For over
half a century, t-shirts have been one of the most reliably comfortable go-to
items of clothing. They are a fun way to spruce up your wardrobe, make a
statement, or create a memory.
half a century, t-shirts have been one of the most reliably comfortable go-to
items of clothing. They are a fun way to spruce up your wardrobe, make a
statement, or create a memory.
Even more
fun than simply buying a t-shirt is
designing and making one yourself.
fun than simply buying a t-shirt is
designing and making one yourself.
This is the perfect way to make sure you get
the exact t-shirt you want. Screen printing a design is most definitely one of
the ways to obtain clothing customized just for you and your needs.
In order
to create a great personal design, you need to know how to use Photoshop. This
can be a little tricky, particularly if you are new to using the software. Read
on for a step-by-step tutorial on how to create the perfect design for your
t-shirt in Photoshop.
to create a great personal design, you need to know how to use Photoshop. This
can be a little tricky, particularly if you are new to using the software. Read
on for a step-by-step tutorial on how to create the perfect design for your
t-shirt in Photoshop.
How to Correctly Use Photoshop to Craft Your Own T-Shirt
●
If you are creating your own design, lay it out as carefully
and as detailed as possible.
If you are creating your own design, lay it out as carefully
and as detailed as possible.
You do not have to be a talented artist to do this as long
as you know exactly what you want and are able to visualize the design in your
head.
as you know exactly what you want and are able to visualize the design in your
head.
Begin by
sketching your design as closely as you can to your desired image, and write
out detailed notes if you are unable to fully sketch it out. If you are
uncertain of what you exactly want, look around online for ideas and
inspiration for color combinations, font, text shapes, and more.
sketching your design as closely as you can to your desired image, and write
out detailed notes if you are unable to fully sketch it out. If you are
uncertain of what you exactly want, look around online for ideas and
inspiration for color combinations, font, text shapes, and more.
●
Open a new Photoshop Document.
Open a new Photoshop Document.
Open up a new document, which is where you will ultimately
create the final design that you send to the company to be screen printed.
create the final design that you send to the company to be screen printed.
●
Make sure to select the appropriate sizing option.
Make sure to select the appropriate sizing option.
When you first create a new document in Photoshop, you
select the Image Size window so you can design your t-shirt within a
proportionally correct size framework. For an average sized t-shirt, the color
mode should be listed as CMYK. In terms of sizing, 12 x 16 inches should work beautifully, while the resolution should be set
to 300 pixels per inch.
select the Image Size window so you can design your t-shirt within a
proportionally correct size framework. For an average sized t-shirt, the color
mode should be listed as CMYK. In terms of sizing, 12 x 16 inches should work beautifully, while the resolution should be set
to 300 pixels per inch.
●
Upload your design or photo to the computer.
Upload your design or photo to the computer.
If you have sketched out or otherwise created your own
t-shirt design, go ahead and scan it into your computer, and insert the image
file into your computer, and then save it to your desktop.
t-shirt design, go ahead and scan it into your computer, and insert the image
file into your computer, and then save it to your desktop.
If you are not utilizing your own design, be certain to
choose a public domain image off Shutterstock, Thinkstock, or Flickr—all of
which offer millions of images for free. The picture or design you work with
should be at least 300 DPI to ensure successful printing.
choose a public domain image off Shutterstock, Thinkstock, or Flickr—all of
which offer millions of images for free. The picture or design you work with
should be at least 300 DPI to ensure successful printing.
●
Insert the image into the document.
Insert the image into the document.
Select File, and then Place. You will be prompted with a
window that allows you to search the computer to find your desired image. Once
you have found it, click on it to enlarge it, and then click Place. Your design
or image should now appear in the correct size in your document.
window that allows you to search the computer to find your desired image. Once
you have found it, click on it to enlarge it, and then click Place. Your design
or image should now appear in the correct size in your document.
●
Begin adding your effects.
Begin adding your effects.
