Topics
Welcome to the Design Creation and File Optimization. This goal is to equip you with the understanding and skillset necessary to develop visually stunning and high-quality designs for your POD products. In this section, you will:
- Grasp the core principles of good design, such as balance, contrast, hierarchy, repetition, and white space. These principles are integral to the appeal and marketability of your POD products.
- Understand the significance of optimizing designs for POD, focusing on aspects like color profiles, image resolution, and print dimensions. Knowledge of these factors ensures superior print quality and heightened customer satisfaction.
- Explore a wide variety of tools and resources for creating and editing designs, including professional software like Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, as well as user-friendly online tools like Canva and GIMP.
Upon completion of this section, you’ll have an understanding of creating exceptional designs, optimizing image files submission to POD suppliers, and selecting the right tools to realize your creative vision. This knowledge will help you can create visually compelling and high-quality designs that will set your POD designs apart from the competition.
Copyrights & Trademarks
You are solely responsible for the products you design and print (and I am not a lawyer). While I can’t provide legal advice, I can stress the importance of copyrights and trademarks. When creating POD products, it is crucial to ensure that your designs do not infringe on any copyrights or trademarks. Ignoring this step can trigger serious legal and financial repercussions for your business.
Here’s why checking copyrights and trademarks before launching and publishing a product is critical:
- Legal Consequences: Unpermitted use of copyrighted or trademarked material may provoke a lawsuit from the intellectual property (IP) owners. Such an infringement can incur substantial fines and might even cost you your business.
- Reputation Damage: Your brand’s credibility can take a hit if you infringe on someone’s IP. Customers may shy away from a brand with a history of IP infringement. Additionally, potential business partners might hesitate to collaborate due to legal risks.
- Financial Setbacks: A guilty verdict in a copyright or trademark infringement case often involves paying damages to the IP owner, heavily impacting your business’s financial health. Plus, you may have to pull infringing products from your catalog, resulting in lost revenue.
- Resource Drain: Entangling yourself in legal disputes can consume valuable time and money. You might need to hire legal assistance, spend hours in court, and devote resources to verify copyrights and trademarks.
Check Copyrights & Trademarks
NechEmpire
Checking copyrights and trademarks is essential. Fortunately, there are several free resources available to help you verify if your designs infringe on existing IP rights. If you have any doubt as to ownership, I highly recommend you consult with a legal expert specializing in intellectual property law about the legality of your designs.
- United States Copyright Office (USCO): The USCO offers an online database where you can search for registered copyrights in the United States. While not every copyrighted work is registered, searching the USCO database is a good starting point.
- United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO): The USPTO offers a free search tool called the Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS) that allows you to search for registered trademarks in the United States. This database is particularly useful for checking brand names, logos, and slogans.
- Creative Commons Search: Creative Commons Search is a search engine that helps you find content that has been licensed under Creative Commons licenses. It is essential to understand the specific license terms and conditions before using any material found through this search.
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO): WIPO is a global organization that promotes the protection of intellectual property rights. Their Global Brand Database allows you to search for trademarks from multiple countries and regions, making it an invaluable tool if your POD business operates internationally.
- European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO): EUIPO is responsible for managing the European Union Trade Mark (EUTM) and the Registered Community Design (RCD). If you are selling POD products within the European market, it is essential to search the EUIPO database to ensure your designs do not infringe on any trademarks or designs registered in the EU.
- TMHunt: TMHunt is a search engine specifically for clothing trademarks. Updated daily with official USPTO records in clothing class (IC 025),
TMHunt offers several search options, including: Multi search, Split search, Wildcard search. - Google Images: Using Google Images, you can perform a reverse image search to see if your design has been used elsewhere on the internet. This can help you identify possible copyright infringements and give you an idea of the originality of your design.
- Tineye: Tineye is another reverse image search engine that can help you identify potential copyright infringements by searching for visually similar images across the internet. This tool can provide additional insights to help ensure the uniqueness and legality of your designs.
Conversations about intellectual property are a common topic among creators… What’s the difference between a copyright and a trademark? What is considered “fair use”? Can I use “public domain” art in my designs? Get your answers to these and other questions in this post – Printful: Can I Print That? Copyright and Trademark 101 by Madara Zalcmane.
Principles of Good Design
A captivating design can magnetize potential customers and supercharge sales. That’s why grasping the principles of effective design is essential to making your POD products shine. Remember, design is not just about aesthetics—it’s an art form that demands creativity and thoughtfulness.
You might wonder, what does “good” design actually look like?
By incorporating these elements of design into POD products, creators can produce visually appealing items, meet the needs of their target audience, and produce high-quality designs that stand out in a crowded marketplace.
