I have never created a design to be used on a T-shirt. Met a potential client recently who is an artist and he expressed an interest in drawing designs that would be scanned and converted to graphics for use on t-shirts. I gave him my business card and suggested when he is ready to give me a call.
Now, I need to know what the possibilities are and what kind of graphic I need to create that he can use. I suspect there is more than one method of creating printed t-shirts so what would be the most flexible type of file for me to create for him?
I am pretty sure he also has no idea of how the final t-shirt would be printed. Any information and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Hi.
Pretty broad as far as answers will come I suppose but maybe posterize his design down to a 4 and 6 color version.
Making colors slightly overlap one another.Give it to him in CorelDraw format and recommend he get a copy of Corel? ..Also EPS.
I bet the T-Shirts pros will chime in with the best answers.
~John
RunFlaCruiser said:Also EPS.
I have been looking at t-shirt printing websites, it seems a lot of them will accept cdr files but I would create eps so the client could use it with anyone. I don't think I will actually be dealing with the printer, just creating the design. It will most likely be hand drawn with pencil, charcoal or pen. I would scan from there and create a vector graphic if at all possible.
So thanks for your recommendations, I will inform the client (if we go forward with this project, he may have just been dreaming) that he should get a printer that will print one-of to start with so he knows the quality. Also, direct to garment sounds like a good idea.
Thanks Stefan, I usually prefer to use local people where you can go to their shop and deal directly with them.
niagaramouse said:he should get a printer that will print one-of to start with so he knows the quality
Most printers will do a 'first article' for approval before going on with the job.
Thank you Spock (oops, Graewerld)
Well, for starter, r we talking about full color image or vector image? Coz T-shirt printing (silkscreen print) won't look very happy if its full color print. T-shirt print is basically print with PVC colors and in full tone (printing of that kind have serious limitations with raster). It can be done in full color but, depending on printing way (there r several), depends final product. It can vary from great looking (but short life - washes down) to rubbish that missed entire point of what image is supposed to show (CMYK print for silkscreen print).
Try to keep it simple, several colors in full tone, with smooth lines. Ofc, if its possible...