You’ve chosen the shirt font and maybe you used our AI text to image tool to create a unique look for your business, group or event. But understanding design placement on T-shirt styles can be tricky. That’s why we put together this article to help you find the best spot for your artwork or logo.
Discover expert tips in our graphic tee design placement guide today, and get started making your own custom shirts at BlueCotton.
Pictured: Coldwell Painting design on Gildan heavy cotton T-shirt
Crewneck T-Shirts
These are the most versatile tees to customize since they have a spacious printing area. Several of our design ideas make the most of that, focusing on covering the front of the shirt for visibility and bold style. This is the classic look that people will generally expect with custom graphic tees. A badge-inspired design is popular too, featuring your logo or artwork printed on the left chest area like this Delta Zeta tee.
With commemorative shirts, it’s important to remember that printing on the back can be the norm. Student names on band T-shirts or sponsors for festival tees are a couple of examples. Sleeve printing is more distinctive, making it perfect for creative events or organizations. Keep these simple with a logo or artwork and perhaps some large text for readability.
V-Neck Tees
Often on feminine shirts, this kind of neckline can also be seen with men’s styles like this Augusta Stripe Jersey. The goal with V-neck shirts is to place the custom design higher than you would with a scoop neck or crewneck cut. Our Design Studio has a dotted line that shows the print area, and with V necklines, you should move your artwork or logo toward the upper edge of that boundary. Keep in mind that it doesn’t have to be right on the line, just closer to the collar. Left chest graphics should also be placed higher than usual.
Positioning on the shirt’s back and sleeves will be unchanged from crewneck tees, although cap sleeves like those on the Gildan Softstyle V-neck need smaller designs to suit the space.
Pictured: Camp Murphey design on Bella + Canvas Unisex Jersey Tank
Tank Tops
These sleeveless tops are all about the front and back as far as printing areas go. They can also have crewneck or V-neck styles, and the usual rules apply there. What you want to be aware of with tank tops is that the back often has different cuts. A racerback tank can have gathered fabric at the back, creating a feminine drape that could interfere with readability for any text printed there, or it could have a narrow cut with limited printing space.
These are usually more fitted than standard T-shirts because tank tops are often used for fitness activities that need a semi-fitted garment. Find a relaxed fit for more space or choose simpler designs.
Pictured: Little Brother fraternity design on Comfort Colors pocket tee
Pocket Shirts
There’s a reason you’ve seen plenty of shirts in this style with a graphic printed on the chest pocket. It’s an eye-catching design that helps build brand awareness, promote your cause or draw attention to your artwork. Pocketed T-shirts come in short- or long-sleeve varieties and tend to have scoop necks.
When screen printing your design on the pocket, you want to make sure you give plenty of space around the edges and don’t fill up the area. This gives your artwork or logo a clean appearance and won’t affect visibility when something is in the pocket. That said, many clients will place the design on the opposite side of the chest pocket to work around that.
Pictured: Coast Guard badge design on Fruit of the Loom hooded T-shirt
T-Shirt Hoodies
Lighter than your typical hooded sweatshirts, zip-up tee hoodies are usually customized to give groups breathable layering options. The neckline is less of a concern for design placement than the full-zip front and hood on the back. Printing on the left chest area is the standard with garments like these to draw the eye and make sure nothing covers the design. On the back, the hood will go over whatever you have printed there. The alternative is to print on the sleeve as well as the front if you want more design elements.
You can print your artwork or logo on one of the pouch pockets for a one-of-a-kind look, being aware that this can be less identifiable than printing on the chest.
Pictured: Born to Run design on Bella + Canvas cropped tee
Women’s Crop Tops
You have to be efficient with your design when printing on a cropped T-shirt shorter than your average tee. This flirty and breathable style of shirt is very fashionable with young ladies, so it’s well worth the effort to choose artwork or logos that will suit this smaller space. Simpler looks will make sure the custom crop top design is attention-grabbing and doesn’t crowd out the flowy shirt.
Another option is to print your logo on the left chest area with your larger design on the back, which is good for events and organizations where you want to acknowledge all the participants or employees involved in a group effort. Sleeve printing is possible, but less common because it’s less noticeable compared to conventional T-shirts.
Designing Custom T-Shirts at BlueCotton
We set ourselves apart by taking care of every stage of production in-house with our U.S. team, unlike major competitors – including design, printing, shipping and packaging. Get started today to see why our clients swear by our quality customization, guaranteed delivery and exceptional service from real people.