Design Dos and Don’ts for Custom Apparel

Not all designs play nice with fabric—and sometimes, what looks amazing on a screen doesn’t quite translate to a t-shirt. Whether you’re dreaming up your own design or working with us to bring it to life, here’s how to make sure your art hits the mark (and not the laundry bin).

✅ DO: Keep It Bold and Clear

Apparel works best with strong, readable designs. That means:

• Bold lines

• Clear shapes

• Simple, solid fonts

Think eye-catching, not eye-squinting.

Pro tip: If your design includes text, try viewing it from six feet away. If you can’t read it, chances are your audience can’t either.

🚫 DON’T: Use Tiny, Delicate Text

Super small lettering or extra-thin fonts might disappear or look fuzzy once printed—especially on textured fabric or darker colors. For DTF printing, we can capture detail well, but even magic has its limits.

For speciality HTV (glitter, puff, glow-in-the-dark, etc.)? Even bigger is better. We may ask to tweak the design to simplify or enlarge your design.

✅ DO: Choose Contrast Wisely

Dark design on a dark shirt = a disappearing act. Light ink on a light shirt? Same deal.

High contrast is key:

• Light design on dark apparel

• Dark design on light apparel

Bonus: We can help you mock it up to make sure it pops!

🚫 DON’T: Go Overly Detailed for Certain Effects

Trying to add glitter, puff, or glow-in-the-dark? Heck yeah, we love that! But those specialty HTV effects work best with chunky, bold designs—not intricate artwork or teeny text.

If you're going full sparkle, keep it simple and let the shimmer do the talking.

✅ DO: Ask What Works Best for Your Idea

We’re here for that! If you have a design in mind but aren’t sure if it’ll print well, we’ll help you tweak it so it looks great on the final product—whether we’re using DTF, HTV, embroidery, or another method.

🚫 DON’T: Assume One Size Fits All (Design-Wise)

A layout that works on a youth XS tee won’t necessarily look right on an adult 3XL hoodie. We size artwork differently depending on the garment and placement—and we’ll always make sure it feels balanced.

Quick Recap:

DO:

• Use bold, clean fonts and lines

• Make sure your design contrasts with your shirt color

• Keep specialty effects simple

• Ask us if you're unsure about your design

  
  

DON’T:

• Use ultra-fine text or overly detailed art

• Match light with light or dark with dark

• Assume one design size works for all garment sizes

Design doesn’t have to be complicated—just smart. And we’re here to help every step of the way.