints | | | | feeling of designing something yourself and then |
| -Underarm Print | | | | being able to proudly wear it around for everyone |
| -Lower Back Print | | | | else to see? Good screen printers have a similar |
| -All-Over Print | | | | feeling - the pride of making others happy and giving |
| The purpose of your shirt usually determines where | | | | them a good quality product. Hopefully these tips will |
| you decide to locate the prints on you shirts. Usually | | | | help you acheive a high quality print and screen |
| you wouldn't see a plumber with a side print - | | | | printer you are completely satisfied with! |