| Artists and graphic designers spend hours, even days, | | | | pencil tool or the more accurate pen tool for tight, crisp |
| on creating the perfect look for companies. Whether it | | | | lines. There is also the type tool to easily insert copy, |
| is an advertisement, packaging, a logo, or even a t-shirt, | | | | as well as the shapes tool to apply interesting shapes |
| a lot of talent and a lot more time is put into the | | | | to your design. Both Corel Draw and Adobe Illustrator |
| process of effective design. Thus, the mere thought of | | | | tutorials are available on numerous websites on the |
| constructing a practical, yet provocative, design for a | | | | internet, with basic drawing to complex rendering to |
| company, personal, or promotional t-shirt can seem | | | | make understanding these programs exponentially |
| daunting. What programs should I use? How do I learn | | | | easier. |
| how to use those programs? What if I absolutely | | | | Basic Design Principles |
| cannot draw? These question, though perhaps | | | | Now that you know how to run the program you are |
| discouraging, all have simple answers that can turn a | | | | using, how do you know what kind of design you want |
| design-rookie into a compelling computer artist who | | | | to create for your t-shirt? Keeping basic design |
| can apply their skills to their own t-shirt designs! | | | | principles, that every accomplished designer uses, in |
| Where To Start? | | | | mind can help you in copious ways. First, ask yourself, |
| The first thing any designer must consider is the media | | | | "What is the message of my t-shirt?" Is it a corporate |
| he is going to use. With screen printing, it is important to | | | | bank t-shirt or is it a sorority fundraiser t-shirt? Is it |
| use computer programs for high-quality designs on | | | | targeted for children or for adults? T-shirts for children |
| your t-shirt. Popular programs used by graphic | | | | can be brighter with fun fonts and shapes. On the |
| designers include: Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW, Corel | | | | other hand, if your target audience is adults, try to keep |
| Paint Shop Pro, and Adobe Photoshop. Corel products | | | | the colors limited and the font easier to read. Colors |
| are significantly less expensive, however, most | | | | that are dependable and inoffensive include blue, black, |
| designers prefer the superior capability of Adobe | | | | and white. If you want your design to catch eyes in an |
| products. However, both companies offer free trials at | | | | anything but subtle way, go for red, orange, or even |
| their websites if you only need to use it for a one-time | | | | yellow. Also, consider if you want the shirt to be more |
| design! If you absolutely do not consider yourself | | | | functional or more fashionable. Last, keep in mind your |
| computer savvy, some companies, like custom t-shirts, | | | | demographic (children, adults, teenagers, there is a |
| offers design-consultations. These consultations offer | | | | whole range of groups of people to target your shirt |
| customers the chance to get a personalized, original | | | | to.) Remember that design is only limited to your |
| design without the customer having to think creatively. | | | | imagination and that these are not rules, but mere |
| How Do I Use These Programs? | | | | suggestions to steer you in the right direction! Your |
| The basics of computer drawing programs are not | | | | options are unlimited! |
| hard to learn. To draw in Illustrator, you can use the | | | | |