How to Draw T Shirt Designs in Illustrator TUTORIAL

In the following tutorial, you lot volition learn how to make a shirt design in Illustrator.

We'll start with some basic tools and vector shape building techniques to create the main shapes. Using blending techniques and a subtle slope, you will learn how to add shading to your T-shirt design in Adobe Illustrator.

Y'all'll larn how to use a unproblematic opacity mask, and for the final touch on you will learn how to create and add together the Planet Express ship to your T-shirt illustration.

If you don't take the time to learn how to how to brand T-shirt designs in Illustrator, you tin can always endeavor Envato Elements, where yous tin find a massive collection of amazing shirt designs to cull from.

What Y'all'll Learn every bit You lot Create This T-Shirt Illustration

• How to ready a filigree in Illustrator
• How to warp shapes in Illustrator
• How to add shading in Illustrator
• How to mask in Illustrator
• How to make a shirt pattern in Illustrator

Follow forth with us over on our Envato Tuts+ YouTube channel:

1. How to Create a New Document and Set Upwardly a Grid

Striking Command-North to create a new document. Select Pixels from the Units drop-downwards menu, set both Width and Peak to 850, and then click that More Settings button. Select RGB for the Color Style, ready the Raster Furnishings to Screen (72 ppi), and then click Create Certificate.

Enable the Grid (View > Bear witness Grid) and the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid). To start off, you lot volition demand a grid every 10 px, so go to Edit > Preferences > Guides & Grid, enter 10 in the Gridline every box and ane in the Subdivisions box. Try not to get discouraged by all that filigree—it volition make your work easier, and keep in heed that you lot tin hands enable or disable information technology using the Control-" keyboard shortcut.

You tin can learn more well-nigh Illustrator's filigree arrangement in this short tutorial from Andrei Stefan: Understanding Adobe Illustrator's Grid System.

You should also open the Info console (Window > Info) for a live preview with the size and position of your shapes. Don't forget to ready the unit to pixels from Edit > Preferences > Units. All these options volition significantly increase your piece of work speed. Now that you lot're ready, allow'due south learn how to design for T-shirts in Illustrator.

2. How to Create the Sun

Step 1

Option the Ellipse Tool (L) from your Toolbar and focus on the colour settings. Remove the color from the stroke, then select the fill and set up its color to white (R=255 Thou=255 B=255). Motion to your artboard and hold downwardly the Shift key as you click and drag to easily create a 470 px circumvolve—the grid and the Snap to Grid should make it easier.

With this shape selected, focus on the control panel. Make certain that the alignment is set to Artboard, and and then click the Horizontal Align Center and Vertical Align Eye buttons to easily move your circumvolve to the center of the artboard.

Step ii

Brand sure that your white circumvolve is notwithstanding selected and go to Object > Path > Offset Path. Set the Offset to -90 px and click OK to create your new shape.

Continue it selected and focus on the Gradient console (Window > Gradient). But click the slope thumbnail to make full your choice with a gradient, set the Angle to 90 degrees, and so focus on the gradient sliders.

Double-click the left one and set the color to R=193 G=three B=75, double-click the correct one and supersede the color with R=252 M=194 B=68, and and so click on the gradient bar to add a 3rd gradient slider. Select it and set the Location to 50%, and then double-click it and alter the color to R=250 G=65 B=34.

3. How to Add Hills to Your Illustrator T-Shirt Pattern

Step ane

Select the Rectangle Tool (R) and use it to create a 360 ten 100 px shape. Fill up this rectangle with R=252 G=194 B=68 and place it equally shown in the showtime paradigm.

Switch to the Direct Pick Tool (A), use it to select the top-right anchor bespeak that makes up your rectangle, and drag it 60 px upwards, as shown in the second prototype.

Step ii

Make certain that your yellow shape is all the same selected and get to Effect > Distort & Transform > Zig Zag.

Check the Absolute and Polish boxes, move the ii sliders to 5 and iii, click OK to utilise the consequence, and so get to Object > Aggrandize Appearance to expand the effect.

Step 3

Select your white circle using the Selection Tool (5) and press Control-C and and so Command-F to easily add a copy in front.

Hold down the Shift primal to select this re-create along with your xanthous shape, and click the Intersect button from the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder).

