Day 257

I've recently been having some very enlightening conversations with Richard over at Shirtinator - a European user-led platform for custom T-shirt creation that's currently setting up its UK operation.
Impressed with my illustration portfolio and indeed my current T-shirt design ideas (such as, funnily enough, Idea) Richard suggested that I take a look at the software available at Shirtinator to see how versatile and enjoyable it is. Minutes later, I'd logged into my new account and began toying with the tremendously easy-to-use workshop interface, experimenting with tee colours, motif combinations and editable text.
However, niggling away at the back of my mind was the question of quality. Creating T-shirts on the fly using an online app interface will surely incur some compromises in print quality, right?

I had to put Shirtinator to the test.

Richard said to me that by way of donation to my THREEHUNDREDANDSIXTEEFIVE challenge, he would happily print and post whatever design I could come up with using the software...

Challenge accepted. A free tee for my challenge calendar, plus I get to custom make it! Yet another first for my THREEHUNDREDANDSIXTEEFIVE challenge!

I discovered that the Shirtinator interface supports the uploading of artwork files, so I drew up an illustration in-keeping with some promotion I'd already run earlier in the challenge that featured a dust-gathering washing machine. This time the subject of the artwork is my equally unused washing line, which has become the residence of birds and spiders in the absence of T-shirts.
With the artwork prepared, I uploaded it into Shirtinator, selected a grass green tee, positioned the graphic centrally and exported the complete garment for print. Simple.

As you can see, Day 257 showcases the output of that experiment and the results are a resounding 'awesome' across the board. The print is clean and solid and the tee is durable and comfortable - I cannot fault the process at all. Very impressive stuff - go build your own tees right now!

See more from Shirtinator via their Twitter account