There are 1’000s of excellent design and design theory books available… Dieter Rams, the legendary industrial designer best known for Braun and Vitsoe products, has shaped countless product designs and inspired generations of designers with a “less but more” philosophy. His “10 Principles of Good Design” was a featured exhibit at The Design Museum (London, UK). The Design Museum: What is “Good” Design? A quick look at Dieter Rams’ Ten Principles.
Optimizing Image Files for POD Products
The success of your online store is closely linked to the quality of your product designs, which is directly related to the files you send to the printer. By focusing on high-quality print files, you can ensure you’re producing the best possible results from your print supplier.
The key to mastering your print files is simple – adhere to the guidelines provided by your supplier. To simplify the process, here’s a collection of valuable tips (courtesy of Printful) to guide you in creating optimized print files.
Print File Terminology
Before we begin, let’s get familiar with some terminology to help you better understand this image file section.
Print Size: The actual size of your design as it’ll appear on the product, measured in inches or centimeters.
Image File Size: The amount of space your image consumes on a disk or drive, measured in bytes. For instance, some suppliers will only accept a maximum file size of 200 MB.
Pixel: The basic unit of measurement you can see on a monitor for a digital image.
Pixel Dimensions: The total number of pixels along the width and height of a digital image.
Resolution: The density of pixels (PPI – pixels per inch) in a digital image, or dots (DPI – dots per inch) in a printed image.
DPI: A printing term that determines the sharpness of your print.
- The higher the DPI = the more dots = the sharper the print.
- The lower the DPI = the fewer dots = the blurrier the print.
To visualize the connection between dimensions and resolution, consider these three penguins with the same dimensions but different DPIs. Do you see the jagged edging and fuzziness of the penguin at 30 DPI? Compare that to the penguin at 150 DPI. Which one looks best?
Image File Guidelines
For optimum results, always verify the printer’s guidelines so you’re clear about their requirements. Printful offers file guidelines and print file templates under the ‘File Guidelines’ tab for each product. The guideline provides all the necessary details to create your image file.
Utilizing the supplier’s print file template is the right path for creating the best possible product print.
If you’re just getting started, the built-in tools in Printful’s Design Maker (Clipart, Text Tool, Quick Design, etc.) are a fail-proof way to make good print files. Once you upload your design and create your print file, the Design Maker alerts you if your image isn’t fit for printing.
Printful Image Guidelines
- Accepted print file formats: PNG, JPEG.
- Accepted embroidery file formats: PDF, PNG (JPG accepted, but not recommended: design elements in images of this format always have a background which can make the design look bad, and JPG also unnecessarily increases the embroidery stitch count, making it easy to go beyond the limit).
- Maximum size of the print area: depends on the product you choose (e.g. the standard print area for t-shirts is 12″ × 16″, but for 11 oz. mugs—9″ × 3.5″).
- Print file resolution (DPI): again, depends on the product, but should be at least 150 DPI, and no higher than 300. Going beyond 300 DPI does not improve the print quality, it only increases the file size.
- Print files for smaller items, like mugs or phone cases, need a DPI higher than 150 because those prints are small and often detailed. We recommend submitting designs for these products with a DPI of 300.
- Color profile: the final version of your print file should be saved in the sRGB color profile sRGB IEC61966-2.1. You can set the color profile in the image editing software you’re using.
- Why sRGB and not CMYK?
sRGB has a wider, more vibrant color range (aka gamut) compared to CMYK.
Printful’s DTG printers work with an upgraded CMYK color space where they’ve added more ink colors, allowing them to achieve print colors that normally fall outside of the CMYK color range. The closest color space to their upgraded CMYK is the sRGB IEC61966-2.1 and that’s why they recommend it for print files. - Read also: Color Matching Guide for Print-on-Demand Products.
- Why sRGB and not CMYK?
- Acceptable content: your design has to follow Printful’s Acceptable Content Guidelines. If your design is hateful, illegal, or violates any intellectual property rights, their team may block it. You’ll still see the file in your order or File library, but you’ll receive a warning about your design being blocked and we won’t print it.
- Read also: The Copyright & Trademark section to want you can legally print.
More Design Guidelines
It’s important to note that the requirements may vary depending on the specific product and platform, so it’s always a good idea to check each platform’s guidelines before designing.
- File formats: JPEG, PNG, and GIF. TIFF and PDF files won’t work correctly
- Resolution: 150 DPI or higher, but no higher than 300 DPI.
- Color mode: CMYK works best for print, and sRGB works best for viewing designs on the web. For the best of both worlds, you want to design your work in the CMYK format. Then before you upload, you want to convert the finished work into the sRGB color profile.