Footstep iv

Reselect the Rectangle Tool (R) and use it to create a 320 x 130 px shape. Fill this rectangle with R=247 Yard=73 B=ane and place information technology every bit shown in the get-go image.

Switch to the Direct Selection Tool (A), employ it to select the top-left anchor point and elevate it 100 px up, as shown in the second prototype.

Step 5

Make sure that your orangish shape is still selected and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Zig Zag.

Continue the existing settings, click OK to apply the outcome, and and then get to Object > Expand Appearance to aggrandize the upshot.

Pace 6

Select your white circle using the Option Tool (V) and press Control-C so Control-F to add a copy in front.

Select this copy along with your orangish shape and click the Intersect push from the Pathfinder panel.

Step 7

Reselect the Rectangle Tool (R) and use it to create a 450 x 120 px shape. Make full this rectangle with R=193 G=3 B=75 and place it as shown in the starting time image.

In one case you lot're washed, become to Issue > Distort & Transform > Zig Zag. Increase the Ridges per segment to 5, click OK to utilize the result, and then go to Object > Expand Appearance.

Step viii

Once more, select your white circle using the Selection Tool (5), and then press Control-C and Control-F to add together a copy in forepart.

Select this copy along with your night pink shape and click the Intersect button from the Pathfinder panel.

Pace 9

Reselect the Rectangle Tool (R) and use information technology to create a 440 x 100 px shape. Fill this rectangle with R=121 G=3 B=lxx, identify it every bit shown in the first prototype, and then get to Object > Path > Add Anchor Points.

Switch to the Direct Pick Tool (A), select the anchor point highlighted in the kickoff epitome and drag it thirty px upwards, as shown in the second image.

Stride 10

Make sure that your burgundy shape is still selected and go to Issue > Distort & Transform > Zig Zag. Lower the Ridges per segment dorsum to ii, click OK to utilize the effect, and then get to Object > Expand Appearance.

Stride 11

One last fourth dimension, select your white circle using the Choice Tool (V), and then press Control-C and Control-F to add a re-create in forepart.

Select this re-create along with your burgundy shape and click the Intersect button from the Pathfinder console.

four. How to Add Shading to the Adobe Illustrator T-Shirt Pattern

Step ane

Select your yellow and orange shapes and press Control-C > Control-F to add together copies in forepart.

Unite these 2 copies using the Unite button from the Pathfinder console, fill the resulting shape with black, and then go to Result > Path > Starting time Path.

Set the Start to 30 px, click OK to apply the effect, then go to Object > Aggrandize Appearance to expand information technology.

Step ii

Select your lord's day shape and add a copy in front (Control-C > Control-F).

Select this copy forth with the black shape and click the Intersect button from the Pathfinder console. Movement to the Layers panel (Window > Layers) and drag the resulting black shapes beneath those yellow and orange shapes.

Make sure that your black shape is still selected, focus on the Appearance panel (Window > Appearance) or the Transparency panel (Window > Transparency), lower the Opacity to 25% and change the Blending Fashion to Soft Lite.

Step iii

Select your orangish and dark pink shapes and press Command-C > Control-F to add copies in front.

Unite these two copies using the Unite push button from the Pathfinder panel, fill the resulting shape with blackness, and then go to Effect > Path > Offset Path.

This time fix the First to 20 px, click OK to employ the effect, and so get to Object > Expand Appearance to aggrandize information technology.

Footstep 4

Select your yellow shape and add together a re-create in forepart (Command-C > Control-F).

Select this copy along with the black shape and click the Intersect push from the Pathfinder panel. Move to the Layers panel to drag your resulting black shapes below the orange one.

Make sure that this blackness shape is selected, lower the Opacity to 50% and modify the Blending Fashion to Soft Calorie-free.

Step 5

Select your nighttime pink shape and get to Object > Path > Offset Path. Ready the Offset to xx px, click OK to create the new shape, and fill up it with black.

Select your orange shape and add a copy in front end (Command-C > Control-F). Select this re-create along with the black shape and click the Intersect button from the Pathfinder console.

Go on the resulting shape selected, lower the Opacity to lx%, and change the Blending Fashion to Soft Calorie-free.

Step half dozen

Select your burgundy shape and go to Object > Path > Kickoff Path. Set the Beginning to 20 px, click OK to create the new shape, and fill up information technology with black.

