How to Design a Free Logo for a Shirt
When store-bought T-shirts are too generic or you have an idea that you simply want to wear on your sleeve, designing your own T-shirt logos may be a way to enhance your wardrobe. Logos may be pictures or words that represent a company's image or brand. Everything from sports teams to grocery stores to elementary schools has a logo. There's no need to hire a graphic design firm or expensive marketing company to make your logo; you can design one yourself with a bit of brainstorming and research, neither of which costs anything but time and effort.
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Instructions
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Think about the kind of logo you'd like for your shirt. The Logo Design Source cites three categories: the icon (instantly recognizable), the word mark (a logo made out of letters) and a combo (image plus text). Use a sketch pad and colored markers to doodle what comes into your head. This may give you an idea of what you're most comfortable with and interested in.
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Review other logo examples available on the Internet, especially ones cited for being poorly designed, then brainstorm how you would fix them. Compare them to your own logo and determine whether there's room for improvement.
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Consider the space available on the shirt. Determine whether you'll be placing the logo on the back, on the chest pocket, across the entire front, on the sleeve, or on the back of the neck...and size your logo as appropriate.
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Choose colors for the logo, keeping in mind the color of the shirt you intend to print on. For example, if your logo is mostly dark blue, it may be hard to see on a black or navy T-shirt. Also keep in mind colors in terms of theme. Choosing red, white and blue for your logo may instantly bring patriotism to mind, even if it's not your intention. In the same vein, choosing red and green may make people think of Christmas, even if it has nothing to do with your logo.
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Give your logo to others, unaffiliated with your idea or business, and ask for opinions. Often, a fresh pair of eyes can help you notice fixable spots that may not be obvious to you when you've been working on it for long periods of time.
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Determine how your logo will be printed. If you're printing it yourself at home on decal paper, you'll need to make sure to design the logo with transparency, which requires graphics programs like Microsoft Paint or Adobe Photoshop. If you'll be uploading it to a printer, ask for design specifications and tips on color matching.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit T-shirt image by Antonio Oquias from Fotolia.com
