Making T-shirts with your own hands is a fun job, which gives vent to your creativity and earns money if you decide to sell them. Whether you want to print them yourself or send them to a professional screen printing service, you can still invent the design!
Steps
Method 1 of 5: Design the Drawing
Step 1. Think about what the drawing should represent
Maybe you want to promote your cleaning company, your rock band or your favorite team. Maybe you just intend to use a personal image. The purpose of the project will determine what kind of drawing to process.
- If you want to advertise a company, band, sports team or brand, you may need to focus on a logo. The Nike swoosh, for example, is a very simple but effective design. A design for a sports team could contain the team's colors or mascot. The one for a musical group could have an image of the band or a design that represents the style or genre of the band.
- If you want to make a t-shirt to show a personal motif or design, you will need to focus on the look of the t-shirt. Think about taking care of the originality of the figure and the combination of colors.
- Consider using a photo in your drawing. Use your own photo or one from the internet, as long as it is in the public domain. You can also purchase a series of images.
Step 2. Choose a color scheme
When designing a t-shirt, it is important to think about color contrasts. It means reflecting on how certain colors in the design will appear on a light or darker shirt. On the computer monitor, some shades look more vibrant in contrast to the background of a light or darker t-shirt than when printed.
- If you use light-colored shirts, avoid pastel colors such as yellow, light blue or light pink in your design. They will be visible, but difficult to read from a distance. If you are designing a t-shirt with a logo, you want to make sure that the logo is understandable from a distance!
- If you decide to use pastel colors, add an outline of a darker color than the lighter one to highlight the text and make it easier to read.
- Dark colored shirts go well with softer colors, such as pastels. However, be careful when using darker shades on darker-toned shirts, such as deep blue, burgundy or forest green. These colors may look great on your computer or on a design, but when you go to print them, sometimes the background of the fabric distorts the color of the design. As a result, they may appear darker or dull.
- If you decide to use Adobe Illustrator to create your design, the general color settings can help you choose the right color scheme.
Step 3. Add character to the drawing
After adding the colors to the design, there is a chance that it will look cute, but also a little flat and monotonous. To create more depth in a certain area of the design, add a hue that recalls the one below. In this way you will give a pinch of panache and character to the figure.
- If you intend to use a software that has a high editing and correction capability (for example Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, Gimp, Adobe Illustrator or Paint Shop Pro), you can take advantage of a standard image and radically transform it according to your needs.
- If necessary, you can resize a photo by creating a vector image with Inkscape.
Step 4. Balance the drawing
It means combining all the parts or elements to form a whole. How you do this depends on the composition of the design. Maybe it contains various small elements, such as stars, plants or animals, or it is quite large, with a main figure or image.
Think about how to give a coherent look, so that all the parts or elements are in perfect harmony with each other. A balanced image immediately draws attention rather than distracting it
Step 5. Determine where to place the design on the shirt
Ask yourself if it would be better for the image to be in the center, top left, or to wrap the shirt all around.
- If you are designing a t-shirt for a brand or company, a simple design in the center may be the most effective solution.
- Don't forget that you can also use the back of the shirt to include an advertising slogan (like "Just Do It"), or the lyrics of a song from the band you are making the shirt for.
Step 6. Complete the final sketch of the design
It is best to sketch your ideas before putting them on the t-shirt. Try out various designs and color combinations. Keep in mind the color contrast and the character to give to your creation. Make sure the image is balanced and consistent.
If in doubt, ask for a second opinion. Ask friends, family or colleagues which design and color scheme they prefer
Method 2 of 5: Process a Digital Image of the Design
Step 1. Use Adobe Photoshop to retouch the sketches on paper
However, this solution is likely not to work if the paper drawings are poor or have no clear lines. If the sketch is of high quality:
- Scan the sketches and acquire the images on your computer. Then, retouch them with Photoshop.
- Clean the lines. Play with the filters, colors, brightness, contrast, saturation or other effects you have available.
- Add lines, flourishes, sketches and other embellishments that could make the drawing more dynamic and balanced (if necessary).
- Make sure that the entire structure has internal consistency and that it maintains reasonable proportions, uniformity in style and harmony in the choice of colors.
Step 2. Use software to create the design
If you are not satisfied with the quality of your paper sketches, use a software to create line art in Photoshop.
If you have a graphics tablet, you can paint and draw directly with Adobe Photoshop or a similar program
Step 3. Add text to the design if you wish
Look for a font that matches the design, making sure it doesn't weigh it down. The font should marry with the image in the decorative part in order to create a balanced design.
- Think of the fonts of the most renowned brands or designs. The font should echo the company or the overall style of the brand. The Nike slogan "Just Do It", for example, is bold and simple, just like the simple and bold logo in the shape of a mustache. Conversely, the font used for a sports team or rock group can be more elaborate or ornate.
- Make sure you can apply the filters you use for drawing to the font as well. If you work with Photoshop layers, you will have to drag the layers of the character you have chosen under those of the effects to be given to the image.
