Customizing your own t-shirts online is simple, if you know where to start and have tips from the pros.

Start with the shirt. Choose a name brand or generic t-shirt. Pick a style like mens, womens, v-neck, roundneck, babydoll, and long or short sleeved. Each style may have a different cost.

Next comes the design. Online libraries have thousands of images to choose from. You can also create your own with a computer graphic program or use a photo and then upload it. Experts say proper resolution is critical for clean results. The standard resolution for printed artwork is 300 dpi (dots per inch).

Typically, if you upload your own image, a production team member will check out the design and make suggestions to be sure it will print well.

When it comes to clothing, size definitely matters. Experts have some advice. When buying for men, always look for adult sizes. Always buy more larger sizes than smaller sizes. Often there are styles called “beefy” and they are cut larger. Men’s cut t-shirts are usually more square.

If you’re buying for women, look for women-specific styles like baby doll. The women’s styles are often cut so they come in a bit at the waist and flare at the bottom. If the women in your group prefer men’s cuts and styles, buy a men’s size that is one size smaller than what they would wear in a women’s size. For example, if she wears a women’s medium, get a men’s small.

If you are in charge of purchasing shirts for a big group or for fundraising, be sure to buy more larger sizes than smaller sizes. Most people prefer wearing bigger t-shirts.

If you have any suggestions for creating customized shirts please let us know and we will share them with our readers.