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A logo that looks sharp on a business card or website header does not automatically look great on a t-shirt. Apparel is a fundamentally different canvas. The substrate stretches, folds, and wrinkles. The decoration methods have physical limitations that screens and paper do not. And the viewing distance is measured in feet, not inches.
The good news is that logos designed with apparel in mind tend to look better everywhere else too. Clean, bold, versatile logos are timeless for a reason. This guide covers what you need to know to design a logo that translates beautifully to custom apparel, or adapt an existing logo to work across print methods.
The file you hand to your printer determines the ceiling of your print quality. Here is what to provide, ranked from best to acceptable.
Each printing and embroidery method handles artwork differently. A logo optimized for screen printing may need adjustments for embroidery, and vice versa.
Screen printing uses one screen per ink color. Each color is a separate pass through the press. This means:
Digital methods handle complexity with ease:
Embroidery has the most constraints:
Where you place your logo and how large you make it significantly affects the final look.
Color decisions affect cost, appearance, and versatility.
The garment itself is a color in your design. A white logo on a navy tee is a two-element design using only one ink color. Smart designers choose blank colors that complement their logo and reduce the number of inks needed.
Your logo needs to work on light and dark backgrounds. Many logos need both a full-color version and a single-color version (white for dark shirts, dark for light shirts). If your logo only looks good on white, you are limiting half your wardrobe options.
Do not say "blue." Specify Pantone 2945 C. Precise color callouts ensure the navy on your shirts matches the navy on your business cards, your website, and your signage. Your printer can match PMS colors in screen printing ink and embroidery thread.
A logo with hairline details, 8-point type, and subtle gradients will not survive the translation to thread or ink on fabric. Always consider the physical medium.
A beautiful full-color logo designed on a white artboard may look completely different on a heather gray or black shirt. Always mock up your design on the actual blank color you plan to use.
Every reputable printer provides a digital proof or mockup before production. Review it carefully. Check placement, size, colors, and spelling. This is your last chance to catch issues before hundreds of pieces are produced.
Stick to one or two typefaces maximum. On apparel, especially at small sizes like left-chest, type needs to be clean and legible. Decorative or script fonts can become illegible at smaller print sizes.
The best apparel designs are ones people actually want to wear. A shirt plastered with a massive logo, phone number, website URL, address, and tagline is a billboard, not wearable apparel. Keep it clean. Let the logo speak for itself.
A great logo on the right blank, decorated with the right method, at the right size and placement, is one of the most powerful branding tools any business can have. Take the time to get your files right and your design optimized, and the results will speak for themselves.
French Press Custom helps businesses, brands, and organizations bring their logos to life on custom apparel every day. Whether you need screen printing, embroidery, DTG, or DTF, our art department will review your files, recommend the best approach, and ensure your logo looks its absolute best.
Get a free quote or call (562) 758-5110 to get started.
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