When it comes to creating a design layout for a hat, hoodie or T-shirt, there are some basic concepts it’s important to keep in mind to create a design that’s pleasing to the eye, catches your attention and draws you in. One of these concepts is focal point.
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According to Erik Cartmill, president of Cornerstone Impressions, Fort Worth, Texas, his business operates on the following philosophy: “Where there’s a Bill, there’s a way.”
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“But I’m not an artist!” the screen printer said on the phone for the second time. He had agreed to do some work for his best customer, with a last-minute request for artwork help.
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Shrouded in mystery, this month’s featured design, “Veiled Woman,” harkens back to a time when religion was paramount and unyielding.
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It can be difficult to find a faster way to finish work for clients. Last-minute jobs and other non-creative tasks tend to compete for a screen printer’s time.
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Jumping out of the water for this month’s featured design is the fish-centric “Sunrise” by Maryland-based Charm City Screen Print.
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Using stock art is a great way to create layouts quickly and easily, whether you’re a newcomer with minimal art experience or a seasoned pro. It’s also a great option for customers on a budget who don’t want to spend a lot of money for custom artwork.
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This month’s featured design, “Old Smolder,” helms from Huntington Beach’s California Shirtsmiths.
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The On Design: Road Trip feature about Route 66 in the Impressions March issue reminded me of my screen-printing experiences in Albuquerque, N.M., many years ago.
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Cruising into spring, this month’s featured design captures the historic spirit of one of the country’s most famous highways: Route 66.
Full StoryIf you’re fortunate enough to have customers that request highly detailed prints, it can be important to consider how you can offer them. There’s a reason that few printers can handle such retail-quality graphics: Most don’t want to be uncomfortable.
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Want to know one of the simplest ways to take your screen-printing shop to the next level? Hiring a professional artist on a freelance basis to help you with difficult jobs can help you expand your capabilities while minimizing labor expenses.
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Quickly designing a graphic is much different than developing a brand-defining logo for a client. When your customer asks, “Can you put this image on a tee, hat or promotional item?” you should understand the breadth of the question.
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Specialty inks have been used for many decades. When I was a kid, I had a vintage Mickey Mouse tee embellished with puff ink, which introduced a great touch to a nostalgic design.
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The holiday season is upon us. Instead of discussing the potentially hottest items that shops will be selling, let’s delve into more relatable information for your business.
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Many printers cringe when they think of having to redraw something for a customer, but it doesn’t have to mean a lot of frustration and anxiety.
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In 2018, we’ve seen some design trends emerge that will carry through into 2019. They have appeared in fashion, home décor and gifts.
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I’ve been creating artwork for the garment-decorating industry since 1986 and I’ve earned every one of my gray hairs because of it. Artwork lies at the heart of all decorating processes in our industry. Without it, we’d be selling blanks.
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It can be scary to realize a print’s underbase is showing when it shouldn’t be. Many times, a design’s top colors should completely cover the underbase, but a variety of things can happen to cause the white print on a dark garment to spread slightly and peek out from beneath the edges of the top colors.
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Use this method for generating unique halftones to deliver art that sets you apart.
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If you are a custom screen printer, you likely will receive numerous artwork sources that need to be converted into workable designs.
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For many screen printers, the thought of drawing a design isn’t appealing. In fact, a lot of experienced artists either don’t draw well or wish their drawing skills were better.
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With their unique properties, decorating fitness garments offers screen printers challenges above and beyond those of a regular T-shirt. To solve these challenges, it’s important to first define a “fitness” garment and its qualities compared to those of a “typical” apparel choice.
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The hoodie is a common staple among customers, especially those ordering custom athletic team apparel. The comfort, warmth and printability of this style have made it one of the most sought-after items for fans, competitors and coaches.
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Owning a heat press has never been more exciting than it is today due to the wide variety of heat-
applied graphics available.
One of the most important factors when it comes to designing for T-shirts is knowing exactly what the customer wants up front. Before you can even pick up a pencil or grab that pen and tablet, you already should have a good idea of what you want to design, as well as what the customer expects.
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As my most recent birthday approached, I took some time to think about what I would receive as gifts. Socks were my first thought, followed by undershirts.
When a customer asks you for a custom gallon of sky blue ink, what color are they really asking for?
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The interaction between needle, thread and garment can seem like a cruel joke to novice embroiderers. The image that is viewed on the screen is almost never the same as what is sewn on the embroidery machine.
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Follow these tips to manipulate the main element in a design to better showcase it.
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We are asked a lot of questions when it comes to artwork and screen printing, but the most popular subject still is black shirts.
One super-easy trick to add some interest to any design you’re working on is to do a clipping mask using Adobe Photoshop.
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Artists who work for screen printers (or screen printers who also double as artists) must handle several tasks that are more complex than the basics, such as copying artwork and adjusting images for production.
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