- Use the free fonts offered by online sites like defont.com. You can also freely access the drawings made with the brush on brusheezy.com.
- See how fonts are added to your PC, in Illustrator or Photoshop if needed.
- If you want to be daring, you can make a font yourself.
Step 4. Create a prototype
The easiest way to do this is to print the design and transfer it to a regular T-shirt with an iron. However, if you want a quality design, you can hire a press service to professionally create a prototype.
Step 5. Make the shirt
For a smaller scale operation, you can continue ironing the design onto the t-shirt.
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If you intend to produce t-shirts on a large scale, try hiring a print service to customize the t-shirts to make them for you.
Design Your Own T Shirt Step 11
Method 3 of 5: Print the Design Using Screen Printing
Step 1. Get the supplies
To screen print your design in-house, you will need:
- A normal shirt.
- A 50ml bottle of degreaser (available at art and DIY stores).
- 1 liter of cold water.
- A large brush.
- 500 ml of photographic emulsion.
- A small bottle of sensitizer.
- A pack of screen printing ink.
- A squeegee squeegee or tray.
- A wooden stick.
- A hairdryer.
- A transparency.
- A screen printing frame.
- You can buy a screen printing frame at DIY stores, or you can make your own by purchasing a frame and mesh-shaped canvas. Spread the canvas over the frame and pinch the edges so that it is taut. For standard designs on a light T-shirt, a 110x195 canvas will work best. For refined designs with multiple colors, use a 156x230 canvas.
Step 2. Prepare the screen printing frame
Mix the degreaser and cold water. Dip the brush into the mixture and then sprinkle it on the frame.
- Make sure you pass the mixture on both sides of the frame. It is best to give light strokes, so be careful not to put too much mixture on the frame.
- Let the frame dry.
Step 3. Combine the emulsion and sensitizer
Take 20ml of water and pour it into the sensitizer bottle. Mix well, shaking for about one minute.
- Add the sensitizer to the emulsion.
- Use the wooden stick to mix the sensitizer and the emulsion.
- The color of the emulsion should change from blue to green. Small bubbles should also form inside.
- Put the lid back on, without closing the emulsion, and place it in a dark area or room for an hour. Then check if the small bubbles have disappeared.
- If they have not disappeared after an hour, let the emulsion sit for another hour until they are gone.
Step 4. Apply the emulsion to the frame
In a dimly lit or dark red room, drop a line of photo emulsion onto the frame and use a squeegee to spread it well.
- The emulsion will go through the frame, so be sure to use the spatula on both sides.
- You can also use a tray to apply the emulsion to the frame. To do this, place the latter on a clean cloth and tilt it slightly away from you. Starting with the tray at the bottom of the frame, carefully pour the emulsion as you move upward.
- Let the emulsion dry in a completely dark room for about twenty minutes. Use a hair dryer to speed up drying times.
Step 5. Put the transparency on the frame, face down
At this point you will be ready to imprint the image on the emulsion. To do this, place the frame on a flat surface, put the polish face down and a piece of glass on top of it so it doesn't move.
Step 6. Imprint the design into the emulsion
A 500 watt bulb will imprint the transparency image into the emulsion in approximately fifteen minutes.
- The exact times of this procedure depend on the light and the emulsion you use.
- The specific instructions for the light you need should be contained in the emulsion package.
Step 7. Rinse the frame
Leave the frame submerged in a thin layer of water for about two minutes. Then, rinse off any residue with a hose or in the shower.
Step 8. Put waterproof tape around the bottom edge of the frame
The reverse will have to go face down and that's the one that will come into contact with the shirt, while the side where the hoop is is the one where you can use the ink.
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To make sure the frame doesn't spread all the way around the frame, use waterproof tape to prevent it from reaching the edges where the frame extends.
Design Your Own T Shirt Step 19
Step 9. Lay the t-shirt on a flat surface
There must be no creases. Place the hoop over the shirt where you want to transfer the design. Place it, aligning the frame and the design.
- To make sure the shirt doesn't shift or crease, you could clip it to rigid cardboard. Also, you will be able to move it more easily to a safe place for the color to dry.
- If you can, ask a friend to keep the hoop steady and facing down while you apply the paint.
Step 10. Spread a spoonful of silkscreen paint over the top of the frame
Using the squeegee, cover the frame by spreading a line of color from top to bottom.
- In reality, the canvas is quite dense, so this coat is like a coat of primer.
- Apply very light pressure, so that the color does not go through the frame.
Step 11. Smear with the spatula
Once the hoop is soaked, you are ready to transfer the design to the shirt.
- Hold the spatula in both hands, at a 45 ° angle, to distribute the pressure evenly. If you can, ask a friend to hold him still.
- Drag the ink up and down over the design along the soaked hoop.
Step 12. Let the ink dry
Turn on a hairdryer and distribute the heat evenly for a few minutes.
- Let the ink dry on the shirt before using the next hoop when you are going to add more layers of different colors.