- Transparent background is recommended for apparel and non-apparel products
- Design placement: Centered on the product
- Maximum print area: Varies by product
- Design position: Use Redbubble’s design templates for accurate placement
- Additional design requirements: Designs cannot include copyrighted or trademarked material without permission
- File formats: JPEG, PNG, or TIFF
- Resolution: 300 DPI or higher
- Color mode: sRGB
- Recommended dimensions: At least 4500 x 5400 pixels
- Transparent background is recommended for apparel products
- Design placement: Use Merch by Amazon’s design templates for accurate placement
- Maximum print area: Varies by product
- Additional design requirements: Designs cannot include copyrighted or trademarked material without permission
- File formats: AI, and PNG (you must expand clipping mask within .ai files)
- Resolution: 300 DPI or higher
- Color mode: CMYK
- Recommended image dimensions: At least 1200 x 1200 pixels
- Transparent background is recommended for apparel and non-apparel products
- Design placement: Centered on the product
- Maximum print area: Varies by product
- Design position: Use Redbubble’s design templates for accurate placement
- Additional design requirements: Designs cannot include copyrighted or trademarked material without permission.
SPOD:
- File formats: Pixel: PNG, JPG, BMP, or GIF, Vector: SVG, AI, and CDR
- Maximum file size: 50MB
- Resolution: Pixel: 200 DPI apparel, 400 DPI non-apparel
- Color mode: Vector: maximum 3 colors
- Recommended image dimensions: Min 1000 x 1000, Max 4000 x 4000; Vector: 11 x 11 inches recommended
- Transparent background is recommended for apparel and non-apparel products
- Maximum print area: Varies by product
- File formats: PNG, JPG, and Vector formats
- Resolution: 150 – 300 DPI
- Color mode: CMYK
- Recommended image dimensions: Files must be provided at the size you need to print
- Transparent background is recommended for apparel and non-apparel products
- Design placement: Centered on the product
- Maximum print area: 13.5″ width x 15.5″height
- File formats: PNG
- Resolution: 150 – 300 DPI
- Color mode: CMYK
- Recommended image dimensions: 4000px minimum for the longest side of the design
- Transparent background is recommended for apparel and non-apparel products. No fluorescent colors.
5 Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them
Occasionally, designing for print-on-demand products can result in less-than-stellar outcomes. Let’s explore some common pitfalls and find their solutions.
Mistake 1 – Over Enlarging a Low-Resolution Image
Let’s imagine you’re creating a custom t-shirt featuring a moka pot. You discover a copyright-free, 335 × 410 px image and upload it to the Design Maker, but it appears too small for the 12″ × 16″ print area. Enlarging it reduces the DPI, lowering the print quality. What should you do?
You have four potential solutions:
A. Search for a high-resolution moka pot image (150–300 DPI)
B. Accept a smaller image than you wanted
C. Convert your low-quality image into a vector
D. Use an image adjustment tool like Printful’s Smart Image Tool
A. Smart Choice
This is self-explanatory, so let’s look into options 2, 3, and 4.
B. You settle for a smaller image than you wanted
If you opt to shrink your image in the Design Maker, the DPI improves but the print size reduces. You admit it’s not ideal but accept the design.
C. You convert your low-quality image into a vector file
For those with time or skill, consider recreating your image as a vector using a vector editing program or online converter (view Tools & Resources section below). Vectors are graphics made of points, lines, curves, and shapes that are based on math formulas. They’re a great option because your designs are scalable without loss of quality. After resizing, export your vector as a PNG file.
D. You use an image adjustment tool like Printful’s Smart Image Tool
You could utilize Printful’s Smart Image Tool. It leverages Artificial Intelligence to predict the behavior of image information based on size changes. The tool can double the size of an image with a DPI of 38–74 without quality loss, lifting your 60 DPI moka pot to a viable 120 DPI.
Mistake 2 – Adding Unnecessary Backgrounds to DTG Designs
Remember, printers will print all colors in a design, including unwanted backgrounds. Backgrounds can result in a grayish rectangle around your design when printed on dark garments.
Why? The printer will print all the colors in the design file. A black background on a black garment does not equal transparent – it is a black background. So if you create a DTG design with a black background on a black garment, be aware that it’ll leave a grayish rectangle around your design. And it’ll be gray because prints on all non-white garments require a white underbase to help the colors stand out.
If you want the gray rectangle, that’s cool. But if you don’t, remove the background!
Learn More: DTG vs. Screen Printing: Choosing the Right Apparel Printing Method for You.
Mistake 3 – Excessive Use of Transparency
While transparency is great for all-over print (AOP) and certain products, it may not work well with DTG prints. Transparency effects may depend on design creation, transparency level, and the color of the garment. Always keep the impact of the white underbase on your design in mind when using DTG.
While transparency designs work great for all-over print (AOP) and some other products, but might not look good on DTG prints.
