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T Shirt Design. Question About Template.


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AlwaysLearning

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This isn't a post about asking for help for a design for a shirt but a question asking what people do for the actual shirt template. I've also searched for an answer here and can't seem to locate what I'm looking for.

For those that work on t shirts, where do you get the template? The actual shirt you're going to work with? Do you copy/paste from Google, create your own t shirt, or take a high res image of a blank t shirt? I'd really rather stay away from just copying a template from Google so I'm just wondering what others do, to get that blank shirt.

Thanks!
 
Do a search for T-shirt Templates ... there a lot of free ones available. If you have a specific T-shirt type that you plan to use, get one and take a good snap shot of it - put it on a mannequin or spread it on a slightly darker background . Choose a WHITE color shirt for use as a template. It's easier to change the color. You'll have trouble with black or other dark colors.

In doing the design, use Pantone Colors most especially when doing screen printing. Pantone is the standard in printing and in the manufacture of colored paint and fabrics. By doing this, your shirt printer will have no difficulty in getting the accurate colors for your design needs.

It helps to outline text and expand any strokes you may have. There are plenty of good tutorials out there depending on whether you're using Illustrator or Photoshop.

Regardless whether you send the design for screen printing or processed for iron-on-transfer prints , source for a good T-shirt printer. You may have to talk to them and discuss their work process . Deal with someone who will will treat your T-shirt as a retail product of quality and not some cheap, do it yourself shirt.

One thing is certain - Tshirt Printing is an art in itself. Most especially Screen Printing. You may have a great design only to spoil it at the hands of a lousy printer.
 
Just to add.... It depends on how you plan to present the shirt design to a customer. Some use a pencil drawn shirt. It's easier to modify - add collars, pockets and such.

I do both .... a drawn shirt for initial designs presentation and an actual shirt for the FINAL design presentation.
 
dv8_fx said:
Do a search for T-shirt Templates ... there a lot of free ones available. If you have a specific T-shirt type that you plan to use, get one and take a good snap shot of it - put it on a mannequin or spread it on a slightly darker background . Choose a WHITE color shirt for use as a template. It's easier to change the color. You'll have trouble with black or other dark colors.

In doing the design, use Pantone Colors most especially when doing screen printing. Pantone is the standard in printing and in the manufacture of colored paint and fabrics. By doing this, your shirt printer will have no difficulty in getting the accurate colors for your design needs.

It helps to outline text and expand any strokes you may have. There are plenty of good tutorials out there depending on whether you're using Illustrator or Photoshop.

Regardless whether you send the design for screen printing or processed for iron-on-transfer prints , source for a good T-shirt printer. You may have to talk to them and discuss their work process . Deal with someone who will will treat your T-shirt as a retail product of quality and not some cheap, do it yourself shirt.

One thing is certain - Tshirt Printing is an art in itself. Most especially Screen Printing. You may have a great design only to spoil it at the hands of a lousy printer.
Click to expand...

Some good advice there thanks.
 
Hey guys, thanks for the advice. At first I wasn't really sure that there were free templates. It didn't even dawn on me to search for free templates. Right now I'm just working on my own stuff as I learn and develop some skills. Also, thanks for the advice on the printers, colors, etc. Some friends of mine are wanting to start up an automotive t-shirt company so that information will no doubt come in handy! Thanks again!
 
Ok so here's what I have so far. I got a free template but I can't seem to get just the turbo by itself. I'm not sure if I need to outline the image with the pen tool or what. For some reason I can't upload anything right now or I would show you what I'm talking about. Do I need to use the pen tool to outline the turbo though to get just it without the rest of the image?

Shirt.jpg
 
Last edited:
You don't need to clip it out, just invert the turbo image. My t-shirt printer suggests images be no wider than 15 inches, iBoost is probably a little too big.
 
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