Blog / A Beginner’s Guide to Creating Your Own Designs for Custom Shirts

A Beginner’s Guide to Creating Your Own Designs for Custom Shirts

Nov 8, 2024

If you’re ready to take your crafting to the next level by creating your own custom designs for shirts, you’re in the right place! Whether you want to make unique gifts, start a small business, or just flex your creativity, this guide will walk you through how to start designing using popular platforms like Cricut Design Space, Canva, Silhouette Studio, and Procreate.

We'll also cover common pitfalls, such as why you should avoid using programs like Microsoft Paint or Word, and offer tips on how Jiffy can simplify your crafting process by providing high-quality transfers and quick delivery.

Why Choose Professional Design Software?

To create vibrant, professional-quality designs for t-shirts or other apparel, it’s essential to use software that is designed for precision and versatility. Here’s a look at some popular design platforms to get you started:

1. Canva

Canva is a fantastic free tool for creating digital designs, even if you have no prior design experience. While it wasn’t specifically designed for crafting, its drag-and-drop features and vast template library make it a popular choice for beginner designers.

What You Can Do: Create eye-catching text and graphic designs with ease. Export your designs as PNG or SVG files, depending on whether you’re printing or cutting them.
Tip: If you’re using Jiffy’s DTF (Direct to Film) transfers, Canva is perfect for making complex and colorful designs that print flawlessly.

Where to Find It:
Canva is available on Canva.com and as a mobile app (iOS and Android). It’s also downloadable for desktop.

Getting Started:
To use Canva, start by signing up with an email address, Google, or Facebook account.

Cost:
Canva offers a free plan with thousands of templates, graphics, and fonts. Canva Pro, the premium version, is available for $12.99/month and offers advanced features like background removal, premium templates, and unlimited storage.

How to Create Shirt Designs in Canva:

Select a Template: From the home page, search for “t-shirt design” or “shirt mockup” to browse templates specifically for apparel. Choose one that suits your style, or start with a blank canvas.
Customize Your Design: Use Canva’s drag-and-drop editor to add text, icons, shapes, and images. Canva offers a variety of free fonts and graphics, or you can upload your own images if you have something specific in mind.
Export Your Design: Once your design is ready, download it by clicking on “Share” > “Download.” Select PNG or SVG for the highest quality.

Bonus Tips:
If you’re using a print-on-demand service, make sure to export your design with a transparent background, which is a Pro feature, for better results.

2. Cricut Design Space

Cricut Design Space is excellent for beginners and those using a Cricut cutting machine. It allows you to upload images, create text-based designs, and easily convert your creations into files for vinyl and paper cutting crafts, or to order high-quality Jiffy transfers and Stickers.

What You Can Do: Create custom shapes, import SVG files, and use text tools to personalize designs.
Tip: Jiffy offers a wide range of heat transfers that pair perfectly with your Cricut projects, allowing you to apply your designs smoothly and efficiently.

Where to Find It:
Cricut Design Space is available at Design.Cricut.com or as a desktop and mobile app. It’s the exclusive software for Cricut cutting machines.

Getting Started:
Sign up for an account to access Cricut Design Space. You’ll need a Cricut machine to cut your designs, so this option is best for those who own or plan to purchase one.

Cost:
Design Space itself is free to use, but Cricut Access (optional) offers a premium library of fonts and images for $9.99/month.

How to Create Shirt Designs in Cricut Design Space:

Choose a New Project: Open the Design Space and click on “New Project” to start a blank canvas.
Add Text or Images: Use the left toolbar to add text or images to your canvas. Cricut provides a range of fonts and images that can be resized and customized. You can also upload your own designs by clicking “Upload.”
Edit and Arrange: Design Space allows you to align, group, and customize layers for your design. Make sure to mirror the design if you’ll be using iron-on or HTV (heat-transfer vinyl).
Prepare for Cutting: When ready, click “Make It,” and follow prompts to send the design to your Cricut machine. Choose the appropriate material settings based on your project.

3. Silhouette Studio

Silhouette Studio works similarly to Cricut Design Space but is specifically for Silhouette cutting machines. It allows you to create custom designs and cut them out of various materials, including vinyl, HTV (heat transfer vinyl), and fabric.

What You Can Do: Use the built-in design tools or upload your own vector files to create designs ready for heat pressing.
Tip: With Jiffy’s fast delivery and a variety of transfer options, you can quickly get high-quality custom transfers for pressing your Silhouette-made designs on shirts.
Where to Find It:
Silhouette Studio is the free software that accompanies Silhouette cutting machines. Download it from SilhouetteAmerica.com for Mac or PC.

Getting Started:
Sign up for a Silhouette account, download the software, and you’re ready to go.

Cost:
The free version of Silhouette Studio is very robust, but there are paid upgrades: Designer Edition ($49.99) and Business Edition ($99.99). These offer advanced tools, including SVG file import, which can be useful if you want to create intricate designs.

How to Create Shirt Designs in Silhouette Studio:

Open a New Project: Open Silhouette Studio and start a new project.
Design Your Layout: Use the tools on the left toolbar to create shapes, add text, or import images. Silhouette Studio allows you to manipulate and combine elements to customize your shirt design.
Adjust Sizing and Positioning: Set your dimensions to match the size of your shirt or design space. Silhouette Studio provides guidelines to help you center and arrange elements for better composition.
Prepare for Cutting: Once your design is ready, send it to your Silhouette machine by selecting “Send” at the top. Be sure to mirror your design if using heat-transfer vinyl.

Bonus Tips:
Upgrade to Designer Edition if you want to use SVG files from other design platforms. Also, save your project as a template for future use.