Transparency effects may depend on design creation, transparency level, and the color of the garment. Always keep the impact of the white underbase on your design in mind when using DTG.
- White garments = no white underbase, transparencies will print out fine.
- Non-white, light-colored garments = white underbase will be difficult to notice but might shine through semi-transparent areas.
- Dark-colored garments = white underbase might be visible as small white speckles in semi-transparent areas.
For AOP (sweatpants, leggings, etc.) and sublimation (mugs, towels, etc.) products, transparent elements are OK to use because these printing techniques don’t call for a white underbase. For AOP, though, you still may want to fill in the entire print area with solid shapes or colors as much as you can to avoid any blank white fabric showing. Unless, again, it’s a part of your design!
Important note on phone cases: The components of your phone case designs should be at 0% or 100% transparency. We don’t recommend semi-transparencies because the final result will end up patchy.
If semi-transparencies are your thing, the Printful Graphics Team recommends using the halftone effect instead. Halftone can be used on any kind of product, regardless of the printing process.
Mistake 4 – Improper Background Removal
Fuzzy, low-quality designs might result from improperly removed backgrounds. For a cleaner look, duplicate your final design with the transparent background multiple times in your image editing software. This technique reveals hidden remnants of the background, which you can then remove.
Example: To avoid the fuzz, in your image editing software, duplicate your final design with the transparent background multiple times. The little details you missed will become more visible and you’ll be able to easily remove those unsightly edges.
Mistake 5 – Mismatched Print and Product
Every product has a different texture and feel when printed.
That’s why, when choosing products for your designs, think about the print placement and design elements, and whether your vision will work for that product. The rule of thumb is, patterns look good as all-over prints, photographs work well as posters and typography designs are perfect for DTG and embroidery products.
If you’re selling apparel, remember that your designs will also look slightly different depending on the fabrics and fabric blends you print on.
Ink will spread out more and look more “faded” on sweatshirts versus t-shirts since sweatshirts are made from a thicker fabric. Due to the looser weave and a combination of fabrics in tri-blends, DTG prints on tri-blend garments will have a vintage feel – the fabric of the garment will peep through the ink.
For some, that faded or vintage feel will be just what the doctor ordered, for others, the print won’t look as imagined and will be perceived as poor quality.
Read also: Guide to Cotton, Polyester, and Blended Fabrics
Design Tip Summary
1. Embrace the Journey of Concept Exploration
Take a step back and allow yourself ample time to go through the design process. Sketch out your T-shirt ideas, take a leisurely stroll, experiment with variations, grab a bite, engage in a thorough brainstorming session, and get a good night’s sleep before revisiting your work. Even if inspiration strikes immediately, it’s always wise to explore other creative avenues just to be sure.
2. Find the Perfect Match Between Design and Product
A great design on one item might not necessarily look as appealing on another. Start by ensuring that the design and product are a logical pairing. We’ve encountered odd combinations like “#1 Granddad” on women’s tank tops or “This is my party shirt” on a coffee mug. Once you’re satisfied with the design and product compatibility, consider the printing method and fabric. Some techniques work better on specific fabrics, while others offer unique effects such as glitter or glow-in-the-dark.
Here are some helpful pointers for selecting the ideal product/print technique combination:
- Digital Direct Prints (DTG) may appear more faded on sweatshirts than on T-shirts (cotton) since ink tends to fade slightly on softer (polyester blend) products.
- DTG on rougher/textured items like polo shirts will be somewhat faded due to the fabric’s texture while the heat-transfer printing employed by DTF produces clearer designs with better contrast.
- Flock (velvet) on caps adds depth and texture to logos.
- Logos with transparency (less than 100% opacity) may not turn out well on colored products, as a white layer needs to be printed first. However, on white products, gradients featuring transparencies can be used effectively.
- DTF isn’t subject to the same fabric limitations as DTG, resulting in more consistent outcomes across various products.
To ensure you’re happy with the print results, order samples before adding products to your store. This way, you’ll know exactly how the product looks and feels, and you minimize the risk of returns and/or bad reviews.
3. Prepare Your Artwork Properly
Some print-on-demand products have limited color options. Be sure to choose colors that work well with the product’s available color options.
When screen-printing, use Pantone Colors – your printer will appreciate it. They’ll also be grateful if you outline any text and expand any strokes. There are numerous tutorials are available online, particularly for Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. Familiarize yourself with the process to ensure your printer can work seamlessly with your design.
4. Pick the Perfect Colors
The shape of the product can affect the placement and orientation of the design. Consider how the design will look on the product’s surface.
After selecting the ideal products for your fantastic design, ensure that the product colors enhance your artwork. Avoid placing a red design on a red shirt and ensure that any text is easily readable against the background color.
