How to make a t-shirt with Canva Smartmockup

Key takeaways:

• Use Canva t-shirt design templates to start inspired
• To preview how your design will look, use Smarkmockups in the print menu
• Design your t-shirt, preview it, make any adjustments then print it!
  

There’s a reason graphic t-shirts have transcended trends, decades and generations. From vintage shops to sport stores, band t-shirts to satire and protest t-shirts, graphic shirts are like wearable art.

And now, it’s easier than ever to make – and print – your own. Let’s take a look at a Canva tool that makes light work of turning any design into a t-shirt in minutes.

Canva templates help you start inspired. They’re an epic way to find some ideas, learn from professional designers, and get a head start on your own design. In the Canva editor, search for ‘t-shirt’ and watch as thousands of templates appear. Anything with a crown on it is for Canva Pro Users, it’s quick and easy to sign up. Templates are continuously updated, so it’s a great place to check in on what’s trending.

Scroll down until you find something you like and click on it to open up the design. You can customize and change any design element. Change the font, graphic elements, colors, sizing and positioning. Think of a template as a starting point – one design solution and a head start for your design.

If you want some additional help on the design front, check out this free tutorial on typography and layout for some design tips.

Canva has a tool called Smartmockups that shows you how your design will look on a t-shirt. It even lets you see the design on different models, including women, men, toddlers and infants. This brilliant new tool makes it so much easier to visualize your design before you send it to print.

Probably the coolest feature of Smartmockups is it’s a live mockup so as you’re changing the design, you can see how it will affect the final design on the t-shirt. This is a great way to make final adjustments.

Printing your own t-shirts can be a fun and creative way to showcase your designs or promote your brand. With Canva, you can easily design your t-shirt and then send it to print. Here's how to print t-shirts with Canva.

Using Canva's design tools, create your t-shirt design. You can choose from a variety of templates or start from scratch. Customize your design with your own images, text, and graphics.

Once you've finished your design, use Smartmockups to preview how it will look on a t-shirt. Look for the "Print t-shirt" button in the top right corner next to the share button. If you don’t see that button, click "Share," go down to "Print your design" and then click "t-shirt." You may need to resize your design to fit the t-shirt.

After previewing your design, make any final adjustments as needed. Once you're satisfied with your design, choose the quantity of t-shirts you want to print, and select the size and style of the t-shirt you want to use.

Once you're ready to print your t-shirts, click "Continue" and follow the prompts to complete your order. You can choose to have your t-shirts shipped to you or pick them up from a local print shop.

Printing t-shirts with Canva is a simple and easy process that allows you to create high-quality, customized t-shirts in no time. With Canva's design tools and Smartmockups preview, you can see exactly how your design will look on a t-shirt before you send it to print.

As you can see, designing and printing your own custom t-shirt with Canva is easy. Remember you can use templates to start inspired, simply use keywords in the search bar to find some relevant templates. And if you need some additional guidance, check out our how to print and make custom t-shirts video guide.