Batman has always been a popular subject for both children and adults alike. The Caped Crusader has been featured in numerous pop culture references over the years. One of the more recent examples of this can be found in the Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice trailer. When we last saw Batman, he was escaping from the clutches of the tyrannical Lex Luthor. As the trailer opens, we see Batman destroying a portion of the lexicon of crime. He then proceeds to climb out his window and into his car. As he begins to leave the scene, we see his cape rippling in the wind. While this may be just a cinematic flourish, it was an interesting callback to a more realistic portrayal of Batman from the 60s. Of course, this trailer is just a trailer, and it has not yet been determined whether or not this will be the final film of the Justice League. Nevertheless, this is further confirmation that interest in the Dark Knight is still very much alive.
The Inspiration
While the original Batman may no longer be with us, the superhero as we know him today did not come out of nowhere. Before we could have Batman, we needed Batman’s inspiration, Harvey Dent. Before his tragic accident, Harvey Dent was the promising young prosecutor who took on the mob and became the legendary vigilante, Two-Face. Despite losing his left eye in the process, Harvey Dent still went on to play a major part in the birth of Batman. When we last saw Harvey Dent, he was escaping from the clutches of the Joker. Since then, Harvey and his new girlfriend, Vickie, have been living happily ever after.
The Design
Now, it’s time to talk about the important (and sometimes tricky) matter of design. When it comes to actually creating a Batman t-shirt, there are many variables that you need to take into consideration. Luckily, there are also some simple guidelines that you can follow so that your t-shirt will match the perfection of the master himself. Let’s take a look.
The Sizes
For any successful clothing line, the designer needs to consider the various sizes and proportions of the female and male customer base. There are generally three basic clothing sizes: small, large, and XXXL. When it comes to t-shirts, the small and large are pretty self-explanatory. However, occasionally, a company will go the extra mile and will label their extra-large t-shirt as such. In reality, this is just a large t-shirt with an XL label stitched on the front. Nevertheless, this is a wise decision, as people with larger bodies naturally fill out their t-shirts more. This makes the large the most popular clothing size when it comes to t-shirts. Now, you may be wondering where the XXXL t-shirts come in. The answer lies in the fact that men as well as some women have proportionately large genitalia. These people are more than welcome to their share of the XXXL t-shirt population as well.
The Colors
The next thing to consider is the colors that you will use for your t-shirt. This is actually a rather tricky subject, as you don’t want to choose a single, unadorned color. Instead, you want to use multiple colors in combination, or even in multiples, to form a harmonious whole. For example, you could use yellow, white, and gray in combination. Or, you could go for an orange and black look. The list of possibilities is endless, as long as you keep in mind the general feel that you are going for.
The Patterns
Once you have decided upon the general theme and colors of your t-shirt, you can move on to the fun part, which is actually creating the pattern. There are several different patterns that you can choose from, so you have a lot of flexibility in this regard as well. You can go for a simple striped pattern or a full-blown patterned design that will make your t-shirt look like it was designed by an expert. Keep in mind that this is a rather formal shirt, so go for something simple but elegant. Remember: your clothing fashionably reflects your personality and your lifestyle.
Keep It Classy
Another important thing to keep in mind when designing a t-shirt is image consistency. As mentioned, your t-shirt is a rather formal piece of clothing, and you want to keep the overall look as elegant as possible. For this reason, you need to refrain from using any images that are either tacky or inappropriate. If you follow these simple guidelines, you will naturally end up with a sophisticated piece of clothing that will be cherished for years to come.
The Overall Feel
As we mentioned above, your t-shirt is a formal piece of clothing. This is why the overall theme and colors that you choose need to reflect this. Nevertheless, you also want to avoid going too overboard and making it sterile or boring. For example, if you go for a very classical look with lots of white, then that is exactly what you will get. Alternatively, if you match your white shirt with your black suit, then that is also an option. However, if you want to add a bit of color, then you can always opt for a yellow shirt with black suit, or vice versa.
A Little Bit Of Everything
Last but not least, we come to the most important part of designing a t-shirt. This is where you list all of the various products (and brands), but you don’t just stop there. You need to link these products to something in your niche, or to a hobby, or to some other element that you can use to connect with your audience.
For instance, if you are designing a t-shirt for a skateboarder, then you should choose a bunch of different brands and products that are associated with this hobby. This will then become a sort of a virtual shopping list that you can use to generate ideas for your t-shirt.
Alternatively, if you are designing a t-shirt for goths, then you should probably choose an indie band from the gothic rock genre as your inspiration. The list of products and brands that you can link to this hobby is rather large, and it includes everything from chocolate, to fashion, to travel, and so much more. Using a gothic rock inspired t-shirt will instantly make you memorable to people who know what they are looking for. While this may not seem like much at first, every little detail counts when it comes to creating the perfect shirt.
Of course, this is not an exhaustive list of guidelines or an all-inclusive design philosophy. Instead, it is a general overview of things that you should keep in mind when designing a t-shirt. Now, it’s time for you to stop reading and to get to work. You have a design for a Batman t-shirt to complete.