- If you use the screen printing technique correctly and let the color dry, you can easily wash your t-shirt in the washing machine.
Step 13. Rinse the loom once you have finished the shirts
Use cold water and scrub with a sponge to get rid of the ink. Let the frame air dry.
Method 4 of 5: Create the Design Using a Stencil
Step 1. Get the supplies
To transfer the design to a t-shirt using a stencil, you will need:
- A black and white print of your design. This is important because it will be easier to trace on the shirt.
- A piece of sticky paper or a transparency.
- A utility knife or exacto knife.
- A normal shirt.
- A piece of cardboard large enough to cover the front surface of the t-shirt.
Step 2. Attach the design to a piece of sticky paper
This is the wrapping used to cover book covers. It has a normal side and a sticky side that peels off. You will need to attach the design to the side that has the adhesive to be removed, so that the design remains visible from the front of the adhesive paper, which is the non-sticky side.
You can also use a transparency or clear sheet. Attach it to the print of the design with masking tape
Step 3. Use a sharp knife to cut out the black parts of the design
Lay the joined sheets on a flat surface, such as a table.
Draw the lines with the utility knife or an exacto knife. Keep in mind that the black areas you are going to cut out are the parts of the design that will be filled with color
Step 4. Peel the sticky part off the sheet
Remove the sticky part, along with the cut out pattern, from the sheet underneath. Place the sticky side of the stencil on the shirt without creating creases.
If you are using a transparency or clear sheet instead of sticky paper, apply it to the shirt with duct tape
Step 5. Slip a card inside the shirt
By doing this, you will separate the front and back of the shirt and prevent the color from flowing from the front to the back.
Step 6. Dip a swab into the fabric paint
Pass the color only on the empty part of the transparency (the one you cut out with the cutter).
Let the color dry. Touch the colored part with your finger to check if it is dry. If your finger gets dirty, it means it is still wet
Step 7. Remove the gloss from the shirt as soon as the color is dry
You have just created a t-shirt with the stencil technique.
You can use the same stencil to make multiple shirts
Method 5 of 5: Return the Design Using Bleach
Step 1. Use bleach safely
Bleaching is a fun, easy, and inexpensive way if you want to create a design on a t-shirt, especially ones that contain simple text. However, remember that bleach is toxic, so keep it out of the reach of children.
- Always protect your eyes, clothing, and any open wounds so they don't come in contact with bleach.
- If you have sensitive skin, you should wear thin rubber gloves while using the bleach.
Step 2. Get the supplies
You will need:
- Household bleach.
- A synthetic bristle brush (don't spend too much money, because you'll have to dip it in bleach!).
- A glass or ceramic bowl.
- A white sheet or cloth.
- White chalk.
- A piece of cardboard.
- A dark colored cotton blend t-shirt.
- You can try this method on a light-colored t-shirt, but the result will be more visible on darker colors.
Step 3. Lay the shirt on a flat surface
Then slip the piece of cardboard inside; it will act as a support as you draw your design, and will prevent the bleach from penetrating, reaching the back of the t-shirt.
Step 4. Use white chalk to trace the design on the shirt
You can write your motto, the name of the band you love or the logo of your favorite brand.
Don't worry about chalk stains. The lines will go away once you have completed the whole process
Step 5. Fold the shirt sideways under the piece of cardboard
Secure the t-shirt to the cardboard with rubber bands or small clips. This way, you will prevent it from slipping as you proceed to bleaching.
Step 6. Prepare the bleach
Pour a few cups of bleach into the glass or ceramic bowl. Use a cloth to wipe off any drops that fall. It is better that the bleach does not come into contact with the clothes.
Step 7. Dip the brush in the bleach
Drag it to the edge of the bowl to keep it from dripping.
Step 8. From regular brush strokes, tracing the lines of the drawing traced with chalk
To create smoother lines, dip the brush every 5 cm. The fabric absorbs the bleach quickly, so proceed quickly, but with a steady hand.
Step 9. Finish tracing the design
Then take a break to allow the bleach to react on the fabric.
Look at the shirt. If you see uneven spots or light areas, go over the brush again after dipping it in the bleach again, and spread it over the design
Step 10. Leave the shirt in the sun for at least an hour
You will allow the bleach to evaporate and lighten the presence of chlorine.
Depending on the cotton content inside the t-shirt, the color of the design will fluctuate between dark red, orange, pink and even white
Step 11. Rinse and hand wash the shirt
Hang it up so it dries. Check out the new permanent design, made with bleach.
Wash the t-shirt with other items of similar colors. The chalk lines should disappear, leaving only the bleach pattern
Advice
- Keep in mind that digital printing is the easiest way to make many t-shirts in one go. Screen printing, stenciling, and bleaching are great methods if you plan to make a few T-shirts.
- Once you have the digital image of your design, you can always ask a professional screen printing company to do the printing for you.
- When using an image from the internet, print it on a transferable sheet of paper for a better quality result.