Select your dark pink shape and add a copy in front (Control-C > Control-F). Select this copy forth with the black shape and click the Intersect button from the Pathfinder console.

Keep the resulting shape selected, lower the Opacity to 25%, and change the Blending Mode to Soft Light.

5. How to Add Copse to the Adobe Illustrator T-Shirt Design

Footstep 1

For the post-obit steps, yous will demand a grid every 5 px, so go back to Edit > Preferences > Guides & Filigree, just enter 5 in the Gridline every box, and click OK.

Pick the Ellipse Tool (L), create a 70 px circumvolve, and fill up information technology with R=193 G=3 B=75.

Switch to the Anchor Signal Tool (Shift-C) and click the top ballast betoken, and then use the Direct Selection Tool (A) to select the same point and drag it 120 px up, as shown in the third image.

Step ii

Choice the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 20 px square, fill up it with black, and place information technology as shown in the first image.

Switch to the Delete Anchor Point Tool (-) and use a unproblematic click to remove the lesser-left anchor point.

Keep with the Selection Tool (V) and hold down the Alt as you click and drag this black triangle to easily duplicate it. Add ii copies, rotate them, and identify them equally shown in the 3rd image.

Once yous're washed, select all three triangles along with the shape that lies in the back and click the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel.

Step 3

Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and use information technology to create a 10 x 150 px shape. Fill up this rectangle with R=121 G=iii B=lxx and place it as shown in the first image.

Switch to the Direct Selection Tool (A), hold down the Shift key to select the acme anchor points, and go to Object > Path > Boilerplate. Just check the Both box and click OK to easily turn your rectangle into a triangle.

Step 4

Select the two shapes that make up your tree and place them every bit shown in the get-go image. Press Control-G to Group these two shapes if you like to keep things more than organized.

Add several copies of this group (Control-C > Command-V), resize and spread them roughly as shown in the second prototype. Play with the colors and remember that y'all can use the Eyedropper Tool (I) to quickly grab colors from other elements in your design.

half dozen. How to Add together Clouds to Your T-Shirt Blueprint

Footstep 1

Pick the Ellipse Tool (L) and create a 280 ten 80 px shape. Fill information technology with R=252 G=194 B=68 and go to Upshot > Distort & Transform > Zig Zag.

Just increase the Ridges per segment to 3, click OK, and then go to Outcome > Distort & Transform > Roughen.

Brand certain that the Absolute and Smooth boxes are checked, movement the two sliders to xv px and 1, click OK to apply the effect, and then go to Object > Expand Advent to aggrandize it.

Pace 2

Option the Rectangle Tool (One thousand) and utilize it to create a shape that covers the lesser half of the shape made in the previous step.

Once you're washed, select both shapes and click the Minus Front push from the Pathfinder panel.

Step 3

Pick the Anchor Point Tool (Shift-C) and click the two anchor points highlighted in the outset image.

Switch to the Direct Selection Tool (A) and apply it to move the left anchor point nearly twenty px to the left and the right ballast point about 20 px to the right, as shown in the third image.

Step four

Make sure that your cloud shape is all the same selected and focus on the control panel, where you tin can easily adjust the size.

Lower the Width to 270 px and the Elevation to 40 px, and then identify your shape as shown in the first paradigm. Go on it selected and get to Object > Transform > Movement (Shift-Control-M).

Just set up the Horizontal value to -20 px and Vertical value to 20 px, and and so click the Copy button to add a copy of your deject 20 px down and 20 px to the left from the original one. Make full this copy with black.

Step 5

Option the Selection Tool (Five) and call up to agree downwardly the Alt cardinal equally you click and drag your xanthous deject shape to duplicate information technology.

Lower the width and height of this new shape to 195 px and 30 px, so identify it as shown in the offset image. Keep it selected and go to Object > Transform > Movement (Shift-Control-M).

Set both Horizontal and Vertical values to 20 px, click the Copy push button and fill up the resulting shape with black.

Footstep vi

Select your blackness cloud shapes and press Control-viii to turn them into a chemical compound path (Object > Compound Path > Make), then select the sun shape and press Command-C > Command-F to add a re-create in front.

