To specify T-shirt print placement, give your manufacturer the artwork’s finished width and height, a clearly marked measurement origin, the distance to the printed design, and a rule for each garment size. Approve these instructions on a physical sample. A mockup is useful for appearance, but it does not replace a dimensioned placement sheet.
This guide focuses on positioning a design across a production order. For file formats and colour preparation, use our separate screen printing artwork requirements guide.
Separate print size from print position
Print size describes the dimensions of the graphic. Print position describes where that graphic sits on the garment. Changing one does not automatically change the other.
For example, a wider front graphic can keep the same top-edge position, or it can remain centred around the same midpoint. Those instructions produce different results. State which edge or point stays fixed when the artwork changes.
- Measure the visible artwork, not an exported file’s empty transparent margins.
- Specify width and height in one unit, such as millimetres.
- State whether proportions must remain locked when scaling.
- Use front, back and sleeve drawings with separate placement callouts.
Choose a measurement origin both teams can find
“Below the collar” can mean below the upper edge of the neck rib, below its attachment seam, or below a point on a flat mockup. Mark the intended origin on a drawing or sample photograph so the factory and inspection team measure from the same place.
For a centre-front graphic, one possible instruction is to measure from the centre-front neckline attachment seam down to the top of the visible print. This is an example of a defined method, not a universal placement standard. A different garment or design may need a different reference.
Define horizontal alignment separately. If using the garment centre line, show how it is established on the garment laid flat without stretching. Avoid measuring only from a loosely folded side edge.
| Print area | What the placement sheet should clarify | What to review on the sample |
|---|---|---|
| Centre front | Centre line, vertical origin and top edge of artwork | Visual balance beneath the neckline |
| Left chest | Wearer’s left, vertical origin and horizontal offset | Position when worn, not only laid flat |
| Back | Back neckline reference and graphic alignment | Relationship to the shoulder area and hem |
| Sleeve | Left or right sleeve, orientation and reference seam or hem | Whether the design rotates out of view when worn |
Decide how the graphic changes across sizes
There is no single print width that suits every T-shirt fit and size range. A design approved on an oversized medium should not silently approve its appearance on a fitted extra-small or a much larger garment.
Discuss three possible approaches before sampling:
- One graphic size for the full range. This keeps the artwork dimensions consistent, but its proportion to the garment changes. Check both ends of the size range.
- Grouped graphic sizes. Smaller and larger garments use different approved artwork dimensions. Record the size groups explicitly and ask whether extra production setup is needed.
- Individual sizing by garment size. This gives more control over proportion but adds versions to manage. Confirm feasibility and cost before preparing all files.
Whichever approach you choose, define placement measurements independently. Increasing garment width does not tell the factory how far down the print should move. Connect the placement sheet with your garment size specification and grading plan.
Use a dimensioned example, not an industry default
The following is a fictional specification to illustrate the format. The numbers are not recommended dimensions for your design.
Style: TEST-01. Artwork: FRONT-A, revision 3. Sample size: M. Visible graphic: 260 mm wide by 180 mm high. Align graphic centre to the approved centre-front reference. Top of visible graphic: 75 mm below the centre-front neckline attachment seam. Measure garment flat, relaxed and unwashed. Other sizes require a separate approved placement schedule.
Attach an annotated drawing to this written instruction. Add the agreed placement tolerances before production approval. Keep the reference point, measurement method and inspection stage the same in every document.
Check seams, pockets and the finished garment shape
Ask the manufacturer to review any design that approaches an armhole, crosses a seam, or sits over a pocket. Do not assume a graphic that fits inside a digital outline is straightforward to print on the actual garment.
Clarify whether decoration is applied to cut panels or finished garments. Where panels are decorated before sewing, review the artwork against the finished seam lines, not just the unsewn panel edges. Where finished garments are decorated, confirm access to the intended area and any construction features that affect positioning.
For washed styles, state whether the approved placement is assessed before or after the final wash. Compare the finished result at the agreed stage rather than mixing measurements from different production stages.
Approve the sample with a repeatable check
- Confirm the garment style, sample size and artwork revision.
- Lay the garment flat in the agreed condition, without pulling it into shape.
- Measure visible print width and height.
- Measure vertical position and horizontal alignment from the marked references.
- Review rotation and visual balance on the garment.
- Check how the design sits when worn, especially for chest and sleeve graphics.
- Photograph the measurements and record approval or corrections in writing.
Agree acceptable variation with the manufacturer instead of assuming that a garment measurement tolerance also covers print placement. Record separate limits where necessary. Our measurement tolerances guide explains how to make inspection instructions measurable.
Keep changes out of informal message threads
A message saying “move it slightly higher” is a request for a revision, not a complete new specification. Update the dimension, issue a new revision and withdraw the old placement sheet from production use. If the change affects other sizes, review those sizes too.
Before bulk production, confirm that the approved sample, artwork file and placement schedule all describe the same version. Record unresolved corrections rather than marking an entire sample approved while important changes remain open.
Common buyer questions
Should a left-chest print use the wearer’s left?
State “wearer’s left” on the sheet and label the drawing. This removes the ambiguity between the wearer’s perspective and the viewer’s perspective.
Can I approve placement from a mockup only?
A mockup can approve the design direction. For production placement, add measurements and review a physical sample so garment shape, fit and construction are part of the decision.
Must the same logo be enlarged for larger T-shirts?
No. Keeping it constant or scaling it are design choices. Choose deliberately, check the size range and document the rule rather than leaving the factory to infer it.
Prepare a placement brief for your next order
Send Eking Clothing your garment reference, size range, artwork, finished graphic dimensions and annotated placement drawing. Include quantities by size and any wash or finishing requirements. Request a review of your custom T-shirt print brief before confirming sampling and production details.
