GRAPHIC PLACEMENT ON YOUR GARMENTS (Suggested)

I found a cool article on graphic placement and I wanted to share it with you.   I printed a few shirts before I read this article and I was pretty right in my placment.  I guess that means I am doing something right.  :)  I believe the final placement decision is in the eye of the printer.  It seems like people print just about anywhere on the shirts these days.  I hope this helps any new screen printers reading my blog.  If you have any suggestions, please feel free to share.

LARGE FULL CHEST designs, in range of 12" x 12", will look best when printed approximately 2" from the base of the collar (where the collar attaches to the body of the shirt).  Horizontal, wide graphics across the chest should be printed about 3" from the collar.

LEFT CHEST designs should be centered between the vertical center line of the shirt and the seam attaching the sleeve to the shirt body.

Larger left chest designs will be printed on an imaginary line from the bottom of the sleeve at the point it attaches to the shirt body.  Smaller left chest designs should be printed 1" above this imaginary line.

POCKET designs, physically on a pocket are generally printed in the center of the pocket.  For above pocket prints, design should be approximately 3/4 " above the top of the pocket, and centered with the physical pocket.

SLEEVE graphics, on short sleeve garments, are mostly printed on the left sleeve and printed 1" from the hem at the bottom of the sleeve.  For long sleeve prints, the graphic is commonly centered on the sleeve between cuff and shoulder.

BACK prints should be printed as if you are looking through the shirt to the front design.  They should be lined up with each other.

Large, full back designs will print approximately 4" from the collar base.  Short, wide designs should be printed about 5" from the collar.

Shoulder blade prints, most often a narrow wide graphic such as a single line type, will be located about 2" from the collar base. 

When I printed player names on the back of soccer shirts, I printed them 2+ inches from the collar base.  They turned out great.   I put the shirt on and looked in the mirror to make my final decision.  I do not know if that will work when I try on a large or XL shirt.  I may need to invest in a mannequin.  With a mannequin, I can check out the design from many angles.

I am planning a "graphic placement" field trip in the next few days.  I will be going to a few stores and actually measuring how far down the back designs are on some shirts.  I think that will be a good way to find out what is popular.  In the end, it will be my own call but I think it will help.  When I am at work, I am always checking out designs on shirts.  A funny thing happened one day.  I saw this girl with a dog on her shirt but I could not see the whole design because she was wearing a sweater.  The casino was loud and she was 6+ feet away from me.  When I finally made eye contact with her, I pointed at her shirt and made a motion with both my hands for her to open her sweater.  Not a good idea when it was loud, busy and I know she could not speak English.  She looked at me like I  was crazy and walked as fast as she could from the craps table.  She must have thought I was a nut job.  :)  I cracked up laughing.  I am still mad that I did not see the whole design. It looked pretty cool.  :)

Thanks for following my blog.  I hope the suggested graphic placement tips helped.

Jeanette