T-Shirt Printing Faux Pas You Don’t Need.
When it comes to top quality t-shirt printing, Fifth Column have decades of experience. In truth, it was pretty much our raison d’etre when we started out – custom tees were and remain our thing (although lots of other customisation services have been added over the years). As a consequence of those origins, we’re pretty good at getting custom shirts right. However, it’s all too easy to get them wrong. Those exasperating faux pas can creep in and ruin an otherwise sensational custom tee concept. So, we thought it might be helpful to take a look at some common t shirt printing mistakes easily avoided with a little know-how. Because you don’t need to make a mess of things with printed tees. Not if you know what you’re doing.
Errors can be easily avoided
Below, we’ll explore a number of t-shirt ‘design’ mistakes that can be sidestepped with a bit of foresight. Before that, we’ll address some of the errors which relate to other areas of custom shirt production. That’s to say, general issues crossing over into brand and the blank garments. All of which is intended to help you achieve a stunning result. When we talk about t shirt printing fails, it’s easy to forget that creating great t shirts can be an enjoyable and rewarding endeavour. So long as you dodge the pitfalls.
Easily avoided t-shirt printing mistakes
General Tee Printing Mistakes.
Firstly, let’s go with some general missteps that can be avoided in order to make sure your run of shirts don’t immediately ending up in the recycle pile. Yep, those t shirt prints that fall at the first hurdle. We’ll put more focus on design elements once we get the basics in the bag.
1.Failure to Prepare.
Now, this might seem an obvious place to start. But you’d be surprised how many people jump into a print run without thinking through all the various aspects of the project. What’s that old phrase? Ah yes, that’s it. He (or she) who fails to prepare prepares to fail. As with many things in life, taking a little time to consider before you commit usually stands you in good stead. Especially true when it comes to orders for customised clothing. Be sure of your basics. Set your budget limits and get as much detail as possible into the plan.
2. Misunderstanding your Market.
Why are you printing t shirts? That might sound a simple question. But it’s not. Some examples? Promotional tees for a one-off event. Stock to sell before and after music gigs. Or reselling online. They’re completely different markets. But they’re all custom printed t shirts. Even outfitting your workforce with company branded shirts needs a proper understanding of who’s going to wear the garments. Before you print, get a real grip on what will make your customer feel good. Those customers are dictated by your market.
3. Garment and Concept Mismatches.
Once you’ve settled on your basic principles, choosing a plain t-shirt to print presents another problem. By which we mean there is a seemingly endless range of possibilities. From our perspective as garment decorators that’s all good. Ever increasing choice of blank garments is great. But it’s often very confusing for customers. And finding the right shirt for your requirements is important. That is, the ideal combination of garment style, material and cost. If in doubt, talk to your printers and ask their advice.
4. Legal Fouls.
Now, not all t shirt printing mistakes may be instantly visible. However, one of those unseen errors can be disastrous. Namely, using protected material without permission of the copyright holder. Not only can infringing copyright undermine your brand, it’s liable to land you in legal hot water. Obviously, this is less of a concern when you’re printing your own logo or proprietorial artwork. But you need to exercise a good deal of caution in other circumstances. And remember, it’s not just logos and graphics. Even wording can be subject to ownership. If unsure, check. And then check again.
5. Spelling Errors.
Even the most experienced of us can make a spelling mistake. Or be guilty of a typo. Whether you’re a skilled wordsmith or gifted graphics guy, there is no immunity. It’s as easy as falling off a logo (see what we did there). And there’s nothing worse than seeing that gaff printed on hundreds, maybe thousands of t shirts. So take steps against it before you sign off your artwork. For example, get others to proof for you. Oh, and be wary of relying on automated spell checks. They don’t detect everything and won’t necessarily pick up contextual issues.
T-shirt printing mistakes can be costly
T Shirt Design Disasters.
6. Overly Complex Designs.
When it comes to bulk screen print projects, one of the most common t shirt printing mistakes is making the design too complicated. Especially with regard to the numbers of colours. For one thing, screen printing t shirts is limited to 12 colours on white fabric and 11 on dark. Secondly, each additional colour adds to cost because it needs a separate screen. Besides these practical factors, getting too fussy with design often decreases impact. Think about some of the best-selling tees from the past. In terms of aesthetics, many are beautifully clean. As they say, less is more. A symbol, a simple sketch, or a few words can be incredibly effective.
7. Poor Images.
In the normal course of events, the artwork you want to adorn your t-shirt will end up as an electronic image. That’s how the process works. Whether it be a company emblem, a stunning drawing or straightforward text. All of them need to be converted to a computer file in order to be printed on cotton. Not surprisingly, this image needs to be crisp and clear. Otherwise, the quality of your printed tee will be compromised. High resolution is the order of day. Pixilated pictures and low grade graphics are out.
8. Font Fails.
In the modern era, there is absolutely no excuse for using a boring or inappropriate font. Not when there are so many. If you do a quick search, you’ll discover a vast array of them. Quite a few are free. And plenty more are relatively inexpensive. Now, some will wonder why a font matters. Or observe that they don’t really register them. Truth is, the choice of font slides below the radar when it’s right. And going unnoticed is actually what you want. Obviously, this is only applicable where text is, or forms part of the artwork. But the point is that, when part of the design, the font used is important for any t shirt printing project.
9. Location Losers.
Okay, let’s roll two t shirt printing mistakes into one. Firstly, where you print will affect the visibility and impact of what’s being printed. For instance, centre chest is generally deemed to be reliable for placement. Mind you, don’t dismiss other locations. On the back or along the arm with long sleeve shirts can take your printed tee to the next level. Above all, make sure to match your print location to your concept and target market. Secondly, don’t assume your artwork will look the same on a shirt as it does on a computer mock-up. A sample print may seem an unnecessary expense. But it can save you a lot in the long run.
Choose the right t-shirt printers
10. Printing Company Calamities.
Last and far from least, your choice of printing partner is potentially one of the biggest t shirt printing mistakes you can make. A blessing when it works well. Or a curse if you get it wrong. Don’t worry, we’re going to resist the urge to shamelessly self-promote Fifth Column. Mainly because it’s too important a point to dilute with a blatant grab for your business. Also, it’s quite personal insofar as only you know exactly what will satisfy your needs. That said, there are some general rules. Whoever provides your t shirt printing service should understand your targets and be professional in helping achieve them. And have the capacity, knowledge and skill to deliver what you want. Plus be transparent about pricing and honest with timescales.
Well, that’s about it for our look at t shirt printing mistakes and how some of the worst ones are easily avoided. Just a few tips intended to help you get the best possible result when stunning ink on quality cotton is your objective.