Elements of Design

• Positive/Negative Space
• Line
• Color
• Text

Basics

• The more detail there is, the harder the image will be to print. Try to go for bold, graphic images.
• Try to have clearly defined lines and no spots that are too small
• Make sure the image is solid black, as opposed to a gradient of color. We’ll go over this part in more detail when we meet – it’s a part of the process that’s difficult to explain before you’ve experienced the materials we’ll be using.
• The maximum size to print (for this workshop) is 8.5” by 11”

Design Options

• Drawing
• Stencil
• Digital
  • If you want to work digital, download GIMP, a free image editing program: www.gimp.org. You can practice with some tutorials (http://www.gimp.org/tutorials/)

Some GIMP tips

• General
  • Resolution (Image → Print Size…)
  • Grayscale (Image → Mode → Grayscale)
• Techniques
  • Threshold (Colors → Threshold…)
  • Posterize (Colors → Posterize…)
  • Photocopy (Filters → Artistic → Photocopy…)
  • Newsprint (Filters → Distorts → Newsprint…)

Some other info on preparing the screen for printing:

• Basic print process overview and how to prepare a design for printing: http://www.photoshop911.com/tutorials/screen_print_seps/index.html
• The idea behind halftones and those funny little dots: http://popculturetees.com/2008/09/17/gradients-and-halftones-in-screen-printing/
• Some more advanced stuff just for curiosities sake: http://naldzgraphics.net/tutorials/30-outstanding-t-shirt-designs-tutorials-and-tips/