T-Shirt Design Ideas

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

Well we've got stickers, cards, vbulletin.... next logical step are t-shirts.

My idea is a black shirt with the decal logo on the front over the heart, with this image on the back...

[attachment=381]

But with a Miata instead of a Suby. What do you think? Suggest whatever you feel.

[MeFryRice]

What if you were to put the front logo centered? What about having the shirts printed with our screen names under the image on the backside of the shirt?

Otherwise I think it looks good!

[RotorNutFD3S]

Customizing each shirt can get a little pricey, but I do like the thought of having the screenname on the shirt. You just can't change your name a million times like Mike did. :lol:

When I get home I'm going to mess with a few ideas I had since we last talked about this.

[RotorNutFD3S]

I played with a few designs, but the only one I really like would have the MX5Atlanta.com logo on the front, maybe the screenname under it, and this image I photoshopped on the back:

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z104/RotorNutFD3S/MSMEngine.jpg

Started with this:
http://travis.typepad.com/mechanicalempathy/images/Mazdaspeed_Miata_underhood.jpg
Just cleaned it up and bordered it out.

[deerock]

how about we keep it simple like me fry rice said, mx5atl logo on front centered and the idea for the miata on the back, cept we should use my uber slammed car as the black and white pic ;) lol

just the thought that counts :D

[mustangtomiata]

how do i get a sticker for my car? no rice

[Roadster]

^ Oooh, prettttyyyy.

I'm still thinking black shirt/red decal logo. Small and on the right side on the front, full size on the back.

[RotorNutFD3S]

Talk to Jack, he'll get you hooked up, they're just big enough to fit in the quarter windows, very nice and subtle. $5 gets you a pair shipped to you IIRC. Hopefully he'll throw you in some business cards as well. *Hint hint*[hr]

^ Oooh, prettttyyyy.

I'm still thinking black shirt/red decal logo. Small and on the right side on the front, full size on the back.


You and I think alike as that was one of my first drafts, but then I wanted to see something that stood out a little more. :D Maybe I got carried away.

[mustangtomiata]

lol is jack mx5atlanta?

[Roadster]

how do i get a sticker for my car? no rice


PM Jack (MX5ATLanta.com) to get his paypal address and he'll send you some. :)

*Edit*, goddamn that lightning-posting Eric. ^ :P

[RotorNutFD3S]

lol is jack mx5atlanta?


Yeah, sorry about that.

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

Jack is me. I rule

[BFH miata]

Jack is me. I rule


All Hail...

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

Eric, my only thought with that design is that having a photo style print on the back might be more costly than something that only uses a few different colours.

[Sawyer]

More colors = More money

[RotorNutFD3S]

This isn't my first rodeo cowboy. :lol:
I should have added I have some friends in the shirt business. If you like the design, I can get some $ quotes. :D Just let me know.

[wildfire0310]

This isn't my first rodeo cowboy. :lol:
I should have added I have some friends in the shirt business. If you like the design, I can get some $ quotes. :D Just let me know.



now aren't we mister big shot :D

[RotorNutFD3S]

Don't you have a job to be at or something? :P

[wildfire0310]

Don't you have a job to be at or something? :P



Don't you??? :lol:

[RotorNutFD3S]

I'm at mine. Working a lot actually. This is called multitasking. And getting my mind off work for a few minutes so I don't hurt anyone.

[wildfire0310]

I'm at mine. Working a lot actually. This is called multitasking. And getting my mind off work for a few minutes so I don't hurt anyone.


Yea it great when you start to run out of work to do... free time.. Also multitasking FTW

[CaveRacing]

I don't really have any ideas for the front, but what about something understated for the back.... maybe the mx5Atlanta logo just below the neckline on the back? Just a thought.

[MeFryRice]

I think the front of the shirt to stay simple and clean and then have a image on the back.

How about this, every one that is interested/willing to help, come up with a design of your choice and we'll have a vote for the final decision.

[Sawyer]

Sounds good to me!

[Redraceface]

Thats funny I was once a screen printer not very long ago.

[Redraceface]

Eric, my only thought with that design is that having a photo style print on the back might be more costly than something that only uses a few different colours.

true, more colors mean more screens, and in turn more money, and sometimes the colors of the shirts determine how many screens are used too, for example the any color on a black shirt would need a white underlay meaning two screens for just a one color design. again meaning more money.

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

Time to bring this back from the dead. New year, new stuff!

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

My idea is our decal on the front by the heart. Then on the back a simple outline of the ATL skyline with a miata sitting plum at the bottom of it in it.

[wonton]

what color will the shirts be? please don't say white, please please please.

