Frequently Asked Questions
How do I request a design?
by Julia&Nicks Mom
There are several DISers who are more than happy to help you make a design. The best place to start is on the Design thread (insert link here) the designs should be marked as to whether the designer is willing to customize. Several DISers have websites with their designs on them. If you dont see what you want, you can send a PM to the designer making a request. When you post a request in a thread you run the risk of it getting lost in the thread. A direct PM will get you the fastest results. Please do not request the same design from multiple designers they have a lot of requests and do not want to be duplicating each others work in addition it can take a while to design a custom shirt and asking two people to design a shirt and only choosing one is wasting the other designers time.
Designers willing to make custom designs:
Julia & Nicks Mom...send PM
Midnite...request page
http://www.dismates.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=79
KMH1...send PM
If you wish to be included here just let me know and I'll add you to the list!
What software programs do you use?
Photoshop is a great program but costs close to $500 most people are using Photo Impact which is under $100 and we have found for $29.99 during sales
How do I use Photo Impact 10?
You can download a 30 day free trial
Here are some links to Photo Impact tutorials:
http://www.ulead.co.uk/learning/pi.htm
http://johanna.pircsites.com/tutorials/v10tuts.htm
http://www.wwell.net/tutorials/pi10/
http://www.digital-fotofusion.co.uk...e's/pi/main.html
Top two Photo Impact questions
I can't select my image to edit it what am I doing wrong?
To edit an image you will need to make sure it is a layer and not the base object:
Click on the picture
Choose cut
And paste it either back onto the original image or into a new document you will then be able to select the object for editing
How do I erase a background?
select your item
on the left of the screen is a toolbar - there looks like what appears to be an eraser - when you click on its arrow - it says object magic eraser
if you choose this - it erases all of one color - so if your background is white - boom done!
you can choose different degrees of matching - so you can get all shades of blue - but be careful if it matches something in what you want - it will be erased
The easiest way to learn photoimpact is to take an image and just start trying all the different effects
DESIGN TIPS
by Midnite
A quick color tip:
if you're using clipart in your design, pull some of the colors out of the clipart for use in your text and/or background. Use your eyedropper tool to select one of the more prominent colors in your clipart. You may need to adjust the saturation or brightness of the color to make it work in the design.
Negative space:
"In a painting or drawing, the space around the object is just as important as the object itself. A good artist strives for a balance between the positive (the object) space and the negative (background) space around it. The object ... is to work with the surrounding space." Basically, it's wherever there isn't "something". Take a look at the areas around the placement of your text or pictures. Try to make those shapes just as interesting and balanced as you do the placement of your objects.
Color:
Do some research on color schemes, color theory, and the color wheel. It will kick up your work a notch.
Clipart:
Try to get as big clipart as you can. You can get away with using smaller, lower resolution images somewhat, but it will look super if you start with a larger image and scale it down rather than vice versa.
PHOTOSHOP TIPS
First of all, use layers, use layers, use layers!!! What's a layer, you say? It's just what it says it is. They are transparent layers (until you put something on them), one on top of the other. The beauty of it is you can put something on a layer and the move it around or manipulate it with Filters or Effects without effecting the other layers in your work!
Use Guides, also. When you're moving your objects around, use guides for easy alignment.
Layer masks are very useful. When you have an object on a layer (clipart, text, shapes) you can use a layer mask to erase or hide parts of that layer without actually erasing your object.
Play with the effects on text and shapes to see what each one does.
Also, play with the filters on photographs. Try to learn what kind of result you can get by playing with the filter settings (sliders) and by combining two or more filters.
Above all, learn these two words: "photoshop tutorials" Use them well, use them often -- in your favorite search engine. Everything I know about Photoshop, I've either learned online, in a book, using the Help Files (F1 key on your keyboard when you are using Photoshop), or by playing with the settings.
SWIFT3D TIPS
To make the 3D reflection, go to Setup (I think?? anyway, it's one of the options at the top),
Edit Environments.
