How to Make T Shirt Mockup in 2024

how to make t shirt mockup

If you are looking up how to make t shirt mockup, you’re in the right place.

A mockup is like a visual representation of your design on a product, like a t-shirt. Instead of just seeing your design flat on paper or screen, you get to see how it would look on a real shirt.

Honestly, a mockup is super important when designing a t-shirt. But you don’t need expensive mockup tools for that.

Have you tried Mockey? It’s got everything you need for realistic t-shirt mockups, and the best part is, there’s no steep learning curve!

mockey t shirt mockups

There are definitely benefits when it comes to how to make a t shirt mockup. We can walk you through the essentials if you want to learn more.

Things You Will Learn

  1. How to make a t shirt mockup using Mockey
  2. How to make t shirt mockup in Photoshop
  3. How to make t shirt mockups in Illustrator

What Is T shirt Mockup?

What is a t -shirt mockup? A t-shirt mockup is a blank t-shirt image you can download. By uploading your design or text to it, you can preview how your finished shirt will look. Use the Mockey mockup generator to explore various models and settings.

1. How to Make T Shirt Mockup Using Mockey

Here is a tutorial on how to make T shirt mockup using Mockey.

Step 1: Start with a Transparent Logo

Before designing your own promotional t-shirt, make sure you have your logo ready to use. If you already have a PNG file of your logo, great!

In Canva, go to the “Templates” section and select the “Logo” tab. Pick your preferred template and hit “Customize this template.”

customize logo template in canva to start make a t shirt mockup

Step 2: Upload Your Design in a Mockup Generator

Once your design is ready, find the best mockup tool to create a product mockup. Try Mockey.ai—it’s free and easy to use. Make sure you sign up there.

Just open Mockey.ai, click “Get Started.”

click on get started option to make a mockup

Choose the t-shirt category in the “Apparel” category, pick a template, and then click “Upload Design.”

click upload design in mockey.ai

Step 3: Customize Your T Shirt Mockup

Easily customize your design for free. Change colors, backgrounds, and sizes.

customize it on how to make t shirt mockup

Step 4: Download with No Watermark

Finally, download your mockup without a watermark in any format you like, and choose a size up to 1600×2000 px.

2. How to Make T Shirt Mockup in Photoshop

Let’s discuss how to make t shirt mockups in Photoshop in 2024.

  1. Import or use the provided graphic.
  2. Right-click the layer and pick “Convert to Smart Object.”
  3. Use Edit > Transform > Warp to adjust the graphic to the shirt’s folds and adjust the opacity.
  4. Add a Layer Mask, and use a soft black brush to match the shirt’s lighting.
  5. Change backgrounds by clicking the color swatch or toggling layers.

3. How to Make T Shirt Mockups in Illustrator

This section will guide you on how to make t shirt mockups in Illustrator.

Step 1: Draw the Shirt

Use the Pen Tool to create half of the shirt shape and fill with #F3F3F3. Copy this shape for later use.

use pen tool to draw shirt in illustrator

Step 2: Add Mesh

Apply a Mesh Tool grid, color nodes as follows: left edge with #B7B7B7, wrinkles with #F4F4F4.

Step 3: Color Nodes

Use these colors for different nodes: #DFDFDF, #E3E3E3, #F7F7F7, #B9B9B9.

set color nodes in illustrator

Step 4: Reflect and Color

Reflect the copied shirt shape and apply colors: #F3F3F3, #B7B7B7, #D9D9D9, #EEEEEE.

reflect the copied shirt shape and apply colors in illustrator

Step 5: Finish Shirt

Complete the second half using colors: #CFCFCF, #C4C4C4, #B9B9B9, #E3E3E3.

complete the second half using colors in illustrator on how to make t shirt mockup

Step 6: Draw Sleeves

Add sleeves using #EAEAEA, #BDBDBD, #B6B6B6, #CFCFCF, #DADADA.

draw sleeves on how to make t shirt mockup in illustrator

Step 7: Create Collar

Make the collar with colors: #E9E9E9, #C0C0C0, #F4F4F4.

make the collar with colors in illustrator

Step 8: Warp Collar

Bend the mesh into a collar shape using Effect > Warp > Arc with -85% Bend.

effect > warp > arc with -85% bend in illustrator

Step 9: Add Collar Part

Draw and color the second part of the collar with #6A6A6A and #979797.

add collar part

Step 10: Assemble

Combine all parts to complete your T-shirt mockup.