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

black

[deerock]

i actually made my own shirt on a custom shirt site, ill have to post a link, i think its pretty good.

[roadster1]

Just a thought.....have you ridden with the top down and you wearing a black shirt? Hot hot hot. Whatever the group goes with I will buy one. ( I have lots of black biker shirts from when I rode Harley's but didn't wear them in the summer).

[deerock]

here we go i just uploaded them, ill post them up.

front
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x172/hotwaxx88/shirt-front.jpg

back
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x172/hotwaxx88/shirt-back.jpg

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

That's a good point about the black shirts in summer. Not the biggest fan of white but I do like that **** Dez.

Suggest away people!

[deerock]

yeah i thought it was creative, i mean we can get any color shirt off that site, i just used white as a starter

[wonton]

Red shirts

[deerock]

blue shirts!

[wonton]

No red shirts! :p

[deerock]

No! Yellow shirts!! :p

[wonton]

how bout titty pink!

[deerock]

ahh a color we can agree on! :D

[wonton]

:lmao: :puke:

[deerock]

i like titays

[wonton]

:naughty:

[deerock]

hey! dont you wink at me you pervert ;)

[Sawyer]

Just a thought.....have you ridden with the top down and you wearing a black shirt? Hot hot hot. Whatever the group goes with I will buy one. ( I have lots of black biker shirts from when I rode Harley's but didn't wear them in the summer).

Can you please re-size your sig? It takes up my entire screen..

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

ahem, enough with the tittay talk... t-shirt design suggestions

[FE3tMX5]

What about something that has four horizontal stacked rows with a visual of the car on the left and the letters for each on the right, and the fourth row being the club/website? So like this:

NA car image - letters NA
NB car image - letters NB
NC car image - letters NC
website - letters MX5

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

hmmm that could work, we need some people with photoshop talent to have a go at whipping some stuff up.

[FE3tMX5]

Actually I was thinking flat color illustration for screen printing. Two colors can produce some striking graphics when played out well. I have existing art for all three cars that I've used on other projects. It would only take an hour or two to put together a design.

[RotorNutFD3S]

Well get to it! ;)

[metalman]

I like Rob's idea...big and bold too. ;)
Do it up man. :D

[matredd]

Gray shirts wouldn't be too hot.

[RotorNutFD3S]

Gray shirts wouldn't be too hot.

And they don't show dirt as much as white does.

[LagunaRoadster]

no white tshirts please.

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

Ok so grey seems popular.

[roadster1]

Can you please re-size your sig? It takes up my entire screen..

How's this?

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

Feet, if at all possible could you send me those images too so I can mess with a few designs.

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

So far I have this for the back.

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

here's a nice ripoff of the sexy pants design

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

And a nice simple one.

[RotorNutFD3S]

I like the simple one, however, my only suggestion is to carry the font over from the car outline image into the skyline.

Now we'll have people looking at our asses trying to read the website URL. :lol:

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

I would do! But I don't remember the font name.

[RotorNutFD3S]

Ah. Gotcha! Wouldn't be too hard to photoshop over anyway.

[FE3tMX5]

FWIW - printing around the base like that is pricey, but cool. I didn't want to jump in and do anything unless everybody was for it. Here's some shirt designs I've done for others. They're all flat color for ink screening. Look at those, then tell me if you want me to do something. If I do it, I'd just like a spot for a credit on the design.

[RotorNutFD3S]

I'd like you to upload them into the post as attachments so that I can see them. :lol: But you don't have to, I can look at them later at home.
(Work filters = teh suckage)

[FE3tMX5]

done

[RotorNutFD3S]

WOW! We could have some badass shirts. :D

[metalman]

WOW! We could have some badass shirts. :D

It always pays to utilize the talents of a real graphic artist. ;)
The end result will be much better.

[RotorNutFD3S]

No arguments there. I'll stick to website design and forum management. That takes enough time as it is. :)

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

They look fantastic. It's not gonna cost an arm and leg to print is it?

[metalman]

They look fantastic. It's not gonna cost an arm and leg to print is it?

Printing T's is based primarily on...

Number of colors in graphic
Type/brand of shirt
How many printed at one run

The 'quality' of the graphic is not relevant to cost generally.
****ty looking shirts cost just as much to print as good looking ones. :lol:

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

Well I know where I can buy blank shirts very cheap. I don't know any printers though. F33T, if you don't mind, it would be great if you could do something.

[metalman]

Shopping printers is a key, some are much more willing to print small runs at a reasonable price. Some just dont do small runs.

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

I wouldn't even know where to start with that. Gonna have to start asking around.