Select this copy along with your chemical compound path and click the Intersect push button from the Pathfinder panel. Press Control-viii again to turn the resulting group of shapes into a new compound path, so lower its Opacity to 40% and modify the Blending Mode to Soft Light.

vii. How to Add together the Birds

Step ane

Pick the Ellipse Tool (50) and create two 35 10 xxx px shapes. Fill these shapes with black and identify them equally shown in the starting time image.

Once you're done, select both shapes and click the Unite button from the Pathfinder panel.

Step two

Reselect the Ellipse Tool (50) and this fourth dimension create two twoscore x 35 px shapes. Fill these shapes with a random color and place them as shown in the first epitome.

In one case you're done, select both shapes and click the Unite button from the Pathfinder panel.

Stride 3

Select the two shapes fabricated in the previous two steps and click the Minus Front push button from the Pathfinder panel. Brand sure that the resulting shape is filled with blackness (R=0 Yard=0 B=0).

Stride 4

Add your bird shape and 2 more copies to your pattern, every bit shown in the first epitome.

Select all three shapes and go to Event > Warp > Flag. Check the Horizontal box, drag the Bend slider to 25%, click OK to use the consequence, and and so press Control-G to group all your bird shapes.

Stride v

Select your group of bird shapes along with the sunday shapes, go to the Transparency panel, and click the Make Mask button. Retrieve to uncheck the Clip box to mask from your sun the shapes that make up the bird.

viii. How to Add the Planet Express Ship to the T-Shirt Illustration

Step 1

For these final steps, you will need a grid every 1 px, and so go one more time to Edit > Preferences > Guides & Grid, enter 1 in the Gridline every box, and click OK.

Pick the Ellipse Tool (L) to create a 112 x 32 px shape and fill it with R=193 Grand=3 B=75.

Switch to the Direct Selection Tool (A), select the right anchor indicate, and drag information technology ii px downwardly, and then select the left anchor signal and elevate it 2 px downwardly and 2 px to the left.

Step two

Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 114 x 18 px shape and place it exactly as shown in the first image.

Select this rectangle along with the shape that lies in the back and click the Minus Front end button from the Pathfinder panel.

Step 3

Focus on the correct side of your new shape and make certain that the Rectangle Tool (M) is notwithstanding agile. Create a 16 ten 7 px shape, fill it with R=252 Thousand=194 B=68, and place information technology every bit shown in the first paradigm.

Switch to the Direct Pick Tool (A), select the bottom-left anchor point, and drag information technology 5 px to the right, equally shown in the second image.

Select the shape that lies in the back and add together a copy in forepart (Control-C > Control-F), and and then select this copy forth with the yellow shape and click the Intersect button from the Pathfinder console.

Step four

Using the Ellipse Tool (L), create four 5 px circles. Fill up all these shapes with R=252 G=194 B=68 and identify them in a perfect row, equally shown in the first paradigm.

Switch to the Rectangle Tool (K), create a 111 x 2 px shape, fill information technology with the same color, and place it as shown in the second prototype.

Step 5

Now, for the more challenging part, y'all volition have to selection the Pen Tool (P), create the shapes shown in the post-obit images, and fill them all with R=121 1000=3 B=70.

Stride 6

Using the Rectangle Tool (Grand), create a 22 x 13 px shape, make full it with purple, and place it as shown in the first image.

Keep this shape selected, switch to the Straight Selection Tool (A), and focus on the command console, where you can set the Corner Radius to 7 px.

Stride 7

Pick the Ellipse Tool (L), create a 24 ten 33 px shape, fill it with R=193 G=3 B=75, and identify it roughly as shown in the first paradigm.

Select this ellipse forth with the purple rounded rectangle and click the Intersect button from the Pathfinder panel.

Step 8

Select all the shapes that make up your Planet Express transport and printing Control-G to Group them. Place this group equally shown in the 2nd image, and your T-shirt blueprint in Illustrator is complete.

Congratulations! You're Done!

I hope you lot've enjoyed this tutorial and tin can utilize these techniques to brand T-shirt designs in Illustrator. Once created, you might want to check how your design would look on a T-shirt. Bank check out Placeit, where yous tin discover plenty of T-shirt templates for Illustrator designs.

Now that you know how to design for T-shirts in Illustrator, feel free to adjust the design and make it your own. You tin can find some great sources of inspiration at Envato Elements, with interesting solutions to make T-shirt designs in Illustrator.

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How to Draw T Shirt Designs in Illustrator TUTORIAL

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