Try not to overwhelm potential customers with too many color choices. We all know the feeling of being unable to choose from a vast array of seemingly identical options. It’s best to limit your color options to a maximum of five per product.
Incorporate Complementary Colors in Your Design
Make the most of the base color by selecting complementary shades. If you’re using Adobe Illustrator, enable Global Colors. This feature is a lifesaver and will save you a considerable amount of time.
You can also use halftones to maximize the limited colors you’re permitted to employ.
5. Simplicity is Key, but Don’t Neglect Detail
While great drawing skills and attention to detail are appreciated, some of the most iconic T-shirt designs achieve their impact through sheer simplicity. Striking a balance between the two can be challenging but essential for a successful design.
Visualize Your Design on a Product
If you’ve worked with both print and digital media, you’ll know that a design can look quite different on screen compared to the final printed product.
It is important to test the design on the actual product to ensure it looks good and meets all requirements. Don’t hesitate to create a mockup of your design on a model’s photo or even print it out and place it on an actual T-shirt. Be sure to view your artwork at its actual size before moving forward.
Seek Constructive Criticism and Multiple Opinions
Ask your loved ones for their honest opinions, and don’t be afraid to request second, third, or even fourth opinions. Gather feedback from friends and family before launching your product. Their perspectives can offer fresh insights and help you make improvements when you feel stuck.
Don’t Forget to Check Your Spelling!
Spelling and grammar mistakes in your designs or on your website can appear unprofessional and negatively impact your sales. Use tools like spell checkers or Grammarly to ensure all your “i’s” are dotted and your “t’s” are crossed!
6. Know Your Target Audience
Understanding your market is crucial. Consider who you’re designing for – men or women, young or old? Ultimately, you want to create a product that people will be excited to wear. Like a successful brand, try writing down a detailed description of the person you want to attract with your T-shirt design, including their interests and favorite brands, and use this as your starting point.
7. Expand Your Product Range Beyond T-shirts
Print on Demand offers more than just T-shirts. Increase your sales by showcasing your design on various products, such as mugs, tote bags, hats, or pillowcases. However, remember to be mindful of the next point.
8. Use Humor Wisely
If your T-shirt design incorporates humor, ensure that it doesn’t come across as a cheap, low-quality joke. The most successful humorous T-shirts convey their message subtly and cleverly, even with bold designs. With the right balance of originality and wit, a humorous design can turn heads and bring smiles. Brad McGinty is a designer who consistently strikes this balance in his creations.
9. Choose Suppliers Carefully
Be cautious when selecting the cheapest options, as they may compromise quality or originality. When preparing your images for print, check colors, adjust transparency, and ensure proper resolution. Investing time in achieving the right print quality initially will save you trouble and money later on.
Your final product will only be as good as your printer, so choose quality printers and familiarize yourself with the materials you want to print on. Consider factors like weight, sizes, labeling options, and cost, as they all affect the end product. This learning process may take time and involve discussions with multiple companies, but always work with a company that treats your T-shirt as a premium retail product and handles your work with care. Remember, screen printing is an art form.
When it comes to selecting suppliers, you also need to check their shipping turnaround. You could have the best products online, but you constantly have unhappy customers if the products don’t arrive on time.
10. Educate Yourself
To truly understand any subject, you need to study it and appreciate its context. T-shirts have emerged from various subcultures, including music, skateboarding, street art, sports, and pop culture. Do some reading, learn about T-shirts and other POD products, and draw inspiration and insight from designs, even those that don’t personally appeal to you.
Stay Ahead of the Game
While it’s acceptable to draw inspiration from current trends, avoid directly copying them. By the time a T-shirt design hits the market, its creators are likely already moving on to something else. Stay informed about fashion and pop culture developments, but strive to forge your unique path.
11. Take Copyright and Trademark Seriously
Never steal designs! Just because you found it on Google doesn’t mean it’s yours to use. Creating original work is always the best approach. If you’re not confident in your design abilities, there are plenty of royalty-free image resources available for you to use.
If you want to feature text or a design you didn’t create, check if it’s trademarked in your country using tools like these:
- US: https://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/gate.exe?f=login&p_lang=english&p_d=trmk
- Europe: https://euipo.europa.eu/eSearch/
Remember, trademarks vary by country, so something copyrighted in the US might not be protected in France, for example. If it belongs to the public domain in the location where your products are being sold, then you’re free to use it.
You can redesign a text-based design in your style, as long as the text isn’t copyrighted. For instance, if you see a cool design featuring an Albert Einstein quote, you could use the same quote but illustrate it differently, staying within the rules.
Summary
With these tips in mind, you’ll be well-equipped to create appealing and successful T-shirt designs. Remember to take your time, choose the right colors and products, always seek feedback to refine your creations, consider your target audience, diversify your product range, use humor wisely, and always respect copyright and trademark laws. Happy designing!
