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.
Hi, I'm NeverBen! I'm completely new to this industry and need some major assistance. I'm a newly hired artist working for a T-shirt screenprinting company and promotional products. (A one man show deal, jack of all trades) Unfortunately I have no senior mentor or prior experience. I've been just getting by on my creativity. We have Corel Draw X3 & Photoshop CS2.
NOW MY QUESTIONS: (I hope this is the right spot to post them)
1.What resources are needed in an Art Dept?
2. What Corel Draw "Plug-ins" would you recommend?
3. What Photoshop "Plug-ins" would you recommend?
4. What clipart packages are worth the money? Or where can I find free good quality clipart?
5. Are there any books you would recommend on T-shirt designs and creating imprints for promotional products?
6. Any tutorials about different manual separation techniques? (ex. 4 color process, photo real, sepia, etc.)
7. Any common design rules for T-shirt designs?
8. How do i achieve different looks and styles?
(This is just the tip of the iceberg, unfortunately) These last questions I didn't know where to put.
9. Art proofs? What is needed on them or what is most commonly found on them?
10. Art briefs???? What is needed on them or what is most commonly found on them?
11. Customer questionnaire?? What to say to ask a customer when designing their shirt? (besides "what do you want?" LOL)
12. What hardware or tech is needed in an art department?
I'm familiar with manual multi-color separations in Corel Draw. everything I do here is manual and takes forever. I have no formula. I eye everything but I have no time for trial and error methods. Luck me, I normally get good results the first time around.
I would like to automate this art department as much as possible. I'm trying to find the fastest and quickest procedure since it is just me. If there is a thread about any of these topics please point me in the right direction. This site is so confusing and hard to navigate in. (I've been on here for hours searching for answers) Thanks for all your support in advance.
Last edited by NeverBen; June 4th, 2009 at 07:01 PM.
Reason: Incoherent sentence, yeah
1.What resources are needed in an Art Dept?
A computer that can handle current graphic editing software, a printer and a graphic designer
2. What Corel Draw "Plug-ins" would you recommend? 3. What Photoshop "Plug-ins" would you recommend?
You dont really need 'plug-ins'.. When i hear photosho plugins i think 'outdated, very common in the 90's, ALIEN, FIRE, LIGHTNING effects'. There are good plug-ins that are functional but are usually free. Hire a good artist and you wont need any.
4. What clipart packages are worth the money? Or where can I find free good quality clipart?
depends on what kinda artwork you are trying to create. there are good clipart out there in most every category. some is free, some costs money.
5. Are there any books you would recommend on T-shirt designs and creating imprints for promotional products?
There are books on graphic design and creativity but i think that is mainly for your graphic artist. If you want good inspiration check out flickr and search "fresh t shirts" "t shirts". and youll get a thousand responses. also search 'inspiration' in the search forum here and youll find some good stuff.
6. Any tutorials about different manual separation techniques? (ex. 4 color process, photo real, sepia, etc.) Jimmy Heartcore's videos on Vimeo . these are great videos tutorials for both spot and process separation.
7. Any common design rules for T-shirt designs?
know which medium you're designing for.
8. How do i achieve different looks and styles? just getting used to software and following different tutorials. There are follow along tutorials for most any style you're looking for.
for more specific answers, listen to Spot_Worker's advice and research more on what sorta art jobs you're looking to do. good luck.
"9. Art proofs? What is needed on them or what is most commonly found on them?"
When I worked for an apparel company, for silk screen we used "spec sheets". Usually this would show the design on a shirt in a box on the right. This was to show the printer where the location was. We would also list the location above the design and shirt. On the left we would list the ink colors. Under that we would list the shirt colors.
I'm sure others here can help you out more than me and probably have more experience. You can contact me via AIM if you want and I'll try and give you the info I can from my experience. Hope it all works out for you.
"12. What hardware or tech is needed in an art department?"
I'm bias cause I'm a Mac user. I would tell you to get a Mac. But the less expensive route go with a new fast PC and hope it never crashes or gets a virus.
Nicely stated Brian. My question was to narrow down the type of art needed in the short term. It does not take long to throw a lot of cash at art. Get the core art needed, then expand with the demand of the people. Brain I've seen more of Action for like photo shop and Corel that automate some things to help.
#8 Goto the mall and look at what the kids are wearing. Then look for some shirts like that. Don't copy the shirt, but draw the style from it.
.....and always push what you know higher and enjoy the ride.
Spot_Worker: Mainly my lack of knowledge on color separation styles. (I guess that is what you call them.) I know 4 Color process and Spot color. I just discovered today there are others like Simulated, Index, Hexachrome (CMYK, Orange & Green), Black&White, and Sepiatone (Old Photo look). Also different effects like Edge, Distress, and Artistic Impressions (ex. Watercolor). How many separations and effects are there?
brianmot: Thanks for trying to address each question.
1. So I need a new computer, I have the software (I think, Photoshop & Corel Draw), I have myself. Alright, I'm ready then...
2&3. Good free functional plug-ins, like what? I did see some on advanceartist/t-shirt website but have to discuss these with my boss.
4. Customers want noramlly either "Highend" graphic look, Biker type, school oriented, beach wear, or University look. But of course they all want it to be unique.
5. I am the graphic artist and will check "inspiration" out. I do search google for inspiration sometimes.
6. Thanks, I'll check it out.
7. There are different mediums?!? What are they?
AV1611: Thanks for the encouragement and offer!
9. We do have something like that for the printer but I'm referring to what you show the customer for approval. I think you all call them art comps.
The company I work for uses HP, though they say they don't have a preference, so I try to stick with that brand.
Spot_Worker: Good thinking. Problem is I rarely go out, period. Mainly because I work multiple jobs or try to educate myself doing independent research for this stuff like this and others or attend school. When I do the only thing I see are, gaudy rap/hip-hop shirts or just your basic non-print casuals...oh and my stuff. I guess I'm doing a good job. All my fellow co-workers always say that they can't go anywhere without seeing one of my designs. They also say that people get all ecstatic when they found out they help create them. I may have vast creativity but I need to improve my techniques and quality.
.....I always push myself to the extreme and do intend to enjoy this roller coaster!
Last edited by NeverBen; June 6th, 2009 at 11:35 AM.
Reason: insert joke!
Building an ART DEPT and then some... 
