The benefits of spreading the brand and causing awareness using a mockup for a T-shirt are self-evident. Organizations want to spread ideas, raise money, create an image that people are attracted to, and extend their reach to a maximum number of people.
Many mockup editors exist to satisfy different industries, company structures, and corporate cultures. Today, we will review the best tools to determine which may be the most relevant ones to you.
Best for Texture and Special Effects
When it comes to styles that stand out the most, such as a T-shirt intended to communicate fun and recreation or the right attitude that best conveys to a company’s target audience, it’s for the company or organization itself to decide the most optimal aesthetics. However, when it comes to kicking a mockup for a T-shirt up an extra gear, we first turn to the programs that offer the most potent features.
Photoshop
This is the king of photo editing, certainly in terms of texture and special effects. However, it requires a subscription and requires getting the hang of the program first. Therefore, it’s not recommended for beginners who also have a limited amount of cash to shell out.
Affinity Photo
Many people choose this popular alternative to Photoshop. Although its features are mostly the same, it’s easier to use, cheaper, and doesn’t require a subscription to own a license.
Both of these two contain the following texture features:
- Pattern fill: features a library of built-in patterns that can be applied on top. These can be used both for backgrounds, fabric textures, and graphic elements on T-shirts;
- Texture overlay: grunge, fabric, concrete, or paper using Layer Styles, rendering the image more realistic.
- Grain: can be used to create an old-fashioned charm
- Fibers: Generates synthetic fibers to give the appearance of simulated threads.
- Emboss and bump maps create a 3D-like effect by simulating how light interacts with an object’s surface.
These special effects in both programs may also come in handy in a t-shirt design:
- Drop shadows: create the illusion of depth and make certain elements stand out
- Outer and inner glow: create radiant effects around text or graphic elements that catch the eye
- Stroke: creates an outline around any object with adjustable parameters, size, and colors.
Photoshop does offer a more extensive list of features, however.
Photoshop’s advantages of Affinity:
- A longer list of features is provided
- More customizable
- Smoother, more efficient workflow
- Deeper integration with 3rd party plugins
- File supported in more apps
- More frequent updates
If a company is totally budget-strapped or simply chooses to be frugal, it might opt for GIMP instead, which is a free, open-source software, though it lags behind the two aforementioned programs in this regard. Plenty of web-based programs offer a similar setup, except that the free options tend to be quite limited.
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Best for Mockup Generation Tools
Given the challenges involved in generating images from scratch, you will definitely need a platform to generate your mockup for a T-shirt.
Yellow Images
YellowImages.com offers an astonishing abundance of t-shirt mockups. As you scroll down the pages, chances are you will find exactly the t-shirt model you were looking for, along with some ideas that you never considered but intrigue you as well. The platform not only provides mockups but also entire outfits and accessories that can complement the t-shirt, as well as backgrounds that show how it will look in the environment the t-shirt is to be worn.
Procreate
This app generates apps for iPad users. It is especially suitable for users who prefer to draw their mockup designs by hand or are often on the go. Of course, this tends to be more time-consuming.
How to Download T-Shirt Mockups
To acquire a mockup for a T-shirt to import into an editor and add your insignia, art, or logo, you first need to know what you’d like to use and follow a few simple steps.
- Visit Yellowimages.com
- Find the menu in the screen’s bottom-left corner and click on the Apparel list.
- When it opens, you’ll see an extensive list of clothing items. Find “T-Shirt” and click on it. Alternatively, you can just type “T-Shirt” into the search bar at the top and press Enter.
- Find a mockup that you’d like to try out and click it.
- View the mockup from different angles, add it to the cart, or select download.
- If you’re using the mockups for commercial purposes, select one of the commercial licenses in the bottom right.
Best for Collaboration
Two cloud-based tools stand out when it comes to collaboration due to their time efficiency and image quality. These tools come in handy when multiple parties or departments are involved in designing an image and it requires a lot of people’s input.
Figma
This one is built based on real-time collaboration. While one designer is working on editing a mockup for a T-shirt, other team members and the client can observe the current state of the process and even leave notes at particular spots in the design, ask questions, or give feedback regarding a particular area. This way, there is no need to exchange files back and forth, and the designer can make adjustments immediately.
Marvel
The second program is also well-suited for real-time team collaboration and prototyping. This option will appeal more to those who desire a lighter, simpler program with a shorter learning curve. It, too, provides feedback loops and a basis for sharing quickly with clients who might not be particularly well-versed in design.
Here are some reasons why you might choose each one over the other:
| Figma | Marvel |
| Advanced design features, such as vector editing, more extensive layout tools, as well as complex grid and responsive design creation; | More beginner-friendly: has a drag-and-drop interface that people without a professional background can use, which is perfect for involving marketing teams and clients |
| Greater design flexibility with advanced typography | Interactive prototyping: clickable prototypes are useful for showcasing t-shirts in real-world settings |
| Cross-team design system compatibility | Faster setup and workflow with quick iteration and sharing |
| Detailed version control: allows you to go back and change every little modification you’ve made. You can view, restore, and duplicate past versions | Mobile-friendly |
| Integrates with a wealth of third-party plugins, for importing assets, automating repetitive tasks, or directly pushing designs to prototyping or development tools | Lower price |
Getting Started
Now, you are much more aware of the extensive options you have in terms of finding the right mockup for a T-shirt and beefing it up into a work of beauty that may indeed turn heads. While you have this new knowledge fresh in your head, you may already have some ideas for what kind of mockup and designs you’d like. Now is as good a time as any.
Visit YellowImages.com to download your very first t-shirt mockups today.
