10 T-Shirt Design Tips for Better Results

Everyone loves a great T-shirt design. But what makes for an impressive design that people want to wear again and again? Although some of the greatest designs look simple, even the simplest ones must avoid common mistakes to achieve greatness.

Here are 10 essential T-shirt design tips based on 25 years of experience in the custom printing industry.

1. Set a Modest Print Size

Many designers default to “standard” print size—which is often near the maximum—but bigger isn’t always better.

Considerations:

Print purpose: Think about whether the shirt is for fashion, function, or promo.
Garment style: Hoodies, tank tops, and youth sizes all have unique print limitations.
Comfort: Large prints reduce breathability, especially on lightweight fabrics.
Design shape: Square or circular designs often look better when slightly smaller.

Pro Tip: Print your design at home and tape it to a shirt to preview the look and scale.

2. Get the Placement Right

Placement is about where the design sits—not just the location, but the exact measurement.

Common Placement Issues:

The belly print mistake: Standard full front should start ~4 inches below the collar.
Asymmetrical designs should be visually centered, not mathematically centered.

Pro Tip: Let the art team adjust placement visually when needed. They’ll proof it before print.

3. Focus on Fonts and Typography

Fonts matter more than people realize. They communicate tone, personality, and clarity.

Typography Rules:

Bold your most important words and place them at the top.
Don’t use more than three different fonts per design.
Avoid Comic Sans—always.
Be intentional about line breaks and spacing.

Pro Tip: Lay text over simple backgrounds for better readability and contrast.

4. Take Care With Composition

Good composition ensures that elements are arranged in a balanced and aesthetically pleasing way.

Common Mistakes:

Elements spaced too far apart or too close together.
Visual weight not distributed evenly.
Type reading out of order.

Pro Tip: Take a break and return with fresh eyes. It helps identify flaws and improves layout.

5. Ensure Image Quality

Low-resolution images are the #1 culprit behind poor-quality prints.

Best Practices:

Use 200–300 DPI images at full size.
Avoid web images—they’re usually 72 DPI.
Prefer original files over resized screenshots.

Pro Tip: Submit vector files (.AI, .SVG, .PDF, .EPS) whenever possible for perfect scaling.

6. Be Careful With Colors

The number of colors affects cost, readability, and aesthetic.

Guidelines:

Screen printing: Stick to 1–4 colors for best results and budget.
DTG printing: Ideal for full color, gradients, or photos.
Too many colors = visual overload.

Pro Tip: Learn the basics of color theory to choose complementary tones and enhance harmony.

7. Consider the Contrast

Contrast is how clearly your design stands out from the shirt.

Watch Out For:

Navy on black, light gray on sport gray—too little contrast.
High contrast (e.g., black on white) ensures readability.

Pro Tip: On dark shirts, light colors pop forward; on light shirts, dark colors do. Use that knowledge to position your key design elements effectively.

8. Invert Negative Images When Needed

Light ink on dark garments often requires image inversion.

Signs You Need Inversion:

Skulls should appear white, not black.
Line art on dark tees should be white fill instead of white outline.

Pro Tip: Stick to light or dark garments, not a mix. It simplifies design decisions and avoids multiple file versions.

9. Avoid Over-Complexity

A shirt has limited space and limited attention time. Keep the message and image clear.

Simplicity Guidelines:

Stick to one key concept.
Remove clutter or competing elements.
Avoid overcrowding with text, shapes, or busy backgrounds.

Pro Tip: Zoom out on your design or view from a distance to ensure clarity at first glance.

10. Add Borders, Masks, and Edges

Photos and artwork often need framing to look polished on a shirt.

Enhancements:

Add a thin white/black border to isolate a photo.
Use shaped masks to break away from boxy photo crops.
Create dynamic effects by breaking the border—let the subject (e.g., head or arm) pop out.

Pro Tip: Refer to magazine covers for inspiration—many feature subjects breaking the frame for added visual impact.

Final Thought: Design With Confidence

Great designs start with awareness. These 10 tips will help you avoid common pitfalls and create T-shirts that people genuinely want to wear. Whether you’re designing merch, a company tee, or just something fun, take the time to apply these principles—and then head to the Design Studio to bring your creation to life.

Ready to design? Let’s make it great.