design custom Apparel
Make custom apparel that sells with print-on-demand, beginner-friendly design tools, and design do's/don'ts.
How Spreadshop Works
Completely free to design and sell custom apparel. Get started in 5 easy steps.
Step 1: Personalize Shop
Step 2: Make a Design
Step 3: Customize a Product
Step 4: Use Your Promo
Step 5: Share Your Shop
what's print on demand?
Design t-shirts + more with zero inventory, upfront costs
Customize hundreds of products with one click.
No inventory or printing tech needed.
We handle shipping and fulfillment. Printed in the USA.
300+ customizable products
Drag-and-drop your designs. Sell t-shirts, hoodies, hats + more.
Free Design Tools
Starting from scratch? These beginner-friendly design tools can help. We highlight unique features, experience level, and pros/cons.
Canva
Kittl
Adobe Illustrator
I really enjoy how Spreadshop has brought the community I’ve built together in a really visible way.
Sophia Schiaroli (soso-swag)
common design mistakes
Avoid these mistakes when designing print-on-demand apparel
- 1
Using low-resolution images
Always upload artwork at 300 DPI. Avoid stretching small images.
- 2
Using hard-to-read fonts
Use bold typography that's clear and readable.
- 3
Ignoring design and fabric contrast
Light graphics work best on dark shirts and vice versa.
- 4
Making designs too complex
Simple designs with bold shapes and a few colors work best.
print on demand design guide
Free to download, easy-to-use
What’s Inside:
Beginner-friendly design tools + features
How to customize products in 1 click
Design hacks to save time + inspire creativity
Print-on-demand tips from a full-time content creator
+ MORE!
Design File Requirements
Follow these specs to make print-ready designs
File format: PNG with a transparent background
Resolution: 300 DPI for sharp prints
Recommended size: Around 4500 × 5400 pixels
Background: Transparent to avoid unwanted white boxes
FAQ
The best file type for designing custom apparel is a PNG file with a transparent background.
For best results, your file should be high resolution (300 DPI) and large enough for the print area. Vector formats like SVG or AI files can also work for scalable designs.
Yes, you can design custom products even without graphic design experience.
Many sellers use beginner-friendly tools like Canva, Adobe Express, or AI image generators to create graphics, text designs, or logos.
How much you earn selling custom products depends on what you set for your margin on each product.
For example, if a t-shirt has a base cost of $8 and you sell it for $25, you earn $17 per sale.
Learn more about payment of your Spreadshop earnings on our help page.
Design artwork for custom apparel should be high resolution and sized to fit the print area of the product. A common size for t-shirt designs is around 4500 × 5400 pixels at 300 DPI, which ensures the print looks sharp and professional.
Yes, AI tools can help generate artwork ideas and graphics for custom apparel designs.
However, it’s important that artwork is high resolution and you have the right to use the generated image commercially.