Discover More Stunning T shirt Templates

1. T-shirt mockup on a mannequin with neon lights in the background

mockey t-shirt mockup on a mannequin with neon lights in the background

2. T-shirt mockup floating in a forest with sunlight in the background

mockey t-shirt mockup floating in a forest with sunlight in the background

3. Mockup of a slim man sitting on a sofa in a t-shirt

mockey mockup of a slim man sitting on a sofa in a t-shirt

4. 3D t-shirt mockup floating in a studio with a surreal background

mockey 3d t-shirt mockup floating in a studio with a surreal background

5. Asian man wearing a T-shirt with a red curtain flying in the background

mockey asian man wearing a T-shirt with a red curtain flying in the background

Making T-Shirt Mockups: What to Consider

Before creating your t-shirt mockup, there are some key factors to consider. We’ll go over each of them below to help you get started.

Purpose of the T-Shirt

Before designing your t-shirt, think about its purpose. Is it a personal design, a promotional tool for your business, or something for your team to identify each other?

Target Audience

Your t-shirt’s audience is closely linked to its purpose. If it’s a marketing t-shirt, the audience could be the potential customers and general public, aimed at boosting brand awareness. If it’s a personal t-shirt, it’s designed with your interests, along with your family and friends who will see it up close. For t-shirts made for business use, the audience is usually your co-workers.

What will be on the T-shirt?

Think about what logos, images, or brand names you want on your t-shirt. Do you prefer a simple design with just a logo, or want to include other text or images as well?

After deciding what images or information will go on your t-shirt, you need to choose where to place them and why. This will mostly depend on the purpose of the t-shirt. Generally, logos are often placed on the front left or right side or on the back. You can arrange other graphics or text around the logo based on the design preferences. Just make sure the design looks balanced and not too crowded.

Overall Design

To make sure your t-shirt design looks great when printed, check that any text is big enough to read from afar and that the font is clear. Use only 1-2 complementary fonts for a clean look.

What colors are used in the design, and do they match the color of your t-shirt? Avoid using too many colors, as it can make the design look too cluttered and increase printing costs.

Conclusion

You have learned how to make t shirt mockups using Mockey, Photoshop, and Illustrator. You don’t need to be a pro to design your own mockup. Next time you have a t-shirt idea or need one for business, try Mockey. Still need to know more on how to make t shirt mockups, Visit our T-shirt mockup generator page.

FAQs

How to create your own t-shirt mockup?

To create a t-shirt mockup with Mockey, start by going to mockup > apparel > t-shirt. Upload your design, select a t-shirt mockup template, and customize it by adjusting the size and position of your design. Finally, download your high-quality mockup without any watermark.

Can I make a tshirt mockup on Canva?

Yes, you can make great t-shirt mockups in Canva with their Smart Mockups feature. Just upload your design, choose a template, and adjust it as needed. Canva makes it easy to see how your design will look on a t-shirt.

How to use AI to create shirt mockups?

To make shirt mockups with AI, use platforms like Mockey. Just enter clear details about how you want the mockup to look.

How to make a tshirt mockup in Adobe Illustrator?

To make a T-shirt mockup in Adobe Illustrator, open a new document and add a T-shirt template. Trace the shirt’s outline with the Pen Tool, then add your design. Change the colors if needed and export your mockup.

Related reading:

create t-shirt mockup fast