Design Tips for Custom T-Shirts: How to Make Your Logo Pop

Creating a custom t-shirt is about more than just slapping a logo on cotton—it’s a chance to make a statement, build your brand, and create something people actually want to wear.

At Pacific Printing, we help clients all over Southeast Alaska turn ideas into awesome gear. Whether it’s for a company, event, sports team, or nonprofit, these 7 design tips will help your t-shirt stand out.

1. Start With a Strong Logo or Concept

Before anything else, make sure your logo is clear, high-resolution, and scalable. Vector files (like .AI, .EPS, or properly set-up .PDFs) are best. If you’re unsure, we’ll help convert your design.

If you don’t have a logo yet, consider working with our design team to create one that:

• Looks good on both light and dark fabric
• Scales well for different items (shirts, hats, hoodies)
• Has a simple, bold shape that’s easily recognizable

2. Keep It Simple

Busy designs with tons of detail can get lost when printed on fabric—especially after a few washes.

Tips:

• Use no more than 2–3 fonts
• Limit colors to 1–3 per design for better clarity and affordability
• Use clean lines and strong contrast

Remember, less is often more in apparel design.

3. Choose the Right Shirt Color

The base color of your shirt affects how your design pops.

Examples:

• Light ink colors work best on dark shirts
• Dark ink colors are more visible on light shirts
• Neon or bright tones can be eye-catching, but need to contrast well with the fabric

We recommend mockups for each option so you can visualize before printing.

4. Don’t Forget Placement

Where the design sits matters just as much as what it looks like.

Popular placement options:

• Center chest – Most common for logos or large designs
• Left chest – Great for subtle branding
• Back center – Ideal for event shirts or sponsor logos
• Sleeves – Adds visual interest, especially for short sleeve tees

We’ll help you map out the best layout based on the size and shape of your graphic.

5. Match Your Style to Your Audience

Designing shirts for a youth sports team? Go bold and playful. Creating gear for a fishing lodge? Stick with outdoorsy tones and clean layouts.

Make sure your style speaks to the people who will wear the shirt. Ask yourself:

• What colors do they love?
• What type of humor or tone fits?
• Would you wear it?

6. Ask for a Proof Before Printing

At Pacific Printing, we always provide a proof before going to press. This is your chance to catch:

• Spelling errors
• Off-center graphics
• Wrong ink colors
• Sizing or placement issues

Seeing it on-screen—or better yet, as a physical sample—gives you confidence in the final result.

7. Go Local, Get It Right

When you print locally, you skip the back-and-forth and actually see what you’re ordering. No confusing templates or automated chatbots.

We walk you through:

• Apparel type and fit
• Fabric feel
• Real color samples
• Placement options

And because we’re based in Ketchikan, you don’t have to worry about shipping delays or re-orders taking weeks.

Let’s Make a Shirt People Will Love

Whether it’s one shirt or 1,000, your design deserves to look great. With Pacific Printing, you get more than ink on fabric—you get local expertise, custom design help, and gear that makes a statement.

Start your design today:
Contact Us today to get started!