7 Best T-Shirt Design Software to Use in 2021

March 10, 2021
/ Uncategorized
/ By David Williams

If you are a creative person and want to design your t-shirt in your style, then, fortunately, you are in the right place.

No matter what you want to print on your shirts, whether it is the logo or some other design, you can do it flawlessly, but all you need for this is good t-shirt making software.

A wide range of software has to make shirt designing not a problem. You can create the design on the shirt and get a high-quality result.

Some of the software also allows you to do t-shirt printing, making this task full of fun.

Now there are many options of t-shirt design software for beginners and professionals both, which guarantees to give you excellent results.

We have done our research and compiled the 7 best shirt design software with all the details about them. This article will surely help you in selecting the best one for you. This simple software will guide you on how to craft awesome designs on your favorite t-shirts. Plan a theme in your mind, and turn it into reality by using these tools.

T-Shirt Design Software 2021:

Here is some t-shirt design software:

Product	Rating
Adobe Illustrator	10 (Editor's Choice)
Adobe Photoshop	9
CorelDraw Graphic Suite	8
InkScape	7.5
GraffixPro Studio	8
CustomInk	8.5
Printful	7

Learn more: Best Vinyl Cutting Machines For T-Shirts

1. Adobe Illustrator

Why do we love it?

Highly compatible with various printing techniques.
It can be connected to Android or iOS.

Contains various effects, shapes, and fonts.

Pros	Cons
✅Best for professionals.	❌Only professionals can use it.
✅Works on vector images.
✅Integration with different services.

It is one of the most common and popular software use for designing. Only play with this if you are a professional. If you are just starting designing for your hobby and want to create occasional t-shirts, then this isn’t a good option. Illustrator is an excellent tool for crafting premium quality shirts.

The best part of this t-shirt maker software is that it works on vector images, making it easy to scale up or down. You will love the logos and multi-dimensional illustrations created by this fantastic software.

Every graphic designer will surely love the detailing. You can even screen-print your designs through the advanced technology installed in it that creates layering and spot-colored files. You can enjoy many features that include different fonts, shapes, sizes and a variety of effects that give a stunning look to your t-shirt. With different shapes and layering, create what you want to have.

The shirt designing program of this software is quite complicated, so that you may need some time in learning. You don’t have to worry about the complications as Illustrator offers you many tutorials that help you start it. These videos will help you in creating the process of vectors. The only drawback of this software is the complication of the process and, of course, the price tag. This can also work with Best Vinyl Cutting Machines For T-Shirts

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2. Adobe Photoshop

Why do we love it?

Variable fonts.
Auto-activation ability.

Retouch or crop images.
Good brush organization.

Pros	Cons
✅Unlimited layers and colours.	❌Does not work on vectors
✅Fast and precise selection.
✅Rotatable patterns.

Let’s discuss another best program for a t-shirt design that is popular and super powerful. This is considered the world’s best graphic designing software because of its fantastic and unique features. Being a family member of Adobe Illustrator, it has somehow the same features, but the only difference is that Photoshop is more versatile. Unlike Illustrator, it does not work on vectors, but it has various tools to create superior quality effects.

No matter what you want to do, this creative software covers everything, including digital painting and editing. As this doesn’t work on vector, keep in mind that it won’t be capable of screen printing; instead, you can go for DTG printing. You won’t have to stay in the same environment, craft your favorite design on a desktop, tablet, or iPad and upgrade your creativity.

With photoshop, you can enhance, create, and edit your artwork and illustrations. This layer-based programming software is less complicated than Illustrator, but it still needs some hard time to learn. Although you will need some time to get used to it, but it will be worth making efforts. All of its tools and functions works amazingly. We all know a thumb rule that quality always comes with a cost, so the only con of this software is its high price tag.

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3. CorelDraw Graphic Suite

Why do we love it?

Lots and lots of editing tools.
Prominent sliders.

Create incredible patterns and designs.
User-friendly.

Pros	Cons
✅Allows font search and filtering.	❌It is not designed for t-shirts.
✅Improved vector previews.
✅Collection of design features.

One of the most common software for making t-shirt designs is the CorelDraw Graphic Suite. This best graphic design software for t-shirts has an extensive database of various fonts, effects, and colours usually not found in other software. This software comes with a 15-day trial, which means it allows you to test it for some days. If you love to do designing on this software, then you can purchase the annual subscription.

It comes with 2000 templates that give you different ideas and helps in sharpening your mind. With its vector graphics, you can work on any format. It allows the user to customize the placement and fit the shape or size according to their choice. You can design your shirt beautifully using high-resolution images and hundreds of clip art images present in the library. The editing software installed in it is advanced enough to allow you to join images together or add graphics and text.

The majority of its features are similar to Adobe Illustrator, but you don’t have to pay before even trying it out, unlike Illustrator. Download it for free, adjust yourself for this and then purchase it if it feels suitable. Enjoy the freedom of customization with lots of features.

You might be thinking about the downside of this software, right? As this program is not specially designed for t-shirts so you may suffer from some difficulties, but you will learn every aspect with time.

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4. InkScape

Why do we love it?

Bitmap tracing.

Allow primitive vector images.
Offers grouping and layering.

Pros	Cons
✅Doesn’t cost you anything.	❌Unable to handle large files
✅Compatible file formats.
✅User-friendly interface.

Not everyone affords paid designing tools. If you are not running a business and want to design your t-shirt just out of a hobby, you surely don’t want to invest in tools. But finding a t-shirt graphic design software that doesn’t cost you is somehow challenging. Don’t worry; InkScape is here to help you.

If you are a hobbyist or a beginner, then this is the best choice for you; however, this software is not for professionals. This t-shirt design software is a vector-based tool that allows sharp printouts and is surely not limited to some specific pixels. It offers you unlimited resolution; that is why it is used in many graphic tasks. The format used in this is standardized and is supported by all applications.

