Create a T-Shirt Design

• With the silk-screen method, it's best to start with a one-color design. The design will be executed in black on white so that it is easily transferred to a film positive, but any color ink may be used for the printing of the shirt. The design can be created by working in India ink with pen or brush on white paper or board. Markers are fine, too. Once the ink is dry, scan the finished drawing into an image-editing program like Adobe Photoshop. Print the drawing on a piece of transparent velum. This is called a film positive and can be used to create a silk screen using the photo-emulsion stencil method.
  
  With the ink-jet printing method, any color graphic can be printed on a T-shirt. Keep in mind that an image with a strong composition and contrasting colors will make a more dynamic design. A high-resolution graphic will print best.
  
  

Silk-Screen a T-Shirt

• To silk-screen a T-shirt, you will need a screen with your design on it, a squeegee, water-based textile ink and a shirt. Most art supply stores sell screen-printing kits and screen-printing supplies.
  
  Using the photo-emulsion method, the design can be put on the screen. The screen is first coated with a light-sensitive emulsion and dried. Place the film positive over the screen and expose it to a strong light or sunlight, then rinse the screen with warm water to develop the image. Once dry, the screen may be placed over the T-shirt. Before printing your shirt, put a piece of newspaper inside it to prevent the ink from smudging the back of the shirt. Put some textile ink in the screen and pull the squeegee over the design area to print.
  
  

Ink-Jet Transfers on a T-Shirt

• Purchase some ink-jet T-shirt transfer paper at an office supply store or online. Note that most transfer paper is for white T-shirts; for dark or black T-shirts, be sure to buy transfer paper for dark shirts.
  
  Open your design in an image-editing program such as Adobe Photoshop. Flip the image horizontally so it reads backward. Print the design on the ink-jet transfer paper. Place the shirt on an ironing board and place the design face down on the shirt in the desired position. Using an iron set for cotton, iron the design evenly onto the shirt for several minutes, then peel away the backing paper to view your masterpiece.