[FE3tMX5]

Ok. I'll work up something in two colors- probably work with the blue and silvery gray on a black/dark gray shirt, OR black and blue ink on silver/gray shirt. Believe it or not I don't have any tshirt screening resources. I just hand the files over- what I prefer to do here. But I'm sure there's somebody here that can shop for prices. And keep in mind what MetalMan said when shopping because a cheap shirt can be half the price of new one.

Are we doing front and back or only front (or back)?

- rob

[RotorNutFD3S]

This is just my two cents, but I like the idea of having the website logo (the outline of the car) on the front of the shirt and a design on the back.

I also know someone that prints, or did. Haven't used them in a while so I don't know if they work at the shop or not anymore.

OR we could be really cheap, print the designs out on that iron-on stuff and have DIY shirts. :lol: We did that for a car club at NOPI one year, the shirts turned out really well actually (for the people that can see straight up and down). I still have mine and it hasn't faded or gotten ugly.

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

I'll be on the lookout for printers. As for front/back. Go with whatever you feel works best, if we have a big image on the front I would just have a little mx5atlanta.com on the back just below the collar, or down in a lower corner of the shirt.

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

This is just my two cents, but I like the idea of having the website logo (the outline of the car) on the front of the shirt and a design on the back.

I also know someone that prints, or did. Haven't used them in a while so I don't know if they work at the shop or not anymore.

OR we could be really cheap, print the designs out on that iron-on stuff and have DIY shirts. :lol: We did that for a car club at NOPI one year, the shirts turned out really well actually (for the people that can see straight up and down). I still have mine and it hasn't faded or gotten ugly.

That's one option. I could do that here, my mum also has the hookup on cheap cheap fruit of the loom blank shirts.

[Sawyer]

We did the iron-on ones for my dad's old business. The images tend to crack when the shirt is washed/stretched.

[matredd]

We have too much potential here to downgrade to some iron-ons.

[RotorNutFD3S]

'Twas just an idea... We did large images on the front and back, and I have to say after 6 years, it's barely cracked, and it's been worn plenty.

Anyway, I do agree that it may be wiser to get them actually printed.

[FE3tMX5]

I've always been a fan of small logo front left "pocket" and large art on the back. I'll provide that art and let the group decide on the threads and printing, but I'll design for two color screen. I'm wearing a commercial grade iron on that's about 2-3 years old and it's not too pretty - nothing like a screened shirt would be IMO. What happens is the shirt fuzz comes through the art, the screen ink prevents that. But no cracking on it. I think the big diff between the two is you need a quantity for silk screening where as the iron-ons don't require a quantity for price break.

[matredd]

'Twas just an idea... We did large images on the front and back, and I have to say after 6 years, it's barely cracked, and it's been worn plenty.

Anyway, I do agree that it may be wiser to get them actually printed.

Not to sound critical.

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

Well seen as we're going for quality over quantity I'll probably get together a sign up list so I don't face being stuck with a large quantity of shirts and not enough buyers (cough stickers!).

[FE3tMX5]

And if you don't get enough interest for the screened shirts, do the iron-ons now and the screened ones later when there's interest.

[RotorNutFD3S]

^Good point. We could always have the option for either, just in case someone can't afford the screened shirt for whatever reason.

Matt, I know you weren't being critical. I didn't take it that way. It's definitely one of those "Your Mileage May Vary" items and I was basically voicing as such.

I still have like 1,000 business cards too. :lol: But that's because I ordered enough to give one to every Miata owner in GA.

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

:lmao: I'm gonna start handing some of my mass pile out to other people to distribute I think

[RotorNutFD3S]

That's what I did... And I still have ~1,000 left. :lol: Oh well. I take advantage of deals when they come along.

[metalman]

I might have a hook up on a screen printer that will do smaller runs. Will let you know.

[LagunaRoadster]

I'll take some business cards.

and if you end up doing shirts. I know you'll have at least sold 2 or 3, as I like to have a few, and my dad always wants one.

[BFH miata]

there is always cafepress dot com for printing... no minimums and people can order and pay for the shirts themselves. I have a "shop" set up through them and the printing quantity is decent.

[FE3tMX5]

As proposed- all three generations stacked with the model letters to the left. Club/site name worked better up top. Adding the dot com up top wasn't pretty. Could add it elsewhere in small type. - rob

[RotorNutFD3S]

Holy awesome design batman! I like!!!

[metalman]

Lookin' good. Red & white on a black T for me please ;) :D

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

Looks awesome. Kurt has the right idea with the colour scheme. I can get black shirts for a good price. That's a kickass design. Here's the logo if you want to integrate it.