Now that your design is uploaded into Photoshop, you can
start retouching it to achieve the full effect you want on your t-shirt. Double
click the layer of the image on the layer palette in order to bring up the
Layer Style menu.
start retouching it to achieve the full effect you want on your t-shirt. Double
click the layer of the image on the layer palette in order to bring up the
Layer Style menu.
This menu
allows you to work with creating all sorts of effects to enhance your design,
including gradients, borders, strokes, glows, and even shadows. You can play
around with the coloring of your image and background by selecting the image
and adjustments sections; it is entirely up to you.
allows you to work with creating all sorts of effects to enhance your design,
including gradients, borders, strokes, glows, and even shadows. You can play
around with the coloring of your image and background by selecting the image
and adjustments sections; it is entirely up to you.
●
Utilize the Pen tool.
Utilize the Pen tool.
The pen is the backbone of Photoshop. Click your way through
the image and fill out as much as or as little as you want; you can use this
tool to make your design as fully detailed—or as sparing and minimalist—as you
desire.
the image and fill out as much as or as little as you want; you can use this
tool to make your design as fully detailed—or as sparing and minimalist—as you
desire.
●
Put in your text.
Put in your text.
Sometimes you may want a simple design or illustration on
your t-shirt, but more often than not you will have some sort of caption, too.
You can create text for your shirt by choosing the “text” tool, which is
located on the toolbar to the left; next, move your cursor to where you want
your text to sit, and click there.
your t-shirt, but more often than not you will have some sort of caption, too.
You can create text for your shirt by choosing the “text” tool, which is
located on the toolbar to the left; next, move your cursor to where you want
your text to sit, and click there.
You can do all the same things with text in Photoshop that
you can in Word, including adjusting for color, highlighting, font type and
size, and more. Remember, you want your text to be legible and visible, so you
should adjust your colors accordingly.
you can in Word, including adjusting for color, highlighting, font type and
size, and more. Remember, you want your text to be legible and visible, so you
should adjust your colors accordingly.
You will
need to create an outline for your text, after which you will be unable to make
any edits. Be sure to double check for proper grammar and spelling, and that
you are completely satisfied with your results before moving on.
need to create an outline for your text, after which you will be unable to make
any edits. Be sure to double check for proper grammar and spelling, and that
you are completely satisfied with your results before moving on.
●
Craft an outline.
Craft an outline.
This is an especially important step for t-shirt designs.
The highest quality
screen printers will generally ask you to make
outlines for all the text you will use. It
is important that you have your text design finalized, for you cannot make any
changes once you do this.
The highest quality
screen printers will generally ask you to make
outlines for all the text you will use. It
is important that you have your text design finalized, for you cannot make any
changes once you do this.
In order
to make the outline, you must first choose the layer of the document that
contains the text. Scroll down the menu until you see Type, and then click
Convert to Shape
to make the outline, you must first choose the layer of the document that
contains the text. Scroll down the menu until you see Type, and then click
Convert to Shape
Conclusion
There are
so many different incredible reasons to create your own t-shirt design using
Photoshop. You can purchase t-shirts and other apparel in bulk to wear as uniforms, market your clubs and organizations,
show solidarity at all sorts of events—from family reunions to college sports
events—and even to give away as part of your company’s promotional tactics.
Generally speaking, the more shirts you order, the cheaper the cost per shirt.
so many different incredible reasons to create your own t-shirt design using
Photoshop. You can purchase t-shirts and other apparel in bulk to wear as uniforms, market your clubs and organizations,
show solidarity at all sorts of events—from family reunions to college sports
events—and even to give away as part of your company’s promotional tactics.
Generally speaking, the more shirts you order, the cheaper the cost per shirt.
The
possibilities are truly endless, and now, using Photoshop and your imagination,
you have the best tools at your disposal for creating your very own designs.
possibilities are truly endless, and now, using Photoshop and your imagination,
you have the best tools at your disposal for creating your very own designs.
Author: Ron Burg of Adair Group
