Project 4 : Design a T-shirt and logo
04/01/2009 11:21
Project instructions: Design a T-shirt (front/back) and Logo
In this project you will demonstrate the ability to follow specific instructions for a particular image delivery format while creating an attractive, marketable product. This project is designed to meet specifications for the Cafepress.com online market place. Cafepress.com offers users the ability to sell their own designs on various products without upfront costs, having to maintain stock, handle shipping or other billing related issues.
Logo:
- Create a unique logo design for branding purposes.
- The logo image file must measure within 800 px x 800 px @200 dpi
- The file must be saved as Project_4_logo.psd.
Create a design that “defines you” and what you stand for. Take advantage of shapes, downloaded brushes and anything else that will help you create what you envision. Remember that inappropriate font use can create contradicting messages or even inconsistency in your design. The logo is your “face” on your products, remember that. The logo should reflect your style and your business/theme and you must consider scalability for the design. That means that the design should be usable when very small as well as very large. When small, as when used for letterheads, it should still be legible and all details should be visible.
T-shirt Design:
- Design a T-shirt design for the front and back of your T-shirt. The designs for the back may be different from the front. The design is intended for sale on Cafepress.com and must fit within the dimensions specified on their site.
- T-shirt front/back – 2000 px x 2000 px @200 dpi
- Must be saved as a png file if you intend you submit it for print. For class you must save your designs in the psd file format with all layers intact. Save the file as Tshirt_Design.psd.
To start the process, open a new document with the specified dimensions, 2000 px x 2000 px @200 dpi. This will be the canvas area for your creation. The image does not have to fill the entire canvas but consider that the location of the image relative to the four corners of your canvas will be reflected when the image is printed on a shirt.
The shirt must not simply consist of a slogan (text only) but must have an image as its focal point. You may create any type of image you want but consider your theme and that the goal is that people will be interested in buying a shirt such as what you have designed.
Again, the design must be saved as a layered psd file with all layers intact and name it Tshirt_Design.psd.
When you are done creating your design I want you to add your logo to the design, without losing the overall “look”. Place the logo in another layer above the design. You will have to flatten your logo design by choosing "Layer" and "flatten image". DO NOT CLOSE THIS DOCUMENT AND SAVE IT OR YOU WILL LOSE ALL YOUR LAYERS. The purpose of flattening is to be able to move the entire design over. Now you can drag the logo into your T-shirt design. Close the Logo design document without saving.
T-shirt Simulation:
When you are done creating your design with the logo I want you to simulate how the shirt will look in production. For that you will need the Tshirt.psd template you downloaded in class. Then make a smaller copy of this design and make it fit within the guidelines of the template. those are the vertical and horizontal light blue lines you will see. That means that you will create a visual rendition of the final product which you will need to print to show in class. Don't forget to use a blending mode to match the design to the T-shirt color background.
You will need to flatten your Tshirt design with the logo before you can transfer it onto the Tshirt simulation. At that point you will also discover that you will need to resize your designs to fit onto the lower resolution T-shirt simulation. Use the blue guidelines for that purpose while using a blending mode such as "multiply" to match the color of your t-shirt.
Once you've finished this process, save this file as “Project_4_Tshirt.psd” and print it on regular letter sized paper.
When you are done this is what you should bring to class as your submission for Project 4:
- Printout of your logo design, Project_4_logo.psd.
- Printouts of your design for the T-shirt, Tshirt_design.psd.
- Printout of the design on the virtual T-shirt, Project_4_Tshirt.psd, front and back.
- CD with Project_4_logo.psd, Tshirt_design.psd, Project_4_Tshirt.psd.
The CD and sleeve/jewel case must be labeled in the usual fashion.
I realize that these instructions appear lengthy and quite daunting but that is only because I am covering detail that you already know how to cover in your workflow.
If any of the instructions are unclear or you feel I missed something vital to your project development, feel free to call me or email me for clarification.