[FE3tMX5]

Here's red and white, and a darker red and yellow/orange. I think using a color vs. the stark white makes for a more dynamic design. White is sooo... so... t-shirt. ;)

We can put the logo on the front and I'll change that type to mach the font used in the site banner.

In the grand scheme of things, I'd try to keep the site and the shirt similar colors. So if the shirt goes red and something, then I'd adjust the site. Just thinking "big picture".

One nice thing about cafe press is the business part. You could build in a profit to the shirt that could help fund the cost of the site since you're doing this mostly out of your pocket.

[metalman]

Here's red and white, and a darker red and yellow/orange. I think using a color vs. the stark white makes for a more dynamic design. White is sooo... so... t-shirt. ;)


Contrast is a good thing...especially when using only one or two colors.
I like the orange too.

[FE3tMX5]

Which is why I went with the yellow orange... think DOT signs :D

[wildfire0310]

One nice thing about cafe press is the business part. You could build in a profit to the shirt that could help fund the cost of the site since you're doing this mostly out of your pocket.

There is the graphic designer/business side of you come out. You do have a great idea there.

One of my other forum has a paid member section. Basically if you pay $25 dollars for a year. You get to see the paid members section, a free shirt and a discount on all events that they host. Also you get to buy extra shirts at $10 a pop instead of $15 for non-member. Something to think about if the site gets big enough that we can start to host events like PDX and such.

[RotorNutFD3S]

Hmmm... I still like the blue design the best. But that's because I'm imagining it on a gray shirt.

[metalman]

Hmmm... I still like the blue design the best. But that's because I'm imagining it on a gray shirt.

Yep. Blue on gray would look good as well.

[FE3tMX5]

There is the graphic designer/business side of you come out. You do have a great idea there...

Basically I'd run this site like a business. If the members are happy, then the effort stays healthy and income guarantees it's presence. AND if the owner ever gets another car he's got something to sell to help cover the payments. ;) This is pretty much what the new owner has done with miataturbo.net. He's pissed off a few, but those few have been replaced by dozens of new members. He's probably brought in about ten times the advertising that the site had previously and for the most part I don't think it has changed from the user experience.

[metalman]

for the most part I don't think it has changed from the user experience.

Thats an important key. Generally the most successful forums dont charge members for the 'privilege' of posting or membership. They attract members then make sponsors/business pay. ;)

[wildfire0310]

Basically I'd run this site like a business. If the members are happy, then the effort stays healthy and income guarantees it's presence. AND if the owner ever gets another car he's got something to sell to help cover the payments. ;) This is pretty much what the new owner has done with miataturbo.net. He's pissed off a few, but those few have been replaced by dozens of new members. He's probably brought in about ten times the advertising that the site had previously and for the most part I don't think it has changed from the user experience.

Yea I do agree. Granted there has been a few changes with Mt.net since Phil sold it to Rick, but overall the site has not changed that much. GADSM.org runs the same way but what they do, is use the money that GADSM.org makes to host events such as Import Showdown, which then makes money itself.

I would love for this site to get to the point were we can hold atleast an annual or bi-annual events at Road Atlanta.

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

Me too. I would also love for sponsors/businesses to pay me but none of them give me the time of day at the moment whenever I get in touch with them about advertising. Apart from Jason at Enthuza and that's why he's so cool. :D

There seems to be a split between a premium membership section for additional benefits and just a donate section. But yeah, I need to find a way to make up for all the out of pocket expenses. Giving out t-shirts and stickers with memberships always attract people but considering I haven't intended to make profit on any of the items I can't give them away and take a loss on them aswell. Well at least not until I have lots of sponsorships paying me each month.

Google ads messed us over big time. That had everything covered.

I like the blue with the grey idea. Especially if we want it to match the website because there's no way I'm gonna make this place red!

[metalman]

There seems to be a split between a premium membership section for additional benefits and just a donate section.

The problem with a premium section with 'additional benefits' is that for the most part it would have to be something quite special to attract sufficient regular interest. In Miata terms I would think that to be rather difficult as Miata related discussion/information freely abounds on the internet. Just paying to chat with the same people in different threads you chat with in free sections isnt going to be sufficient motivation enough for most understandably. :lol:

As for sponsors, for someone to consider that angle they must see a potential 'payback' to them...or at least furthering of their name if thats important to them. A small local forum like this is somewhat at a disadvantage in that area.

[RotorNutFD3S]

As for sponsors, for someone to consider that angle they must see a potential 'payback' to them...or at least furthering of their name if thats important to them. A small local forum like this is somewhat at a disadvantage in that area.

This is the exact reason I told Jack to include a specific item in his requests that would make the vendor more willing to join up. It's been successful in other forums, apparently these vendors did not care about it.