Choose Add Material
Make a name for it, like "Disney Background"
Using the drop down menu, select Bitmap Image
Navigate to the image you want to use. Save it and close.
Create a sphere (or three, in the case of Mickey) by using one of the "Primitives" at the top.
Choose the Materials Tab, find the Metal, Chrome.
Drag and drop the Chrome material onto the sphere.
Select the Environments Tab.
Drag and drop the New Environment ("Disney Background") onto the stage (not the sphere)
Then render it and export it as a PNG.
As with Photoshop, just play with the settings.
Design TIPS
by Beiji
For most of the classic Mickeys I re-work the first Mickey I created. So, I change the color or add a bevel, gradient, or drop shadow. In order to get the ears in the right place I set up guides. I'll put in one guide at the top of the first Mickey ear and one at the side after I've put the ear in place. Then I copy the ear, drag it to the other side of the head, and use free transform to rotate it and move it into place using the guides to find the right placement. Even, with all that, I think one is slightly off, but it's not really noticeable.
In Photoshop, I always save my files with all the layers. If I need to flatten an image, I'll give it a different name. That way I can go back and manipulate the different elements whenever I want to.
Where do you get your clipart?
by J&NMom
You can do an image search using Yahoo! or Google
Click on the images search tab: and type in what you are looking for
The more specific you are the less likely you will get good results start with a basic description and then narrow it down
Small images will not work well in your design. I think an image usually needs to be at least 300 pixels to enlarge well. The bigger your image, the easier it will be to modify.
Google for Large Disney Clipart
This is a list of the most common Disney clipart sites:
by Baloo and J&NMom
http://www.geocities.com/disneyclipart/
http://clipart.disneysites.com/
http://www.talkdisney.com/photo/showgallery.php?cat=528&thumb=1
http://www.magicalears.com/clipart/
http://www.geocities.com/mcd316/newindex.html
http://hometown.aol.com/TendrHart/tndrhart.html
http://www.geocities.com/nancys_disney_world/Clipart.html
http://www.greeting-cards-4u.com/platinum6/pictures/images/Tubes/Disney/Page0003Disney.html
http://www.disneyexperience.com/paper1.htm
http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Resort/4382/clipart.html
http://disney.satarma.com/clipart.html
http://disney2go.disneyfansites.com/CHARACTERSLIST.html
http://www.gaffney-sc.com/more_disney_clipart.htm
http://www.tripletsandus.com/disney/art.htm
http://www.wondersofdisney.disneyfansites.com/clipart/clipart.html
http://www.angelfire.com/fl5/disney/clipart.html
http://members.tripod.com/~jillsmickimouse/jills2.htm
http://lnx.ginevra2000.it/Disney/index.htm
http://www.wdisneyw.co.uk/photos.html
http://www.netavantage.ca/galerie/galwaltdiseney.htm
Lots of Mickey
http://www.mickey-mouse.com/mickeyclipartmain.htm
All Donald Duck
http://www.loneweb.net/donald_duck/donald.html
Theme Park Logos
http://www.magicalears.com/clipart/Disney Theme Parks/
Christmas and Winter cliparts
http://members.tripod.com/~jillsmickimouse/winter.htm
Nightmare Before Christmas
http://retrogoth.50megs.com/
Disney Catalog Covers from Frostbytte21
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lildu...=&.done=http://photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos
Where and how do I download FONTS?
by J&NMom
What is the name of the Walt Disney World font?
Download Walt Disney Script
You can download free fonts from these sites:
http://www.dafont.com/en/
http://www.mickeyavenue.com/fonts/
http://mickeyavenue.com/fonts/disney-fonts.html
http://www.momscorner4kids.com/fonts/index.htm
http://www.smackbomb.com/famousfonts/
And if you ever need to match a font
scan it in, then go here:
www.myfonts.com/WhatTheFont/ or here:
www.identifont.com/
How do I download and unzip a font?
http://momscorner4kids.com/fonts/download.htm
How do I install a font on my computer?
http://momscorner4kids.com/fonts/install.htm
How do I save a design?
