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Make your T-shirt Colors Pop with this Special Printing Technique
The following article was contributed by Gary Jurman from diyTeeShirts.com If you would like to contribute, send an email to info@teeopia.com
Have you ever noticed that the white ink on some T-shirts is brighter than on others? If you've been designing T-shirts for a while, or simply ordering them in bulk, you may have heard a term kicked around like “flash cure” or “flash dry.” You might hear it a bit more with respect to plastisol ink printing versus water based, but the technique is used with both ink sets.
While the term “Flash Cure” is used more often than “Flash Dry,” “Flash Dry” is technically more accurate because the ink isn't actually “cured” during the process. Most of the time, the purpose of flash curing your ink is to improve the opacity of your color on darker garments. In layman's terms, “opacity” refers to how well an ink can mask the color of the fabric it's printed on. There are cases when you might use a flash cure to keep an image looking more crisp or ink from transferring from one screen to another during printing, but chances are, if you're not in the screen printing industry and the term pops up, it's about making colors appear brighter.
Generally speaking, if the T-shirt fabric is a dark color and you want to have a bright or translucent color in your design, you need to under-print the color with a base to keep the color of the shirt from spoiling the color of the ink. Ninety-nine percent of the time, that under-printed base is simply a layer of white. To drive the point home just a little, even white ink often needs an under-base of white if you want it to be bright.
For more tips, visit diyTeeShirts.com
Donkeyshines T-shirts: so Absurd, they’re Cool
In this featured designer article Ryan Klemek of Donkeyshines.com tells of how he first got into designing t-shirts and where he found inspiration to make shirts with ducks teaching gorillas how to fly, house cats beating up big black panthers, and penguins with robot friends.The name Donkeyshines is derived from the phrase “monkeyshines” which means mischief or tomfoolery. Why replace the word “monkey” with “donkey”? Partly, it's because the two words look like they should rhyme but they don't, and we think that's kind of funny for some reason. More importantly, though, it's because we feel donkeys are an unappreciated animal, more intelligent and dignified than most people give them credit for. They are also known for their resistance to authority, which is sometimes mistaken for stubbornness. These donkey personality traits are the inspiration for our absurd, yet subtle t-shirt designs.I used to collect strange shirts from second-hand stores, looking for items that were anachronistic, dated, or specific to some past event. Graphically, I was inspired by 1980’s toy logos, and one of the first shirts I made was the Cobra insignia from Hasbro’s G.I Joe action figure line. This was many years before these kinds of things became popular with the nostalgic mainstream and could be found in trendy stores. When I began making shirts to sell, I let myself be inspired by nostalgia, but I wanted the finished product to be unique and free of direct cultural references. I wasn’t going to quote movies, use puns, or even include any text at all. I definitely enjoy those types of shirts, but I had something else in mind for Donkeyshines. I also liked the simple, one-color designs worn by the people of Krypton in the 1978 Superman movie. I didn’t originally plan to do an all-animal theme, but after the first couple of designs were created, it felt right to continue in that direction. I love animals, and I love absurdity, so it made sense.
And while I love making the one-color graphics, I also wanted to find a way to incorporate my love of painting into the Donkeyshines brand. That is why I decided to do paintings of models wearing the shirts. I use my wife and myself as models most of the time, because I wanted to pay tribute to the Mrs. and include her in my work. The paintings, I’m hoping, are part of the customer experience that will be unique to Donkeyshines. I have not come across anyone else who is doing it, but I realize how difficult it is to do something that is completely original. I do the best I can by searching the net every time I get a flash of inspiration to make sure the idea hasn’t been done before.
To find out more visit donkeyshines.com
If you would like to be a featured designer in an upcoming article on teeopia, fill out the submission form or email info@teeopia.com
Design by Humans $10,000 t-shirt Contest!
Design by Humans is turning 2 years old, and to celebrate they are giving away $10,000 to one lucky winning artist!Submissions are now being accepted through July 26, 2009 (Midnight PDT).
Grand Prize: $10,000 USD
First Runner-Up: $1,000 USD
Second Runner-Up: $1,000 USD
Third Runner-Up: $1,000 USD
Fourth Runner-Up: $1,000 USD
For more information visit the official Design By Humans Contest
The Cotton Factory's Big F*©king Sale
The end of the Big F*©king Sale is near! Your chance to take 35% off of EVERYTHING!This sale expires at the stroke of midnight on Tuesday, July 7, so shop now!
