“Double Up, I Ain’t Tellin’ No Lies” – Nipsey Hussle
What business tools can I use for my T-shirt printing business?
Wanting to get into the T-shirt and Printing business? One of the most important tools or skills that you need before investing any money into any equipment is the basics and understanding of design programs. Now, don’t take this the wrong way, but when I speak about design programs I do not mean the freebies that you get off the internet like Canva. I’m speaking about industry-standard programs like Photoshop and Illustrator. Affinity is included as well but because I do not use that program, I can only speak on PS and AI. I’ll be honest – from a print standpoint, I’m not a fan of Canva, though it has its place which I’ll get into later on.
What is the best software for printing equipment?
One of the reason I want to bring this to light is because over the last year of involving myself in more and more Facebook groups and forums I have noticed a lot of people getting into the t-shirt business, and thats dope! Although many of them have been spending so much money on getting the”best” printers, cutters, materials, etc. Many have brought up the point of having all the tools and gadgets but not knowing how to use design software. I’ve seen many post about Canva, and many post about using other programs if Photoshop and Illustrator are not available like Microsoft Excel, and Word to print designs. Excel and Word are not design programs and should not be used as an alternative. Think Quality!
Yes many of these machines also come with programs to use with their machines but not many of them are just the basics you need to work some of these machines. Although many of these Equipment type programs still rely of files off of PS and AI.
Why Should I Invest in these programs?
Investing in the monthly membership with Adobe is definitely work the penny with a lot of tutorials that can help outside of Youtube. the Adobe community, consistent updates almost weekly, and my favourite with the thousands of fonts available for you personally and commercially. It pays for itself, and also as a registered business this is also a tax write-off.
- Invitation into the Adobe community
- Opportunities to attend virtual events and conferences
- Free online courses and tutorials
- Consistent updates almost weekly
- Thousands of fonts within the Creative Cloud Suit (Personal and Commercial Use)
- Save your documents in the cloud and access your work anywhere with any device
- It’s a tax write-off!
Is this a Long Term investment or a Short Term Investment?
Understanding the basics are design is one skill that almost seems to be overlooked by the cool looking machines, and the ability to print and press almost any design that you want. In my opinion merely Googling an image and then just printing it and pressing it on a shirt is not only straight up wack but it has no real effort put into it. Nor can you claim that it is your original work, stay away from this regardless if you see it happening at other print shops.
It’s always about the Short Term vs Long Term when it comes to this industry and what are you trying to do to be different than you other competitors.
How will this benefit my workflow and customer experience?
Not only learning the basics and understanding these programs also important but it just adds to your skillset. Double your worth, Double your $$$. You may have a client looking to print shirts but also wants to try a new concept logo, how easy would it be to let your client you hey I can print your shirts for you but I can also create that logo you’ve been wanting to do. You have turned yourself into a Design & Print print. Not only have you offered 2 services to your client but you have made it easier for them as well, without having to find another designer to create something and then bring it back to you to help them print. On top of that you can work with your client closely to see what better suits them for their business given that you have a little more view as to what they want and how to place it on their garments.
The Pros and Cons of Canva
Now before I end this off I did mention Canva and how it’s not my go to when it comes to designing and printing. Now before I get all the smoke know that I understand there is a place for it, although from my experience with logos created off Canva it is strictly decent for small print as in business cards, and some decent web designing. Although when it comes to printing these logos created on Canva on garments these logos are not vectorized, and majority of the time with all the effort and time you’ve put into it would just have to be doubled and cost you more money if you have to get a graphic designer to re-draw your work and vectorize the logo for you. You’ve already wasted time, money, and effort working with the program when you could do everything on your own if you have the understanding of PS and AI and get everything done.
But at the end of the day, if you’re still learning or don’t have time to get any of these designs done then yes please do hire a designer to help you out. But still learn the basics because designers also love when you can give feedback and help out!
Stay Hustlin‘
By Myles