To save a design to your computer,
click the right mouse button over the image
click SAVE IMAGE AS,
then choose a filename and press SAVE.
Tips if you have AOL
by Mrs.Squirrel
AOL automatically compresses graphics files to enhance speed (I did not come up with this, I found it on a troubleshooting website so if it is not the exact explanation, please no flames!) I guess that's where the .art comes from.
You have to go into AOL's Settings
If you have 9.0, view by category.
Under Customize AOL click view all.
Scroll down to How AOL Works and click on Browser Settings.
Change the default to Never Compress Graphics.
Once the change takes place and you right click on a image, you should see other graphic save options.
How do I post an image on the boards?
by J&NMom
You will first need to find somewhere to host your images: Photobucket.com is a free account that a lot of DISers recommend
How to upload a picture to Photobucket
http://photobucket.com/tutorials/upload_single/up.html
How to post a design from photobucket
Once you have uploaded your design to photobucket you will be showed a thumbnail gallery
under each gallery are three boxes with codes in them select the code labeled IMG
copy and paste this code into your post and your picture will show up
How to post images from other sources
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.p...&postcount=1262
Preparing to print your design
You can print your designs in several ways
To make a mirror image in paint:
Press Ctrl+R this will bring up the flip/rotate dialogue window
Choose flip horizontal and then click on okay this should give you a mirror image of your design
To Print from Paint:
Open a copy in Paint and print it from there be sure to use print preview and make any adjustments if it does not fill the page as desired.
Click on file, page setup and you will be able to make your design portrait or landscape
You can also set margins
To make your design fit on one page use the scaling option and choose fit to a 1 x 1 page
To have a little more flexibility in working with the design you can insert the image into a Word Document
To insert an image into Word:
From the toolbar select insert
Then picture
From file
Use the file browser to locate your file
Choose the file and then click insert
To change the size of a photo in word
You can then right click on the picture and choose format picture
then click on the size tab
and choose the dimensions you want the file to be (make sure your margins are set as small as possible)
or
click on the image and place your arrow over one of the corner guides
when it become a two way arrow
click on it and drag the arrow to the size you want the photo to be
(make sure you use a corner guide the middle guides will change the aspect ratio)
To make a mirror image in Word:
This will be done in the printer options how to do this will vary by printer
Choose File
Print
and then Properties
there is probably a layout feature that will have a mirror image option choose this option and then print
Not all printers can do this if not you will have to first reverse the image in paint (see directions above)
What type transfer paper should I use?
There are two basic types of transfer paper one for light shirts and one for dark shirts.
The Light transfer paper is translucent and the color of the shirt will show through the transfer paper
The Dark transfer paper is white and any part you do not cut away will show up on the shirt as white.
There is no consensus on which brand of paper to use although Avery and HP seem to be the most consistent choices.
Some recommend using the dark transfer paper regardless of the shirt color as the colors seem more vibrant
What type shirt (fabric)should I use?
by Baloo and J&NMom
Cotton or Poly/Cotton Blend fabric
T-shirts
Sweat shirts or pants
Canvas totes
Pillow cases
Walmart and Kmart carry Hanes and Fruit of the Loom shirts at every day low prices!
Most hobby stores sell T-shirts for around $2.99 and people have been very happy with these shirts.
Check out the sales racks in whatever store you're in,there's no telling what sort of prize you might find!
Do you have any tips on ironing the transfer?
by Baloo and J&NMom
These are tips for transferring that people have suggested .But directions on different brands of transfer paper vary so be sure to
read and follow the manufactures directions!
You
MUST prewash your shirts before transferring
Prewash
ANY fabric before using transfers.It removes sizing or starch applied by the manufacture.
Do
NOT add fabric softener or bleach when prewashing.
Do
NOT add fabric softener sheets when drying.
Print a Preview ... always, always print a preview copy of your image before printing it on the (expensive) transfer paper. Do this to insure that colors print correctly, that your image doesn't fall into your printer's no-print zone along the margins, and to see what size your design will be (sometimes the on-screen view can be deceiving).
