T design
Syo, one thing I like in a T shirt is a small graphic over the pocket. I like a pocket in them. I have designed a few decent T shirts for various purposes. In addition I like the big graphic on the back instead of the front.
Just my opinion, but I think the bottom graphic with the headstock and a couple tuners with HELL on top would lend itself real well to being modified into a smaller four inch diameter circle pinstripe above the pocket with HELL arcing across the top inside the circle and the year 2011 arcing within the bottom of the pinstripe circle. I personally think this motif makes the T shirt look real cool, especially with the big graphic displayed proudly on the back of the T shirt. It kind of gives it a two dimensional element and looks classy, as opposed to just a plain T shirt with a big graphic on the front and no pocket for MP3 player, phone, etc., highlighted with the four inch diameter graphic above the pocket. I have found these pocketted T shirts to be very popular compared to the plain type.
Just some ideas from my personal perspective and past experience in T shirt design.
The T shirt can be a lot more than just a legal necessity. In my personal view T shirts can be powerful advertising, especially if they are really cool and have an element of desirability that separates them from the plain run of the mill T's.
I also think they look better in a color other than plain white, even grey or red or black. I usually don't go overboard with more than one color and make sure that I have abundant quantities in the most desirable sizes, especially extra large, because of shrinkage, especially with the cheaper T shirts.
I wouldn't mind drawing a sample circle graphic above the pocket and big graphic on the back, but I'm sure if you are contemplating designs you can easily conceptualize the idea I'm getting at. Green would be another color that would, similar to grey, accentuate the red in the headstock graphic.
As I said, I'm really into the powerful advertising value of cool and desirable T shirts.
I personally think the hellish characters on the shirts look really linear and make it difficult to have a flowing graphic, plus they look "busy" and maybe only one character would be better than a few, in my inconsequential opinion.
I hope you don't mind me throwing out some ideas. I definitely don't mean to sound critical, but don't mind sharing some of the experience I have had designing what turned out to be highly desirable T shirts with "strong" advertising value.
Your entire endeavor looks great. I wish you the greatest success.
I really liked that black and gold prototype you posted with the cool diamond or skewed box/rectangle blockiness on the body. That was one stunning finish, probably relatively expensive to produce, but really had a beautiful vibe to it.
What is your target demographic by the way, if you don't mind me asking?
Again, best wishes in your substantial endeavor. It is highly interesting to watch you share your quest with us. We can almost feel your ups and downs. I've never seen such a revealing insight into a mfg'ing pursuit of any type. Thanks for opening that window to your cool project.
