This article is writte by Lee Patterson is a custom t-shirt printing specialist that works with many different companies to create promotional products. He has held positions with many top labels and brands, consulting on their artwork design process. 

Custom t-shirt printing is not only a great business idea but can also be very fulfilling on a personal level as well. Whether you’re designing promotional products, gifts or even items for your own use, custom t-shirts have a variety of uses.

They are easy to manufacture, hold great value/novelty, and do not have to be extremely expenses to produce. However, if you want to do things right, there are some secrets of the trade that you should know. Keep these 8 tips in mind whenever you are designing a custom t-shirt and you’ll ensure that there is strength and quality in your design.

#1 – Always Use High Quality Products –

There are a lot of different t-shirt manufacturers out there. They are located from Canada to China and all offer differing quality, price and cuts. But when designing a custom printed t-shirt you want to ensure you have the top of the line when it comes to plain t-shirts. Always use a 100% cotton t-shirt when possible, and a 50/50 blend in cases you can’t.

There are several brands to choose from including American Apparel, Fruit of the Loom and Gildan. Depending on the feel you want from the t-shirt, you can choose from light to heavy weights. When decided which style of shirt to get consider your budget, purpose for design and the end user of the shirt. This will ensure you have the best possible quality for the job you’re trying to do.

#2– Get Your Colours Right –

When designing artwork there are several things you need to consider. Some obvious ones include the size and style of the design, the message you’re trying to get across and even the colours you use. When deciding on your colour scheme, however, be sure you know which colour mode you should design in. Most computer software works by default with RGB and CMYK colour modes.

However, to ensure full accuracy of colours you will want to incorporate PMS colours. PMS stands for Pantone Matching System and is a system of matching colours for use in manufacturing and printing. It ensures the closest match to the colours you intended with your artwork. Ask your designer or t-shirt printers more about how this works if you’re unclear.