Client Consultation

• Objective: Understand the client’s vision and address prior design dissatisfaction.
• Gathering Requirements: I met with AutoFitClothing to review client feedback, determine layout preferences (e.g., sponsor logo placements), and establish that the shirt should feature bass fishing in particular.
• Printing Template: Confirmed the printing company’s format to align the design with their specifications.

Asset Collection and Preparation

• Logos: Gathered sponsor logos, recreating several in high resolution via vector tracing for clarity in printing.
• Image Research: Sourced a free, high-quality image of a bass for use in a photorealistic focal point, which I edited and vectorized in Illustrator.
• Fishing Research: Researched bass fishing visuals, from specific bait types (like soft plastic creature bait) to colors (e.g., a vibrant “chartreuse” for bait that attracts bass).

Conceptualization and Visual Styling

• Setting Visual Style: Avoided deep-sea elements (e.g., waves, reefs) to emphasize bass fishing.
• Base Template: Created a vectorized bass image, adding bait on a line as though the bass were leaping to catch it, which added dynamic motion to the design.

Design Concepts

• Concept 1: Created a camouflage pattern with bass vectors in shades of green, making a “bass camo” that wrapped around the entire shirt. This was a top favorite.

• Concept 2: Used the camo pattern but changed the color to red, highlighting sponsor logos with a “background cover” for emphasis.

• Concept 3 & 4: Variations on the previous design with alternate color schemes

• Concept 5: A blue, water-themed look featuring subtle fish scales and water effects, which turned out to be the client’s favorite

Final Preparation for Review

• Export: Saved designs in high-resolution PDF and PNG formats, preserving quality for print and presentation.

3D Simulation in Marvelous Designer

• Initial Setup: Imported shirt designs into Marvelous Designer to simulate fabric on a 3D character.
• Simulation: Animated a 3D model walking in 120 frames (approximately four steps) for a realistic, loopable showcase.
• UV Template Matching: Adjusted UVs in Marvelous Designer to align with the printing company’s template, ensuring design accuracy

Rendering and Presentation

• V-Ray Vantage: Rendered all concepts in V-Ray Vantage, which offered high-quality, quick outputs suitable for client review.
• Final Adjustments: Added an HDRI background and a gentle x-axis rotation for a realistic, loopable showcase.
• Social Media Formatting: Exported renders in social media-friendly formats, making it easy for AutoFitClothing to share on platforms.

Render Setup and Animation Optimization

• 3ds Max Import: Brought the simulated mesh into 3ds Max for final setup, adjusting lighting and scene for optimal visual quality.
• Texture Application: Mapped the design to match Marvelous Designer’s UV output, applying textures that matched the finalized shirt concepts.
• Loopable Animation Creation: Smoothed out the animation from frame 60 to 120, merging keyframes to ensure a seamless loop, using frame blending techniques.

Outcome: Both AutoFitClothing and the client were thrilled with the realistic, engaging design showcase, which balanced photorealistic elements and vector art in a dynamic, market-ready t-shirt design that met all expectations.