Tools & Resources
Graphic Design Resources
Canva: Canva is a user-friendly online graphic design tool with a variety of templates, graphics, and images that are suitable for print-on-demand products.
Adobe Creative Cloud: Adobe Creative Cloud is a professional design software suite that includes tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, which can be used for creating high-quality designs for print-on-demand products.
GIMP: GIMP is a free, open-source image editor that has features similar to Adobe Photoshop, including support for layers and filters, making it a great option for creating designs for print-on-demand products.
Inkscape: Inkscape is a free, open-source vector graphics editor that allows users to create scalable vector designs that can be used for print-on-demand products.
Affinity Designer: Affinity Designer is a professional vector graphics editor that is ideal for creating complex designs for print-on-demand products.
CorelDRAW: CorelDRAW is a vector graphics editor that offers a wide range of features for creating high-quality designs for print-on-demand products.
Figma: Figma is a collaborative design tool that allows users to create and share designs for print-on-demand products in real time.
Sketch: Sketch is a vector graphics editor that is designed for creating user interfaces and digital designs, but can also be used for creating designs for print-on-demand products.
Gravit Designer: Gravit Designer is a vector graphics editor that has both a free and paid version, making it a great option for users on a budget who need to create designs for print-on-demand products.
Vectr: Vectr is a free vector graphics editor that is designed for both beginners and professionals who need to create designs for print-on-demand products.
AI Image Generator Tools
Midjourney: Midjourney is an evolving text-to-image diffusion model utilizing deep neural networks to craft realistic and imaginative images from text inputs. The platform has been embraced by artists and designers for producing exceptional and one-of-a-kind visuals in diverse styles, including realism, abstraction, and fantasy, allowing for creative exploration. Midjourney provides a commercial use option for paid subscribers, permitting them to utilize generated images for up to 200 per month while not owning copyright but the image files. Free users or those with trial accounts receive images under a Commons Noncommercial 4.0 Attribution International License, allowing usage with attribution but no commercial gains. Midjourney images reside in the public domain and are difficult to copyright due to their non-human generation process.
DALL-E: DALL-E 3, the latest text-to-image diffusion model by OpenAI, can generate images in a variety of styles, including photo-realistic, abstract, and artistic. It can also generate images of specific people, places, and objects making it a powerful tool for creative expression, design, and entertainment. OPenAI states DALL-E users own the images they created, including the right to reprint, sell, and merchandise – regardless of whether an image was generated through a free or paid credit.
Leonardo.ai: Leonardo is an AI text-to-image generator platform that allows users to create stunning and engaging images in a variety of styles, including realistic, abstract, and cartoonish. Users can also specify the size and resolution of the image they want to generate. Advanced features include:
- AI Canvas: A visual editor that allows you to refine and edit your generated images.
- Negative prompts: The ability to specify words or phrases that you don’t want to be included in the generated image.
- Style transfer: The ability to apply the style of one image to another image.
- Inpainting and outpainting: The ability to add or remove objects from images.
- 3D texture generation: The ability to generate 3D textures for use in video games and other applications
Jasper Art: Jasper Art, part of the Jasper AI platform, employs AI and natural language processing to transform text descriptions into images, offering various styles and customization options. Jasper Art provides a commercial use license, allowing users to utilize the generated copyright-free images for purposes like selling, website usage, merchandise, blogs, and combining with text content. However, users are advised to adhere to ethical and legal guidelines, especially when dealing with recognizable individuals, logos, or characters, as AI-generated artwork cannot be copyrighted.
StarryAI: StarryAI is a user-friendly AI art generator platform accessible on iOS, Android, and the web, enabling users to create images from text descriptions in various styles and resolutions. It caters to both creative and practical needs, such as marketing materials, social media content, and personal artwork. StarryAI grants users copyright ownership of their creations, allowing for both commercial and non-commercial use without requiring permission, although attribution is appreciated. Prohibited content includes violations of their content policy and CreativeML Open RAIL-M use restrictions.
WOMBO Dream: WOMBO Dream is an AI image generator platform available as a web app and mobile app for iOS and Android devices. It allows users to create images from text descriptions in various styles and art presets. While the app is free, it offers a limited number of daily credits that can be earned by watching ads or in-app purchasing. WOMBO Dream is under development but serves as a powerful tool for creating diverse images. Additionally, it features a community gallery, challenges, and a pro subscription option for unlimited credits and added features. WOMBO permits commercial use of AI art creations, allowing users to sell prints or mint them as NFTs, subject to Dream API’s Terms of Service and without using WOMBO’s trademarks or trade dress without consent.
