[tutorial] Design "grunge" shirts in Illustrator

[mylkhead]

I just noticed that the people were asking about getting a grunge effect in Illustrator. I remember posting a tutorial on here awhile ago that was a pretty basic run through of it. But I have since made a more in depth tutorial. Check it out:

Just take a peek into your local Hot Topic or Pac Sun and you’re going to see some great apparel graphics. And this tutorial will show you just how it’s done.

http://www.gomediazine.com/11/13/2006/designing-ultra-scenexcore-apparel/

http://www.gomediahost.com/zine/tutorials/shirt-design/8mock.jpg

Have any questions, feel free to ask!

[morea]

thanks for sharing, mylkhead. ;)

[xplod_ldg]

Thanks. I wanted to make my own t-shirt design for some time now. Guess it's time ;)

[morea]

here's another fun shirt tutorial: How to Make a Cheap Screenprinted Shirt (http://community.livejournal.com/craftgrrl/3674467.html)

[frankster]

I remember you posting about your vector packs you were working on. That's a clever marketing mechanism. Have you put many other tutorial adverts out? Can you tell how much traffic you are drawing to your site through those?

[Drazan]

I actually find this useful. It shows a new person or a person that needs refreshing on illy how to put together some neat tricks. Actually got me started on a whole 4 hour illy tracing session last night creating my own "vector grunge" set to do this for some t-shirts we have coming up. Quick, simple, effective. I like those types of tutorials.


So what if it's a marketing ploy. The tutorial also shows how to crop your own images if you do so want to - or if you don't go ahead a buy the suite as needed. I'm sure most graphics and print departments have some sort of vector or clipart disks floating around.

Almost ANY tutorial posted has marketing ploys and advertisement....oh wait that means that the page that you just posted on also has ads and affiliates. Does that mean that you want to know what GDF traffic is?

Sorry to seem harsh. but I don't think this is a true "spam to buy". Now if he went "buy these! and then you can do this!" and it was his first posts - then I can see that there is a problem. I can see that he's been here for over a year with a goodly amount of posts - so what's the big deal.


I think the tutorial has merit of it's own.

*steps off box*

*wonders how she got there*

=)
Jade

[frankster]

Oh I'm not complaining or saying it;s spam. I'm just interested in if it is a one off tutorial that happens to mention thier product or if it's part of a marketing strategy and if it's working or if they have the means to know if it's working. I'm always interested in how people market themselves and thier products/work. I used to do SEO for a company in the UK and that involved all kinds of crazy things that drove up traffic to make the clients happy, but didn't really result in huge increases in sales. The strategies that were employed there were quite unethical I think, but I had no say. Another job I quit. I'm just interested to know if this one is working.

[mylkhead]

Yeah, I mean, it's our site, our tutorial, and our products that we are advertising. We certainly feel that it's more valuable to teach someone than it is to coerce them into buying.

Besides, my train of thought is never a negative one when it comes to this industry. Some designers get upset with me because I am providing lessons to make graphic design seem "easy" and it takes away their exclusivity or something. Truth is, anyone can buy these packs and then assemble a crappy looking design with them. You'll be amazed at what people show us after they buy the packs! These packs certainly don't make up for lack of design principles.

We have received a lot more "positive" sales of our packs because of this tutorial. Like when someone buys the pack, they are choosing to buy it and they usually don't have any buyer's remorse because they feel they can create something of value immediately. And I make sure to be the best customer service person they've ever talked to if they have questions for problems.

So this tutorial wasn't designed simply to advertise our packs. But because we have the packs, we want to let our readers know! And give them the choice. We can teach people how to make their own packs if they want. We aren't afraid of giving away any "trade secrets."

[Drazan]

no harm, no foul,

prolly just me being grumpy from being sick and on the couch for the last three days.

[urstwile]

*steps off box*

*wonders how she got there*

=)
Jade
I was wondering how you'd gotten there too, as Frankster's question seemed more curious about the effectiveness vs. pissed off that it might be a marketing ploy.

I do hope you feel better soon. :)

[Pernilla Larsson]

A great place to show off one's skills is www.tees.se . It's a Swedish design forum where members discuss and votes for the best designs which gets printed on t-shirts. It's a great place to get some feedback on one's work.
/Pernilla

[yrs]

the only real tshirt site i know about is threadless & in truth i dontreally like a lot of the stuff there, just my opion.

anyone got any other good sites, where u can submit designs and buy stuff?

[CamarotaDesign]

Yeah, I mean, it's our site, our tutorial, and our products that we are advertising. We certainly feel that it's more valuable to teach someone than it is to coerce them into buying.

Besides, my train of thought is never a negative one when it comes to this industry. Some designers get upset with me because I am providing lessons to make graphic design seem "easy" and it takes away their exclusivity or something. Truth is, anyone can buy these packs and then assemble a crappy looking design with them. You'll be amazed at what people show us after they buy the packs! These packs certainly don't make up for lack of design principles.

We have received a lot more "positive" sales of our packs because of this tutorial. Like when someone buys the pack, they are choosing to buy it and they usually don't have any buyer's remorse because they feel they can create something of value immediately. And I make sure to be the best customer service person they've ever talked to if they have questions for problems.

So this tutorial wasn't designed simply to advertise our packs. But because we have the packs, we want to let our readers know! And give them the choice. We can teach people how to make their own packs if they want. We aren't afraid of giving away any "trade secrets."

You know, I think Duke Ellington summed it up pretty good when he said something similar to this: "Let us be free from the fear that sharing our knowledge with others will give them an advantage over us" (can't remember the exact words, but it was a speech he gave after Billy Strayhorn's death, sage words)

I think its great that you guys are giving design tutorials and selling your vector packs, they are reasonably priced and great quality. Priceless for any designer that wants to do the grunge style.

Reading your tutorials really gave me a lot of confidence in designing some new work, not because I didn't know the techniques, but because it outlined the thought and work process that you guys use which is very professional and produces great results. I just can't post enough praise for you and your company.

[G-Man79]

Awesome tut Mylk!