5 Things To Remember When Customizing Your T-Shirt

If money was no object and I was asked to choose between an expensive designer shirt and a custom T-shirt, which one do you think I would pick?

Custom T-shirt. All day, any day.

"You're crazy, man. Why the hell will you go for that funny-looking Chewbacca shirt when you can go OG with white Supremes, hypebeast style? "

"Well, it's not my style. And I really like Star Wars, so there. To each his own, buddy."

I like showing my personality through the clothes I wear. If only I have the power to magically print any design I can think of on a whim, I'd be the happiest guy. Who wouldn't want that power? I can do funny memes on Mondays and go Super Saiyan on Tuesdays. Imagine a whole week of your favorite childhood icons, on your T-shirt. Sweet. 

If you're thinking of making your own DIY shirt, here are five things to remember before you begin.

#1 Screenprint or Transfer?

Decades ago, there was only one choice for professionally printing a design into a T-shirt: via Screenprinting. Fast forward to today, we now have Direct to Garment, Sublimation, CAD Cut or Vinyl, and Transfer paper methods. For DIY, the two most popular ones are Screenprint and Transfer paper as they do not require expensive equipment and can be relatively cheap to produce. So before you go ahead and buy your materials, decide on which of these two you are more comfortable with.

#2 Price

Since this is DIY, you may want to keep costs down so you can make more shirts even on a tight budget. Generally, you'll need more supplies and equipment if you go the Screenprint route. Still, a lot of folks prefer this method as it allows for more immersion and skill that gives them a satisfying feeling. The Transfer method, on the other hand, makes things easier and can be a better choice for speed and lower costs if you just want to make a quick custom T-shirt.

#3 Design

The sky's the limit here. I'd just suggest that you be mindful of the size and dimensions so you can expect how the final design will look on the shirt.

#4 Shirt Color

Again, it's up to you. But it is advisable to have some contrast between the shirt's color and the design. You would want the design to pop by adding some contrast with the background. For example, a yellow star against a dark shirt.

#5 Type of Fabric

Personally, I like a good mix of cotton and polyester on my custom T-shirts. Preferably heavier on the cotton side. It feels lighter in general and gives it a nice comfy look. Just make sure to take into consideration how the paint will bleed into the fabric depending on the method you choose.