NightCafe: NightCafe is an AI image generator platform available as a web app, desktop app, and mobile app, allowing users to create images either from text descriptions or by editing existing images. It offers a range of editing tools, including filters, effects, and AI-powered features like style transfer and text-to-image generation. The platform is free to use but has daily credit limits, which can be increased by watching ads or in-app purchases. NightCafe permits commercial use of creations, provided users have the appropriate copyright permissions for input images used in the creative process. Copyright laws for AI-generated artworks vary by jurisdiction, and NightCafe transfers copyright ownership to creators under certain conditions, ensuring commercial use is possible when copyright restrictions are met. However, users are encouraged to double-check copyright status, especially for input images.
Synthesys X: Synthesys X is an AI image generator platform employed globally by both businesses and individuals for crafting diverse images from text descriptions. Users can create images in various styles and sizes for purposes such as marketing, social media, and artistic expression, and offers both a free version with a monthly limit of 50 images and a premium version allowing up to 500 images per month. All images generated by Synthesys X are covered by a Creative Commons license, enabling users to use them freely for commercial purposes, while being mindful that others may also utilize these images.
Pixray: Pixray is an AI image generator platform capable of crafting diverse images from text descriptions, with styles ranging from realistic to abstract and cartoonish. It serves both creative and practical purposes, such as marketing and social media content creation. Pixray allows for commercial use of the generated images, and it’s available for free with a monthly limit of 100 images, along with offering an API for programmatically generating images from text descriptions. However, users should be aware of the platform’s developmental nature and potential copyright considerations when using AI-generated images for commercial purposes, consulting with legal experts as needed.
Deep Dream: Deep Dream is an AI image generator platform developed by Google AI engineer Alexander Mordvintsev, utilizing a convolutional neural network (CNN) to produce dream-like images in various styles. These images can range from realistic to abstract and cartoonish and can be used for creative expression and design purposes. Deep Dream offers commercial use, permitting it for images created while on a paid subscription plan, utilizing energy points from an energy pack, and owning the copyright for both the initial and style images used, however, downloading and using other users’ base images, style images, or result Dream images is prohibited.
DeepAI: DeepAI offers an AI image generation platform that creates realistic images from text descriptions, widely adopted for diverse purposes. Users simply provide text descriptions, and DeepAI generates images spanning various styles, including realism, abstraction, and cartoonish, with customization options. Commercial use of images created with DeepAI is allowed, and the platform provides free and paid plans, including features like grid generation, negative prompts, and API access. All content generated by DeepAI is copyright-free for any legal use, with specific usage guidelines to adhere to legal and ethical standards, ensuring responsible and fair use of the technology.
Vector Image Resources
Vecteezy: Vecteezy is a popular vector image resource that offers a wide range of vector graphics and illustrations that can be used for print-on-demand products. They have both free and premium options available.
Freepik: Freepik offers thousands of vector images, graphics, and icons that can be used for print-on-demand products. They offer both free and premium options.
VectorStock: VectorStock has a huge collection of royalty-free vector images and graphics that can be used for print-on-demand products. They offer both free and premium options.
Shutterstock: Shutterstock offers a large selection of vector images, illustrations, and graphics that can be used for print-on-demand products. They have both free and premium options available.
Adobe Stock: Adobe Stock offers a vast library of vector images and graphics that can be used for print-on-demand products. They have a wide range of pricing plans available.
Vexels: Vexels offers a collection of high-quality vector graphics and designs that can be used for print-on-demand products. They have both free and premium options available.
Creative Market: Creative Market offers a range of vector graphics, illustrations, and icons that can be used for print-on-demand products. They have both free and premium options available.
Flaticon: Flaticon has a huge selection of vector icons and graphics that can be used for print-on-demand products. They offer both free and premium options.
Vectorportal: Vectorportal has a vast library of vector images and graphics that can be used for print-on-demand products. They offer both free and premium options.
123RF: 123RF offers a wide range of vector images and graphics that can be used for print-on-demand products. They have both free and premium options available.
Image Resizing
Bulk Resize Photos: Bulk Resize Photos is a free online tool that allows users to resize multiple images at once. This tool is perfect for print-on-demand creators who need to resize multiple images quickly and easily.
Simple Image Resizer: Simple Image Resizer is a free online image resizing tool that lets you resize your images quickly and easily. This tool is perfect for print-on-demand creators who need to resize images for different products and platforms.
ResizePixel: ResizePixel is a free online image resizing tool that allows users to resize, crop, and compress their images. This tool is perfect for print-on-demand creators who need to resize their images for different products and platforms.
PicResize: PicResize is a free online image resizing tool that allows users to resize, crop, and edit their images. This tool is perfect for print-on-demand creators who need to resize their images for different products and platforms.
Online Image Resize: Online Image Resize is a free online tool that allows users to resize, crop, and compress their images. This tool is perfect for print-on-demand creators who need to resize their images for different products and platforms.