4. Procreate

Procreate is an advanced tool for iPad users who enjoy drawing their own designs. While it has a learning curve, it’s a great option for anyone wanting to create hand-drawn illustrations or lettering.

What You Can Do: Hand-draw designs, export as PNG or SVG for cutting, or send them directly to print as transfers for heat pressing.
Tip: Jiffy offers full-color DTF transfers that will make your Procreate artwork pop when applied to shirts.

Where to Find It:
Procreate is a digital illustration app available exclusively on iPad. Find it in the App Store.

Getting Started:
Download Procreate and install it on your iPad. Procreate requires an Apple Pencil for best results, as it’s geared toward hand-drawn designs.

Cost:
Procreate is a one-time purchase of $12.99. There are no premium plans, and all updates are free.

How to Create Shirt Designs in Procreate:

Create a New Canvas: Open Procreate and select a new canvas. For shirt designs, create a high-resolution canvas (e.g., 3000x3000 pixels at 300 DPI).
Draw Your Design: Use Procreate’s vast brush library to draw your design from scratch. You can add layers for different parts of your design, making it easier to edit or rearrange elements.
Add Text: Procreate also has text capabilities, allowing you to add words or phrases to your design. Customize the font and position it as needed.
Export Your Design: When done, export the design by tapping the wrench icon > “Share” > “PNG.” Use a transparent background to make it easier to apply to shirts.

Bonus Tips:
Procreate is perfect for intricate, hand-drawn designs. If you plan to create multiple variations of a design, save your work in layers so you can easily tweak colors or details.

Methods to Avoid

While it may be tempting to use familiar programs like Microsoft Paint or Microsoft Word for creating designs when they are just simple text, these platforms are not ideal for crafting and can lead to poor results when printing transfers or vinyl. Here’s why:

Microsoft Paint

Lack of Precision: Paint doesn't handle vector files, so your design will often appear pixelated or blurry when scaled up for printing.
No Cut Lines: Paint doesn’t create proper cut files, meaning you won’t be able to easily cut designs using a cutting machine.

Result: Using Paint often results in low-quality prints that may appear jagged or unclear when transferred to a shirt.

Microsoft Word

Not a Design Tool: Word is designed for documents, not graphics. It doesn’t provide the right tools for creating detailed or scalable designs, even if your design is purely text-based.
Resolution Issues: Images or text inserted into a Word doc may lose quality when printed, leading to dull, pixelated transfers.

Result: Your design may not look sharp when printed and pressed onto a shirt, leading to disappointing results and the need to start again using one of the recommended methods.

Need Inspiration?
Jiffy Designs has millions of designs to inspire and energize your creative process! Whether you're looking for something seasonal, trendy, or custom to your style, our vast library has plenty to browse and spark new ideas. No matter the theme or occasion, you're sure to find the perfect design to fuel your crafting projects. Start exploring today and bring your visions to life with ease!

Tips to Create High-Quality Designs for Transfers

When designing your custom shirts, here are a few additional tips to ensure your designs turn out beautifully:

1. Start with High-Resolution Images

Always work with images that are at least 300 dpi to ensure that your print doesn’t appear pixelated. Canva, Procreate, Cricut, and Silhouette Studio all support high-res images.

2. Use Vector Files for Cutting

For designs you’ll cut using a Cricut or Silhouette machine, save your files in vector formats like SVG. This ensures that your machine can precisely cut the lines for vinyl or HTV without blurring.

3. Print-Ready Designs for Transfers

When preparing designs for DTF, screen printing, or sublimation transfers, try to make sure your files are PNG or JPEG with transparent backgrounds, especially if you're using Jiffy to order custom transfers.

4. Design for the Right Transfer Type

Different types of transfers (vinyl, DTF, sublimation) have different requirements. For example:

HTV is perfect for single-color designs, and you’ll need a vector file.
DTF is great for full-color designs with intricate details, perfect for custom artwork from Canva or Procreate.

How Jiffy Can Help

At Jiffy, we know how important it is for your designs to come out exactly as you imagine them. That’s why we offer a wide range of high-quality transfers, including:

DTF Transfers for full-color, detailed designs.
Sublimation Transfers ideal for white or light-colored polyester fabrics and hard goods with a special coating, such as mugs, keychains, or tumblers.
Glitter Transfers – These transfers add a sparkly, textured finish, perfect for making designs pop on apparel with a shimmering effect.
Thermochromic Transfers – Temperature-sensitive transfers that change color when exposed to heat, offering a fun, interactive design feature.
Puff Transfers – Transfers that expand and create a raised, 3D texture when heat is applied, giving designs a unique look and feel.
Holographic Transfers – Eye-catching transfers with a reflective, multi-dimensional finish, ideal for adding a futuristic or metallic sheen to your designs.
Glow-in-the-Dark Transfers – Perfect for novelty items, these transfers absorb light and glow in the dark, adding an exciting element to designs, especially for kids' apparel or night-time events.
Pearl Transfers – Provide a soft, pearlescent sheen to designs, offering a subtle, elegant finish that’s perfect for fashion-forward projects.
Spangles for sparkling, shiny impressions that WOW!

With super-fast delivery and no minimums on blank apparel or transfers, you can experiment and perfect your custom tshirts without waiting weeks for your materials to arrive. Whether you're making one shirt or a whole collection, Jiffy has the supplies and support you need to make your projects come to life.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re using a platform with built-in templates like Canva, a cutting machine software like Cricut Design Space or Silhouette Studio, or a drawing tool like Procreate, each of these applications offers unique strengths for creating eye-catching shirt designs. Choose the platform that best fits your workflow and design goals, and you’ll be creating professional-quality designs in no time!

Once your artwork is ready, visit jiffy.com to order your apparel and prints and have them on your doorstep in a jiffy!

Happy crafting!