FIGURE 4 FIGURE 5 USING PATTERNS TO FLOW ACROSS SEAMS GRAPHICS TO CREATE RICH FINAL COLORS make sure to accommodate the differences to the output. You wouldn't want the logo to fall off the sides of a smaller garment or to look too small on a XXL, so you'll have to properly account for the differences and/or make sure you output different size prints if necessary. USING THE NATURE OF SUBLIMATION IN YOUR DESIGNS This tip can sound a little abstract, but essentially it means as you design for the sublimation process it's helpful to consider how the properties of the method will affect a design's final appearance. Because it's common for a sublimated shirt to be created prior to being constructed, it's often a great idea to use repeating or random patterns in your design comps to avoid awkward outcomes depending on how the art will cut across the seams of the shirt (see Figure 4). Another way to utilize the sublimation process in your designs is to remember that colors will tend to saturate and get deeper as they are pressed, so creating designs that have a darker foundation of 28 SCREENPRINTING | JUNE + JULY 2020 background color or have deeper colors, will aid in making the final product look richer and more vibrant (see Figure 5). When creating designs that have a rhythm and specific flow to emphasize the shapes they're fitting on top of, like fitness or athletic apparel, it's useful to have darker values at the bottom of the garment that transition to lighter shapes at the top. This effect will assist in the illusion that the body shape is smaller near the waist and larger in the chest, which can add aesthetic appeal to the design when it's worn or put on a mannequin in a display. You can also look at the divisions of the muscle groups on the body and specifically create your design to flow with those shapes when worn. Imagine a sublimated superhero suit that perfectly fits the athlete with the shading in the right places and you'll get the idea. Even though not everyone may want to look like a superhero, understanding how some subtle design considerations will enhance the look of the person wearing the graphic can dramatically increase the appeal of your final printed product.