Photoshop vs Illustrator: Which is Better for T-Shirt Design?
To Photoshop or Illustrator, that is the question
If you’re designing artwork for a custom t-shirt, choosing the right software can make a huge difference to both your workflow and the final print quality. Photoshop and Illustrator are both industry-standard Adobe programs, but they serve very different purposes.
In most cases, Illustrator is the better choice for logos, typography and graphics that need to scale perfectly, while Photoshop excels at photo-based artwork and detailed image editing.
If you’re designing a t-shirt (or working on a design for any piece of clothing, for that matter!), it’s important to work with the software that’s most attuned to support the type of design you’re trying to create. This guide explains when to use each program and how to prepare artwork for professional t-shirt printing.
Photoshop vs Illustrator at a Glance
| Photoshop | Illustrator |
|---|---|
| Best for photos | Best for logos |
| Raster graphics | Vector graphics |
| Pixel based | Infinitely scalable |
| Great for DTG artwork | Great for screen printing |
| Better for editing | Better for creating graphics |
What is Adobe Photoshop?
Perhaps the best known piece of photo manipulation software on the market, Photoshop is so well known that the brand name is now commonly used as a verb to describe any tweaks or edits done to a photo (particularly when it involves making someone appear more attractive).
But apart from being synonymous with airbrushed celeb snaps, Photoshop is a go-to piece of software for graphic designers, artists and photographers. It’s a raster graphics editing programme, which means it uses pixels for editing – so the more you zoom in, the bigger the pixels will appear, making it easy to make tiny, detailed adjustments. It uses a layer based system to allow users to make countless edits to an image, as well as create completely new ones.
Pros of using Photoshop
- The number one tool for photo-editing
- Countless filters and edit options
- Vast range of brushes and textures
- Can edit all file formats
- Layer system is easy-to-use
Cons of using Photoshop
- Can be challenging for new users
- Not a natural choice for vector graphics
- Less good for text-based designs
What is Adobe Illustrator?
Another staple for designers, Illustrator is another key piece of professional software from Adobe. In many ways a companion to Photoshop, Illustrator was created as a tool for making everything from logos to icons, illustrations to typography.
Unlike Photoshop, Illustrator uses vectors – scalable images that will look the same whatever size you make them. This is why it’s so useful for things like logo design: images will look clear and crisp whether they’re on a billboard or a business card.
Pros of using Illustrator
- Can change image sizes without losing quality
- Better print output (because it doesn’t depend on resolution)
- Fantastic for typesetting or using text for a logo
Cons of using Illustrator
- Limited filters and image editing tools
- Not good for editing images that have already been created
Which Program Is Better for T-Shirt Printing?
If your artwork is mainly made up of logos, illustrations or typography, Illustrator is usually the better choice because vector graphics stay sharp at any size. If you’re printing photographs or highly detailed digital artwork, Photoshop offers greater control over colour, lighting and image editing. Many professional designers use both programs together, creating vector elements in Illustrator before combining them with edited photographs from Photoshop.
Photoshop vs Illustrator: Which Should You Choose?
| If you want to… | Choose |
|---|---|
| Design logos | Illustrator |
| Create illustrations | Illustrator |
| Edit photos | Photoshop |
| Print photographs on shirts | Photoshop |
| Create scalable graphics | Illustrator |
| Prepare artwork for screen printing | Illustrator |
| Create DTG photo prints | Photoshop |
The Right Software for Custom T-Shirt Design
When it comes to t-shirt design, which one you use will depend on the kind of image you’re working with. If the t-shirt design is photo based – then Photoshop will definitely be the best choice of software. If the t-shirt design consists of a logo or text based graphic, Illustrator will be the most straightforward choice. Of course, most professional designers will use both, editing photos in Photoshop before pulling them into Illustrator to add text.
Ultimately, both pieces of software are powerful tools for design, whether you’re making a t-shirt or a poster, and they work together to offer endless potential for generating amazing, professional quality images.
Not sure whether your artwork is print-ready? Our team will always check your designs thoroughly and recommend the best printing method before production begins. At ICON Printing our expert team are always happy to talk you through any queries you might have. Get in touch.