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