BeFunky: BeFunky is an online image editing tool that also includes an image resizing feature. This tool is perfect for print-on-demand creators who need to resize and edit their images for different products and platforms.
Iloveimg: Iloveimg is a free online image resizing tool that allows users to resize, crop, and compress their images. This tool is perfect for print-on-demand creators who need to resize their images for different products and platforms.
Resize Image: Resize Image is a free online image resizing tool that allows users to resize, crop, and compress their images. This tool is perfect for print-on-demand creators who need to resize their images for different products and platforms.
Kraken.io: Kraken.io is an image optimization tool that also includes an image resizing feature. This tool is perfect for print-on-demand creators who need to optimize and resize their images for different products and platforms.
Resizing.app: Resizing.app is a free online image resizing tool that allows users to resize, crop, and compress their images. This tool is perfect for print-on-demand creators who need to resize their images for different products and platforms.
Image background Removal
Remove.bg: Remove.bg is an AI-powered online tool for removing backgrounds from images. It’s easy to use and produces high-quality results.
Clipping Magic: Clipping Magic is a web-based tool that allows users to remove the background from images in just a few clicks.
PhotoScissors: PhotoScissors is a simple tool for removing backgrounds from images. It offers a user-friendly interface and precise clipping.
Background Burner: Background Burner is a free online tool that automatically removes the background from images.
Adobe Photoshop: Photoshop is a powerful image editing software that offers various tools and features for removing backgrounds from images.
GIMP: GIMP is a free, open-source image editing software that offers various tools and features for removing backgrounds from images.
CorelDRAW: CorelDRAW is a powerful graphic design software that offers tools and features for removing backgrounds from images.
Fotor: Fotor is an online image editor that offers a background remover tool for removing backgrounds from images.
PicMonkey: PicMonkey is an online image editor that offers a background remover tool for removing backgrounds from images.
Canva: Canva is a popular online graphic design tool that offers a background remover tool for removing backgrounds from images.
Color Tools
Adobe Color: This free online tool from Adobe allows users to generate color palettes and explore different color combinations.
Paletton: This tool helps users create color schemes based on different color theories, such as monochromatic, complementary, or triadic.
Color Hunt: This is a curated collection of color palettes that users can browse, save, and use for their designs.
Material Palette: This tool generates color palettes based on Material Design guidelines and allows users to customize and export their selections.
Coolors: This tool generates color schemes at the click of a button, and allows users to lock colors they like while generating new ones for the rest of the scheme.
ColorSpace: This tool allows users to create custom color palettes and export them as CSS, LESS, SASS, or SVG.
Color Hexa: This tool offers detailed information about any given color, including its hex code, RGB and HSL values, complementary and analogous colors, and more.
Color Blender: This tool allows users to blend two colors and generate a gradient that they can use for their designs.
ColorZilla: This is a browser extension that allows users to sample colors from any web page and get detailed information about them, including their hex code and RGB values.
Colorizer: This tool allows users to upload an image and generate a color palette based on the colors present in the image.
Font Resources
Google Fonts: A free library of over 1000 fonts that can be used for both personal and commercial projects.
Font Squirrel: A collection of free fonts for commercial use.
DaFont: A free font database with a wide selection of fonts.
Adobe Fonts: A library of thousands of fonts available to Creative Cloud subscribers.
FontSpace: A community of font designers sharing their work, with both free and paid options.
1001 Fonts: A collection of free and premium fonts for personal and commercial use.
Font Library: A free font library with a focus on quality over quantity.
Fontspring: A paid font resource with high-quality fonts and licensing options.
Font Bundles: A marketplace for both free and paid fonts, with regular deals and discounts.
MyFonts: A font resource with a large selection of high-quality fonts available for purchase.
Product Mockup Generators
Placeit: This popular platform offers a wide range of mockup templates for various products, including apparel, phone cases, mugs, and more.
Printful Mockup Generator: Printful’s mockup generator is specifically designed for print-on-demand products, with options for apparel, accessories, home decor, and more.
Smartmockups: This mockup generator has a variety of templates for products such as apparel, stationery, and technology devices.
Creative Market: Creative Market offers a wide range of mockup templates for various products, including print-on-demand items.
Printify Mockup Generator: Printify’s mockup generator has templates for apparel, accessories, home decor, and more.
Mediamodifier: This platform offers a range of mockup templates for products like apparel, technology devices, and more.
Artboard Studio: Artboard Studio has a variety of mockup templates for products like apparel, home decor, and packaging.
Mockup World: This website offers a vast collection of free mockup templates for various products, including print-on-demand items.
Yellow Images: This platform offers a wide range of mockup templates for various products, including print-on-demand items.