With this vast software, other than designing t-shirts, you can also make various diagrams, web graphics, logos or everything you want. The functioning of this is pretty much similar to Illustrator, but this is for sure a free tool. It allows you to do screen printing, embroidery, or even turn the bitmap images into vector images.

It would help if you learned the basics of this t-shirt making software which may need some time, but after learning, you will find it super easy to operate. You can utilize your talent in the best possible way through this. CorelDraw’s downside is that it doesn’t have any tutorials for t-shirt designing, and it is unable to handle large files.

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5. GraffixPro Studio

Why do we love it?

Includes popular fonts.

Allows you to personalize your t-shirt.
Order management system.
Quote generator.

Pros	Cons
✅Very easy to work.	❌Limited fonts and templates.
✅Inventory management.
✅Deals with shadows.

This is another best shirt design software used commonly. A fantastic feature of this software is that it works perfectly for beginners and professionals both. If you have a t-shirt printing business and think that what software to use for t-shirt design, GraffixPro Studio is the answer. When compared with other software, it provides a bit extra with improved quality.

Because of the simple interface, you can work on it effortlessly. For designing t-shirts, you need to buy the paid version, but you can contact the brand for the demo. In order to make the task easy and straightforward, it also includes a library of templates and various fonts. By using the library, even beginners can have experience of this.

You can play a lot with the artwork, add shadows or different effects and make your t-shirt look like your dream.

Other than designing a t-shirt, it also does inventory management, barcoding and other tasks. GraffixPro is specially designed to ensure that everyone can do personalization of their garments. You can even do this and enhance your living by gaining profit.

If you don’t want to spend a lot of your precious time learning complicated software, then this is the right option for you. It will transform your basic artwork into artistic designs by using its features. The con of this t-shirt design software is that it has limited fonts and templates, but the price is high.

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6. CustomInk

Why do we love it?

A built-in shopping cart.
Easy to use.

Pre-designed templates.
Different editing options.

Pros	Cons
✅Multiple payment methods.	❌
✅Robust graphics options.
✅Administrative panel.

CustomInk is one of the best programs for t-shirt design and is most loved by everyone because of its unique features. It allows you to create the design as per your taste and then order it. Custom the graphics by adding images, text on the shirt. Design one shirt and purchase as much as you want, this could be an excellent idea for a gift to your friends on some occasion.

It comes with lots of images; you can use any one of them. Just drag and drop the picture; your shirt is ready. With its background grid, your photos and text will stay in the safe printing zone. While sitting in the comfort of your home, design your t-shirt in your style. Search the clip from the library or upload your artwork and simply craft in the way you want.

If you plan to start your small business by selling t-shirts, you should go for a screen printing press. Majority of the users of CustomInk use screen printing. It is considered the best shirt designing program that is manually done. You can even add your name or numbers in it that will help you in making shirts for the sports team. This software mainly aims at selling t-shirts, so once you have done the designing you have to buy that.

The drawbacks of this software are: you have to purchase the t-shirt after customizing it, and before starting the journey with the design, you need to have a basic idea.

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7. Printful

Why do we love it?

High-quality shirts.

No limitations for inventory.
No minimum order.

Pros	Cons
✅Personalized branding.	❌Do not offer refund
✅Great for events.
✅Printing services integration.

In our list of best t-shirt design software, the Printful is last but not least. Make the arrangement of texts and number in the way you want through this fantastic software. The best part of this is it won’t cost you anything if you’re going to download your shirt. You can either create the t-shirt from scratch or pick your favourite shirt, put colours, effects, fonts, and it is ready to go. Other then this, you can also upload your own artwork and make it more interesting.

With this software, you can express your creativity in different ways. You can do various experiments with the sleeves design and the front, back of the shirt. Multiple prints and embroidery options also make it worth the effort. Get premium quality shirts and make your customers happy. You will love the attention to details that are given in the t-shirts.

Customize your shirt and start your business without any limitation of minimum orders. You also don’t have to worry about inventory, as the software itself will manage gear and storage. Dress up your team with the specific colours and design of the t-shirt. When you place a custom bulk order, you will get a good discount.

The drawback of the printful is that it has fewer product categories and they do not offer a refund in case of any problem.

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Frequently Asked Questions- t-Shirt Design Software

Q: How to make a t-shirt design on the computer?

All you have to do is choose a blank t-shirt and use it as a paper piece. Then select the colours and theme you have planned in your mind. After this, add text, number, and letters. Some software also allows you to upload your artwork and then to drag it on your shirt. You can also use images and clip art from the library. Furthermore, the printing of shirts can be done through screen printing.

Q: Is designing a t-shirt is easy or not?

If you start designing from scratch, it may cause some time and effort, especially for beginners; however, if you use the images and templates from the web, it may be easy for you. So, it all depends on your style of designing. Some software is friendly for professionals, while others are good for beginners.

Q: Why should you use the software?

Designing on actual shirts isn’t practical, as you may need to make many changes and doing this on a shirt can be expensive for you. At the same time, t-shirt design software allows you to make as many amendments as you want and purchase the final one for you.

Q: Is t-shirt design software is expensive?

The software designed for professionals is a bit more pricey than others. If you are designing for your hobby, then it isn’t wise to invest in high-end software, while if you want to this for your business, then you should buy good software. Quality t-shirts can only be achieved through premium quality software.

Final Verdict- t-Shirt Design Software

Hopefully, this article was helpful for you in choosing the best programs to design t-shirts. Whether you want to start your business of custom shirts or want your own shirt with a different design, then this software will help you out. Choose one according to your level, and then make full use of your creative mind.

Happy Designing!