Flip Image if the directions call for it don't forget to flip or mirror your image. This is especially critical if you have text in your design. The text should be backwards on screen or on the print out. (Another good reason to print a preview copy first!)
Use the Right Side of the Paper ...Transfer paper has stripes or a grid on the non-printing side. Be sure to put the paper in your printer so that it prints on the clean white side.
White Does Not Print... In designing your artwork remember that WHITE does not print. The fabric will show through any parts of the design that are white. For example, if you print a white ghost on plaid fabric you'll get a plaid ghost! Plan your design accordingly. As with any desktop publishing project, consider the background color when selecting colors for your designs.
Test on Scrap Fabric Test... your design on scratch fabric before applying it to your final T-shirt or other fabric. Some types of fabric may require more ironing (heat) than others or may not show off your design as well as you expected.
Use Lots of Heat... Use your iron's hottest setting but no steam. It takes a lot of heat to transfer the image evenly and completely to the fabric. Peel off the paper while it is still hot.
Use a Hard Surface... The reason transfer instructions specify a hard surface (such as formica) is because it holds the heat. Ironing boards tend to disperse the heat and the transfer paper needs to be very hot to work properly.
Tips from Tricialiv
I have TransferMagic paper from Hobby Lobby. It was 14 sheets for $11.99. The transfers went on great. I hope they wash well. I just did my first on dark fabric. It was the POC on a black T. It looks great. I can't post pics yet. The transferMagic paper has some Hanes OOps proof card. You can send them the shirt that didn't come out and they will take it back if it's a hanes shirt. It also has a Hanes t-shirt maker program to download for free. I haven't yet though. I got DS & DD Hanes long sleeve shirts for $3.99 at Hobby Lobby.
Tips from lovesdumbo
The transfers for Dark T's you print onto the sheet without reversing the print. You cut around the image and then peel the backing off and you have sort a plastic like film that you put on the T, cover that with a sheet of parchment paper and press. Anything that you don't cut off will be white so it is probably easiest to do a design with a clean line border like the Mission Mickey I did.
DanaUK
I spent ages carefully cutting the transfers out but I think it was worth it.
TYE DYING SHIRTS
I will be working to increase and improve the tye dye section over the next few weeks!There's only so much time in a day!
Directions from Cojochurch
First you will need the dye. I got a kit at Michaels that came with the instructions, dye, squirt bottles, soda ash, gloves, and rubber bands. Get 100% cotton shirts. That is very important so that you get vibrant colors.
Do not use
Rit Dye you
will not get
vibrant colors!
Take the shirt and draw a mickey head in pencil, on the shirt. I made a pattern on papper first and then traced along the edge. You will then "sew" the pattern. Use a needle and thread. I got a waxed thread at Michaels to make sure it didn't take up the dye. Sew a 1/4" - 1/2" basting stitch along the pencil line. A basting stitch is a very simple stitch that goes up & down through the fabric. Only go through the front of the shirt if that is where you want the mickey to be. If you want it on front and back. Do each side separtely. After stitching along the complete line, knot it, and pull it tight, so the fabric gathers in a bunch. Make sure the inside of the Mickey is poking outward. Pleat the rest of the fabric, so that you have a long snake like tube. The more careful you are with pleating the fabric along the length of the shirt, the better the final result. Go easy, and take your time. Wrap a rubber band around the threaded bunch. The tighter the tie, the more defined the outline of the mickey will be. Place remaining rubber bands in 1"-2" intervals along the rest of the shirt. It is a little hard to explain, but when you are done you will have a long snake. One end is the mickey on front of shirt and the other end it the back mickey. Through the middle is the rest of shirt (arms, neck etc.).
Then follow the instructions in the kit for preparing and dying shirts. The squirt bottles make it possible to get the specific color where you want it.
Y'all are the best!!! 
All the shirts are FANATASTIC! 