[metalman]

This is the exact reason I told Jack to include a specific item in his requests that would make the vendor more willing to join up. It's been successful in other forums, apparently these vendors did not care about it.

I suppose the current economic conditions might be a factor too. Companies are having to scrutinize expenses more carefully where in the past they might have just considered it a sponsorship of 'goodwill'. Just a guess.

[wildfire0310]

The problem with a premium section with 'additional benefits' is that for the most part it would have to be something quite special to attract sufficient regular interest. In Miata terms I would think that to be rather difficult as Miata related discussion/information freely abounds on the internet. Just paying to chat with the same people in different threads you chat with in free sections isnt going to be sufficient motivation enough for most understandably. :lol:

As for sponsors, for someone to consider that angle they must see a potential 'payback' to them...or at least furthering of their name if thats important to them. A small local forum like this is somewhat at a disadvantage in that area.

Yea the advantaged of the member section on GADSM.org was that it was a smaller group so there was member only meets that involved peoples houses and such. Also member would loan out tools for free. If I remember correctly the board even bought a few specialty tools that got loaned around paid members only.

The main reason for people to pay was to support the site and for the discount on events such as Import Showdown and when they went down to Little Tal.

[RotorNutFD3S]

I suppose the current economic conditions might be a factor too. Companies are having to scrutinize expenses more carefully where in the past they might have just considered it a sponsorship of 'goodwill'. Just a guess.

You're completely right there too. The two companies I approached, whose owners I know on a decently personal level, named that exact reason.

[FE3tMX5]

Start small. Establish the relationship. Go from there.

[Synthmob]

Here's red and white, and a darker red and yellow/orange. I think using a color vs. the stark white makes for a more dynamic design. White is sooo... so... t-shirt. ;)

I like them all BUT (maybe someone mentioned already) for a website, I didn't see the website URL on it... You and me know the URL but does someone casually looking at it?

[jackelope]

*sub*

[JDM88]

Honestly kurt I think companies are shortsighted if they don't see the potential of avertising on a local forum. We may not be huge but if you get in ealry just think of the customer base you could establish, the whole Atlanta region is at their fingertips. I've already noticed enthuza get a few sales from people on here and when you consider how little I was asking in return, well that quickly gets made up. This place gets alot more views than one would think. I'll add more later

[FE3tMX5]

We talked about putting the logo/web address on the front.

Parts traded at retail value is another option too. Then you can sell, or put your car mods money towards the site costs, since you're getting the parts for "free".

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

Lol I would be cool with that but even so, I just want a response from some of these people!

[Oblio]

how about BRG colored Tshirt and something that says mazDUH

[silver280zx]

Lookin' good. Red & white on a black T for me please ;) :D

I second that

[Roadster]

I second that

Third. Love the design.

[LagunaRoadster]

super sweet. blue....yay!

[matredd]

It would be cool if we could still have the Atlanta skyline on the bottom with the graphics on the opposite side. Maybe...

[FE3tMX5]

After some thinking, I believe the best thing to do is put the web site address on the back with the art. No sense in separating it from art - otherwise it would be a missed opportunity too many times. Here's a jpeg of the final design in red/white on a black. I'm going to give the boss man a final Illustrator file which any silkscreener or iron-on shop can use. At that point they can just be told to print red as whatever color, white as whatever color and on whatever color shirt. The file is setup with two spot colors, so it'll work however "you" want it. - rob

[RotorNutFD3S]

That's cool. You do great work! And the web address looks great there. And I still think we'll be able to pull off the car w/ web url logo on the front too, small and over the heart.

[wildfire0310]

I would totally go for a red/white or blue/white on a black shirt.

[Redraceface]

Shopping printers is a key, some are much more willing to print small runs at a reasonable price. Some just dont do small runs.

My Cousin owns blue sky printing in Watkinsville his name is wes I'm sure we could get a deal from him.

[Synthmob]

Excellent! If the designer doesn't mind, I made it the wallpaper on my iphone.... I could also see this as a good forum banner to take to RA events, ftw!

[Redraceface]

Holly crap I dig that!!!

[Redraceface]

and it's only two colors, less money.

[deerock]

im down for that, it beats the crap out of my design lol

and yes, its now a background option on my iphone!

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

It's brilliant :)

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

Found a few possible places in Athens. I'm waiting on a few people to vouch for quality though. I really want these to look as good as possible. How much are you lot willing to pay? $15 $20? Anything lower would be a plus but of course I'ld be suspect of quality at that point.

[RotorNutFD3S]

$15-25 seems to be about right.

[FE3tMX5]

How about this for the front so it matches the type on the rear and the site? Just updated the provided logo.