Are you looking for a t-shirt design software for your t-shirt business? OR do you have a specific design in mind to create your own custom t-shirt?
If yes, we present this article to you. Whether you want to establish a t-shirt design business or want to design your custom t-shirt. We got you covered. From tools used by professionals to online free t-shirt design software for beginners, our comprehensive list is a must-read.
Designing your custom t-shirt is an easy, fun, and cool way to add that extra oomph factor to your boring clothes. Also, custom designs make you stand out in the crowd. However, it wouldn’t be wrong to say, there is a plethora of design software out there. So, which one is the best for you?
To determine the best t-shirt design application make sure to check its compatibility, simplicity, and price point. Either you can design a t-shirt yourself with the help of a graphic design tool like Adobe Illustrator or use software specifically made for this job. Luckily, there are many free t-shirt design software available for you to choose from.
In this article, we’ve compiled a list of the best tshirt design software for you. Regardless of whether you’re a beginner or a professional we have something for you. Keep reading!
List of the Best T-shirt Design Software
Let’s have a look at our top picks one by one:
1. Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Illustrator is a high-end design software used by professionals. It is one of the most popular design software available in the market. With the help of Illustrator, you can create multi-dimensional, multi-layered illustrations, logos, and typography.
It focuses most on vector graphics which means you can easily scale up or down text, logos, pictures to fit any size of t-shirt without compromising on the quality of design. Moreover, Illustrator is compatible with all devices and operating systems (be it Windows, Linux, macOS).
If you are a professional, nothing can be better in terms of designing high-quality t-shirts. But if you’re a beginner who needs a tool to occasionally design his t-shirt then this software isn’t for you. Check other recommendations below.
Hit
- One-stop destination for professionals.
- Versatile and powerful with many features.
Miss
- Very expensive.
- Complex and tricky to learn and use.
2. Inkscape
Looking for a free t-shirt design software? Inkscape is a free, open-source graphic design software that has many features at par with Adobe Illustrator. In the beginning, it can be a little difficult to get accustomed to it. As there aren’t any tutorials to guide how it works but the community support will save your day.
Moreover, Inkscape is available on Windows, Linux, and macOS.
Hit
- Good community support.
- Many features are at par with Adobe Illustrator.
Miss
- Not so friendly user interface.
- Can’t handle large files like Adobe Illustrator.
3. Placeit
Placeit is perfect to create realistic design mock-ups. It’s one of the best online t-shirt design software available with plenty of beautiful templates to get started. It offers a curated set of graphics for all sections of a template. This helps in reducing the time of the entire process however you lose flexibility with this feature.
You also have the option to upload any pre-existing design if you want mockup images only. Also, you can download any mockup designs using the unlimited monthly subscription or need to pay a few dollars for the same.
Hit
- Availability of a template system simplifies the entire process.
- Has an unlimited monthly subscription.
Miss
- Needs to pay extra charges for created high-resolution designs.
- Limited flexibility in the case of a selected template system.
4. GraffixPro Studio
The next best t-shirt design software is GraffixPro Studio. It is a high-end powerful software that helps in designing professional t-shirts on the go. Industry leaders are sworn by this amazing software owing to the features it has.
If you’re running a t-shirt printing business, this software can be advantageous for you. As it’s specifically created for those who wish to make t-shirt printing their full-time work. Additionally, it has a large library of images, fonts, and templates which make it easy for a beginner to use. Unfortunately, it is a paid software and for a demo, you have to contact its team.
Hit
- Extremely simple to use.
- Availability of other useful features like Inventory Management, Quote Generator, Direct print function, Blacklisted words, etc.
Miss
- Limited options for templates, fonts, and other key features.
- Comes with a price tag.
5. DesignAShirt
DesignAShirt is one of the best online t-shirt design software. It designs and ships t-shirts to customers from all over the globe. If you’re a novice, DesignAShirt’s simple user interface will be useful for you to design beautiful t-shirts.
You can create attractive designs by uploading your own pictures or choosing from the existing clipart. Customize colors, add text in any of the available fonts, or use effects, and voila your custom t-shirt is ready.
It’s not a free tool but comes with competitive pricing and offers 10 days free shipping.
Hit
- No charges for shipping.
- Easy to learn and use.
Miss
- Expensive in case of rush orders.
- The size of the t-shirts is comparatively smaller than others.
6. Fatpaint
Another free t-shirt design software on our list is Fatpaint. You don’t have to download or install it. Just log in directly and start designing your custom piece. To log in, you need Adobe Flash.
Although it’s free, there isn’t any compromise in terms of features. The availability of a vast collection of vector clipart, 3D templates, and typefaces makes it worthy to be included in this list.
Hit
- Free to use.
- Very useful in creating 3D images and graphics.
Miss
- Though it’s free, annoying advertisements pressurize you to join its paid version.
- You need to have Adobe Flash to use this software.
7. GIMP
GIMP is an open-source graphics editing tool that has been around for more than two decades. It’s an affordable alternative to Adobe Photoshop. Just like other high-end professional software, GIMP demands time and effort to learn it properly. But it’s all worth it if you genuinely want to upskill yourself.
This professional substitute of Photoshop is compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux. Moreover, it has plenty of editing and layout options available for images and text.
Pros
- Affordable alternative to professional tools.
- Tutorials and templates are easily available.
Cons
- Tricky to learn.
- The user interface isn’t as intuitive as others.
8. CorelDraw Graphic Suite
CorelDraw is a popular design software used by many for numerous good reasons. It comes with a large database of art, fonts, and color choices which other software don’t have. One important feature of this software is Non-Destructive Effects. This feature allows you to experiment with a variety of effects on a photo without interrupting the source picture.
Moreover, it has the option to adjust fonts and images to a particular area and customize the placement too.
Pros
- Compatible with Windows (also supports older versions like Vista, 7, 8).
- Can create appealing, mosaic, artistic designs for designers.
Cons
- Paid software and comes with a 15 days trial period.
- Complex to learn and use it.
Takeaway
To conclude we can say, t-shirts are a popular clothing item, therefore, there is a high demand to design them. For the same, you can take help from a t-shirt builder. As it makes designing t-shirts easy and saves a lot of time.
This comprehensive article will assist you in selecting the best t-shirt builder for you. Of course, the final choice will depend on your needs and requirements. Thus, we have included the pros and cons to make it easy for you to decide. Be rest assured every software included in this list is not only easy to use but also creates high-quality designs.
Also Read: How these t-shirt business opportunities can help you build a company