Use coupon code
BIGFNSALE
at checkout.
Sold out items = Sale over, kids. During this f*©king sale, all designs are subject to availability. If we run out of something, we will do our best to let you know it is no longer available.
Shoppers take note: many of these tees will NOT be reprinted, so act fast! Don’t wait to buy your favorite designs, because when they’re gone, they may not be coming back.
Do It Yourself Screen Printing
In this tutorial you will find out how to use a do-it-yourself method of screen printing that is cost effective and practical for small jobs. It is not meant to replace actual silk screening, but for those of you that don't want to acquire all the goods along with photo emulsion, this is an acceptable alternative. Continue reading...Grape Juice Records $500 T-shirt Contest
Grape Juice Records is partnering with AlwaysUrban.com and YOU to design the best T-shirt in the history of the universe for Grape Juice Record's 5th Anniversary!The winner of the contest will take home prize package worth over $500!
You can win:
$200 cash!
Free one-year Zip Car membership and $100 worth of Zip Car driving! ($175 value)
$100 AlwaysUrban gift certificate!
Huge selection of CD's from the Grape Juice Records catalog! ($50 value)
A printed version of your shirt presented to you at the 5th anniversary show!
Recognized as a total bad-ass in all the post-contest press releases and advertising!
The winning design will be unveiled LIVE on stage at the Grape Juice Records 5th anniversary party September, 3rd at the Double Door in Chicago, IL!
Click here to submit your design to Always Urban before the July, 17th submission deadline. Once all the submissions are in, Grape Juice Records' fans will vote from 7/17 to 8/17 on AlwaysUrban.com to pick the winning design!
Submit a design now and become a part of Grape Juice Records' history!
About Grape Juice Records:
Grape Juice Records is Chicago's newest, hardest-working and most unconventional record label. Our goal: to help musicians make a living playing music while simultaneously making a positive social impact on the world around us. We believe that businesses in this country have a responsibility to the communities around them. This world is crazy, but at Grape Juice Records we believe we can make it a little better... one CD at a time. Check us out at .
About AlwaysUrban.com:
Based in Chicago, Always Urban has been supporting underground artists and designers since 2007. Our mission is to help independent artists and designers blow up and we are just happy to be along for the ride. Help us put your local mall out of business, and look fresh doing it.
Okayplayer VS. Definitive Jux
Two hip-hop heavyweights are asking hip-hop fans to settle a beef over who makes the flyest clothes. Okayplayer and Definitive Jux are facing off in the Always Urban Brand Battle, and your votes will decide which hip-hop label reigns supreme in the fashion game!Okayplayer and Definitive Jux have been a huge part of hip-hop culture for years, and any hip-hop lover has spent many hours with the music associated with these two camps. But, Okayplayer and Definitive Jux also produce some of the slickest gear as well as the sickest beats. Your vote will determine which line will be crowned the Brand Battle Champ and will become a part of the Always Urban family!
The brand has the most votes on April 30th, will get bragging rights and a nice big purchase order from Always Urban!
UPDATE: Voting has ended, and Definitive Jux has won the fourth Brand Battle with 57% of the total votes. Def Jux clothing will be available from AlwaysUrban ASAP. When its ready, you’ll find it here.
About Always Urban:
Based in Chicago, Always Urban has been supporting underground artists and designers since 2007. Our mission is to help independent artists and designers blow up and we are just happy to be along for the ride.
Get a FREE BustedTees T-shirt!
BustedTees t-shirts are a $20.00 value, but you can get yours free today!
Designing for a Cause
Pam Shafer first got involved with t-shirt design when she was asked to design a t-shirt for her team of community volunteers. Ever since she has been in love with Graphic Design. She has found that her designs are centered around some kind of activism; whether it may be community oriented, for alternative energy, or in support of a cause. She hopes to inspire others to get involved and support causes that have an important impact on the world.You can find more of Pam's work at www.fearlessthreads-ps.spreadshirt.com When you make a purchase, 10% will be donated to a local charity.
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