When designing for apparel how should the canvas be addressed?

Question

I am aware that most screen printing or DTG (Direct To Garment) have a maximum print size but I'm curious to know what is the proper way to address apparel designs when the intended design is to be printed on a size small all the way up to a 2XL. When designing for apparel should a design canvas size be considered based on each shirt to be printed or should it be based on the median of shirt sizes? Would it be proper to suggest to the client the different canvas sizes even though that could be considered another design fee? This could be a printer and client decision but based on being able to provide the designs I am curious to know what is the proper way to address the situation.**So my question is, when apparel designing how should a designer choose their canvas?**

Answer 1

I hope I understood your question correctly. I am assuming you are actually asking about spot graphics to be printed on apparel, such as tee shirts.

First of all, you don't have to grade your graphics for every size, or at all. Sometimes the same size of a graphic can work on the whole size range. if you still think that grading is necessary, I would use one size graphic for sizes XS, S, and M, and another bigger size for sizes L and up, this way you only have two screens to work with.

Printers like to have actual size to work with. Place one size on a layer, fitting in an artboard (or canvas in photoshop). Adjust the artboard size accordingly.Place the other size on a different layer (rename the layers accordingly) or on a different document altogether.

I would also provide the printer with a separate document showing the placement of the graphic on the shirt (might have to grade the placement as well), and the specifications of both the sizes and the techniques and colors used.

I hope this answered your question.