Get advice to help you create your t-shirt graphics. Discuss t-shirt design software, special effect techniques, or other topics related to creating a t-shirt design on your computer. If you'd rather hire a graphic designer to do the work for you, please post in our Referrals and Recommendations section here.
Im new to illustrator (and to mac) and ive got a quick question. Ill apologize in advance for the simplicity of it...
So I drew a star using the star shape then intersected it with lines, creating a nautical star.
Next I joined it all together, making it one object.
Now I am trying to colour it, alternating black & red, but when I use the paint bucket it always does the whole thing! What gives!
Also, if I could get some recommended forums it would be appreciated.
S.
I'm totally not an expert on illustrator but I *think* you can select a line and then use the color selector tool (or propeties) to change the color of that line.
i don't ever really use the paint bucket in illustrator. select your object and choose a color from your color pallet using the "eye dropper" instead. or you can apply spot colors from your swatch library using your direct select tool, also.
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"Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others." Groucho Marx
Hmm Ill see what I can do with that.
What is more common for use when designing shirts, Photoshop or Illustrator?
Ive been looking at photoshop today & the graphics that ive seen are pretty impressive!
But the learning curve on both is pretty steep, so I think I should stick to one for the time being.... But which one!?
Im leaning towards photoshop, but what does everyone think? What do you guys use?
S.
What is more common for use when designing shirts, Photoshop or Illustrator?
Overall, Photoshop is probably more common, but Illustrator is definitely more common amongst good designers (most people on Threadless use Illustrator for example).
How are you printing your t-shirt designs? If you're screenprinting illustrator is definitely better (though both programs will work), if you're heat pressing it probably doesn't make that much difference.
You can make good designs in both though, so if you're more comfortable with Photoshop ultimately that may have more impact on your work than using a better program you're not proficient with could.
Speaking from my experience as a newbie in both programs (and boy are you right about the steep learning curves for both, ESPECIALLY Illustrator) it is indeed VERY difficult to do a lot of things in Illustrator that are a snap in Photoshop. Many pro designers use both programs, by the way, but the reason Illustrator is preferred for Tshirt design is that it is a vector program, which produces graphics that can be easily re-sized without losing resolution, unlike raster graphics (Photoshop is raster) - Illustrator is more printer-friendly overall, I believe.
This doesn't mean, however, that it is necessarily the best idea for you to focus solely - or even mostly - on Illustrator, even if you're specialising in Tshirt design (as I am, also).
Firstly, it depends what sort/style of designs you are interested in doing. Next, as stated, you can do many things in Photoshop far more easily than in Illustrator - then it is a simple matter to use LiveTrace in Illustrator to convert your Photoshop raster graphic to vector.
I have found the LiveTrace function to be excellent, but apparently it does not always work perfectly for converting very complex designs. Anyway, I would recommend you check out some tutes online and see what sort of effects both programs can produce, and how easily. I'd be surprised if you concluded that Illustrator was the sole way to go. The more I experience both programs, the more I prefer working in PShop and converting to vector in Illustrator, but that is partly because of the types of designs I'm interested in producing at the moment, and partly because PhotoShop is undoubtedly a faster learn for many effects. I guess we're talking line of least resistance here, but if your main aim is to actually get some T designs done and out there, it makes sense IMO to go with the program that is less problematic for you right now and will assist you to produce the designs you seek for minimal pain and time.
Great replies gang, much appreciated!
I was thinking that it should be possible to make something in pshop, then transfer it to illy afterwards. Im aware of the raster/vector issue, but plan to design everything at the proper size.
I DO (for now) just want to get some designs out there. Text based to start, then move on to simple graphics & on & on... Ive been lurking at photoshopcafe.com & if you havent been there you should check the tutorials. Amazing! The guys has won all kinds of awards for very realistic art, done solely in pshop.
I also went out last night & picked up the One on One book. I need to stick with just one for now so pshop it is. A lot of the tools are the same, such as the pen, so gaining some proficiency there will definately cross over...
S.
Illustrator Info... 
