How to Design Your Own Neon T-Shirt

When designing T-shirts, a good way to make a statement is by choosing a neon color. Neon is very bright and makes the wearer stand out in a crowd. Designing a neon T-shirt is much like designing a standard t-shirt. With crafting materials like T-shirt transfer paper, make your own design that will appear on the back or front of the neon shirt. There are a few things to keep in mind when designing a neon shirt. Any lettering or objects must be visible. Depending on the type of transfer paper used, virtually any color can appear in a design on a neon shirt.

Things You'll Need

• Inkjet printer
• T-shirt transfer paper
• Scissors
• Iron

Instructions

1. Select a graphics program to make your design. Only use black on light T-shirt transfer paper, as the neon of the shirt will distort any other color. If you are using dark T-shirt transfer paper, use light or dark colors.

2. Choose colors that complement the neon. For example, neon purple is complimentary to neon green, and neon blue is complimentary to neon orange. Keep in mind that any white space left on dark T-shirt transfer paper will appear white when ironed onto the shirt.

3. Flip your design horizontally so that it is backward if you are using light T-shirt transfer paper. Dark T-shirt transfer paper does not require you to flip your design.

4. Insert the T-shirt transfer paper into your inkjet printer and hit go to "File" > "Print" to print your design. Make sure you position the transfer paper in the paper tray according to the manufacturer's directions. After printing, let the transfer sit for a few minutes to fully dry.

5. Cut the design out about 1/8 to 1/4 inches from the edges of the design if you are using light T-shirt transfer paper. Any white left on light T-shirt transfer paper will appear clear when ironed. On dark T-shirt transfer paper, cut to the exact edges of the design or around individual lettering.

6. Place the printed design on the desired area of the T-shirt. Place light T-shirt transfers face down and dark T-shirt transfers face up.

7. Follow the manufacturer's directions when ironing and transferring the design onto your shirt. Iron on a flat, hard surface.

Tips & Warnings

• Decorate your finished T-shirt transfer with puffy paint or squeeze paint. Or, glue on flat-back gems with fabric glue over the desired areas.

• Use stencils and paint instead of T-shirt transfer paper. Select a neon fabric paint, lay the stencil in the area desired and tape it down with masking tape. Then, paint over the stencil with a thin layer of paint. Keep adding paint layers until you cover the stencil and then remove the stencil and let dry.

References

• The Herald Square Hotel: Making T-Shirts with Your Computer