Tshirt printing has come a long way. You are no longer limited to buying only pre-designed t-shirts. With the option of customisation today, it is common to order for tailor-made tshirt printing in Singapore. If you are keen to design your design for professional t-shirt printing, then this is for you. Also, popularly known as print-on-demand, you can create your designs and then have them printed on t-shirts and even open your store to sell them.
Preparing Your Artwork for Professional T-Shirt Printing
1.   Think & Brainstorm Design Ideas
If you are planning to print t-shirts with your design, you need to start by putting on the creative cap. Here are the steps to create your own design ideas for t shirt printing.
- Find the purpose or reason for creating the design. Some of the reasons are - own-designed t-shirts help create a fashion statement; express your individuality; raise awareness for socio-economic issues; celebrate special occasions, or for giveaways as branded merchandise.
- Get acquainted with your target audience. Undertake market research to what know what your target audience wants. For example, if your target audience is music lovers, create designs that align with their sensitivity. If you target audience is the sporting community, then your t-shirt design should involve elements that connect with sports.
- Look for sources of creative inspiration. You can look online to find interesting ideas. For example, platforms like Pinterest are a good place to start for ideas. You can also take inspiration by visiting art galleries, museums, and exhibitions. Nature is another place to take inspiration from. Nature-themed designs are aesthetically beautiful and have a timeless charm. Another place to look for ideas is design magazines. Quotations by famous philosophers and celebrities can also provide inspirational ideas.
2. Pick the Right T-Shirt
The next important thing is to focus on picking the right fabric for your design. What features should to consider when picking the t-shirt fabric? Consider the make, composition, weight, price, brand, and customisation options. The bottom line is the comfort of your audience. Also, focus on the style quotient and eco-friendliness of the fabric.. Consider different styles and t-shirt templates to pick the right one.
3. Consider the Printing Options
Choosing the right t-shirt printing method is crucial because it will have the largest impact on the final design and how the t-shirt will look. Here are some techniques to consider -
- Direct-to-garment (DTG) printing is a good choice for coloured and detailed graphics. Just make sure the print is on a transparent backdrop. Since the print is optimally absorbed by fibres, the print is long-lasting. Cotton is the right choice for DTG. In this case, a printer is used for spraying the ink onto the garment. Multiple colours can be used in layers, and there will be no rise in price.
- Screen printing is another choice where ink is layered on the fabric surface. Each colour comes as a separate layer. Hence, fewer colours are used in graphics. More the colours, higher the price.
- Sublimation is the third process to choose. In the world of print-on-demand techniques, sublimation is one of the best choices. In this technique, the ink is embedded into the fabric. For tshirt printing in Sigagore, the best choice for fabric is 100% polyester. Printed fabrics of this type are best-suited for making sportswear, activewear, etc.
- Direct-to-film (DTF) printing is another technique for t shirt printing. In this method, a heat press is used for transferring the graphics onto the fabric. The technique is suitable for fabrics of different types, like fleece, cotton, nylon, etc. This is a much-preferred method for sharp designs with vivid colours. It is a great option for detailed and minute designs, photos, illustrations, and multi-coloured artwork.
4. Creating the Design
These are the steps to create the design for tshirt printing.
- Work on the visuals because that is the core of your design. From using photos, illustrations, logos, and graphics to make the design impactful.Â
- Choose the placement of the artwork. Experiment with different positions - front, back, sleeves, sides, and more. Use mockup features to have a real-life look of the shirt before deciding. The bottom line is to find the right balance between visual look and visibility.
- Use colours to create the magic. Remember, colours add an extra edge for customers when they make a purchasing decision. 92.6% of customers base their buying decisions on the colour or the visual appeal of the product. Choose colours that have a positive impact on customer moods and emotions. If it is for a brand, ensure to use branded colours. Choose from vibrant colours like neon, fiery colours like orange and yellow. Subtle colours like neutral and pastel shades can make for classic t-shirts.
- Fonts are important. Fonts can be used for branding and establishing a visual hierarchy.
5. Partner With a Trusted T-shirt Printing in Singapore
Finally, select a printer partner that is known for quality printing, fast services, and a choice of t-shirt options. Choose printers that use state-of-the-art technology for the best output and have an established track record.