Before I started screenprinting I was a graphic and website designer. This definitely helps when making artwork for shirts. I guess how it started, I just got the bug to start a business. I bought a kit online for around $1000….  It was ok, very beginner though….   small frames, containers of ink, some chemicals, some emulsion, and some transparencies to print on for positives. I played around with the stuff in my garage and basement. I got pretty good after awhile, I was even playing with halftones. I got some clients, made some money, not too bad….

I got a little more serious, bought an inexpensive 6 color 6 station press. Bought a cheap dryer and flash, free standing washout tank, power washer, bigger epson printer, more ink, accublack films. Got a really big client, learned how to print waterbase inks….  and then failed the business…..   I go into greater detail at my other blog called the manic comedy.

I took some time off, and slowly rebuilt the equipment in my parents basement. Got some clients, made some money, sold the business. Done with that. I have quickly come to the realization is that I’m not much of a screen printer. I leave the printing to the people that really have experience and feel very confidant in what they are doing. My knowledge of how the printing process works is my strength. I feel I can make more money brokering printing and embroidery than I can printing shirts myself. This might sound bad, but it’s pretty much manual labor. You don’t need a college degree to print a shirt.

I have worked at a few places that print shirts. Sunburst Apparel is one of them. They now have 8 automatic presses and a belt press. In my opinion, they have printed some of the most beautiful shirts I have ever seen. They can do 12 color jobs no problem. They have printed for Harley Davidson, Abercrombie and Fitch, V.F. Imagewear to name a few. I started as a reclaimer…   powerwashing out emulsion from screens after they are used. Not the most glamorous job, but I did learn a lot. Then worked my way up to screenroom supervisor…..  Burned all the screens belt and all the other sizes for the presses. After that I worked in the customer service department entering orders and doing estimates. I have worked on and off for Sunburst for over 5 years. Currently they laid me off because of lack of work. I’m not to upset because it gives me time to sell for my own business Digital Karma.

So now I do a lot of things, sell t-shirt (Karmashirts.org) broker screenprinting and embroidery (Digtial Karma) and blog on The Manic Comedy

Maybe one day I’ll be famous….  until that time I’m just going to be selling, selling, selling. Always trying new ideas and different approaches with shirts.  Wish me luck…

I have come to the conclusion that I need more than just my own designs to sell on the internet. I have worked with people from all over the United States. I have even worked with someone from Australia. When you want some shirts to design, you can go to almost any Graphic Designer. But what I would recommend is going to a t-shirt designer specifically. They know what they are doing and know how to prepare the art for screen printing – or at least they should. They will charge you anywhere from $150-$250 per design. That is pretty fair. The more the detail the more it’s going to cost. You can give them some direction and they pretty much take it form there. Sometimes you get what you want, and sometimes you don’t. That’s the risk you take not doing it yourself.

Some places I would go is t-shirt competition websites. Usually they have links to the designers own website. Any I’m sure they wouldn’t have any problem doing some work on the side. I have tried craigslist, and some other designer/illustrator portfolio job sites. I find that contacting the artist directly is usually the best path. Next topic of discussion: SCREENPRINTING.

Devil’s Cabbage is a funny name my brother is law heard from a friend. It is a slang term for marijuana. I just thought it was really funny and original. And that was what I was looking for. I have hired a few artists to help me create ideas for the line. Some have been good, some not so good. It takes a real good illustrator to create exactly what you are thinking. I guess my quest goes on. So enjoy them for now. More should be coming soon.

I want to make the graphics for these shirts even better. I have contacted a world famous shirt designer. Hint – he lives in the philipines and is very good. I have tried designing cool shirts, I’m going to leave it up to the experts. The shirts will all be printed digitally on a Kornit. It works out well, so I won’t have to have an inventory of unbought shirts. I’m guessing I will need around $1500 to get this going. So I guessing maybe around the end of the summer the plan will take place. Please be patient.

How does a designer talk about what inspires him or her? I must admit sometimes its hard to get inspired, especially in our economic downturn. Even Picasso had his blue period. I’m going to try and be inspired and create some new work. My plan is to hire some artists, but until I can afford them, I have to do it myself. What am I going to design? Anything. I’m going to try and do some hand drawn stuff and then bring it to the computer. Subjects? Anything can make a good shirt: music, movies, art, life experiences. You’ll just have to wait and see.

I just watched a video on SEO tactics and he said the number one way to increase traffic if you don’t have a lot of money is blog on your website. That is my new goal, talk about shirts, talk about designing shirts, talk about design, talk about anything. What could it hurt. I also think I’m going to start designing shirts again. I used to design one a day. Some were good, some were just ok. But we’ll see where this takes me. Wish me luck….

I thought if you created great shirts people would come and buy them. That is not the case. You must offer them at a competitive price, create designs people actually want to buy, never stop trying to improve you product and system. It is really hard. Right now all i need it some capital. Money to pay artists and to pay for printing. I know it is just a matter of time. Sooner or later things will come together.

I will have the full version of my shopping cart up and running soon. Then I will hire the artists and then I will sell the shirts. Should be pretty impressive when fully operational. I got some advice on SEO – start blogging. I think I can do that.

It has been a long time coming for karmashirts.org. The majority of the shirts are up and running. It runs with Google shopping cart and will soon have a paypal option to choose from to buy with. It is just a beginning. The next step is to find great artists to design some shirts for us. I have a few in mind, but for not enjoy are current selection, more is coming.

I have had this website for a few years. It has been my most popular website I have personally made by far. I want to turn this site into a place that has the most beautiful shirts in the world. At least that is my hopes. Hopefully years from now, this will become true….