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