Vintage T-Shirt Design Recreation
Budget: $30 – $250 USD
I have an original, well-loved tee from years ago and an AI mock-up that gets me 80 % of the way there, but I now need a real designer’s touch to finish the job for screen printing.
Here’s what I already have:
• Clear reference photos of the shirt front and back
• A -usable AI illustration
• Notes on ink colours and a preferred set-up for a print shop, but I have no idea what to send to a local printer
It is ONE color on a colored shirt,
What I need from you:
1. Recreate the original layout and artwork, including all text elements
2. Apply a few minor tweaks we’ve discussed—specifically, tighten up the font choice and refine size/placement so everything feels balanced on modern garment specs.
3. Supply a fully print-ready vector file (Adobe Illustrator, layered), complete with colour call-outs, separations, and any trap/bleed settings the printer will ask for.
Acceptance:
• When the printer tests the file on their RIP, there are no font substitution or sizing issues.
• All colours land on the four screens exactly as called out.
• Final files open flawlessly in whatever platform a printer will use without missing links or fonts.
If you’re comfortable translating vintage art into crisp, production-ready vector work, let’s get this shirt back into circulation.
FINAL DESIGN SPEC (READY FOR PRINTER)
Shirt Color
• Pantone: PANTONE 202 C (Chicago Maroon)
• Fabric: 100% cotton, slightly heathered if you want a vintage look
⸻
Ink Color
• Primary ink: Soft cream (NOT bright white)
• Recommended:
• Pantone 7506 C (warm cream — best choice)
• or Pantone Warm Gray 1 C (slightly cooler option)
⸻
Typography & Layout
Overall Print Block
• Width: ~10 inches total
(~1 inch narrower on each side than standard 12” block — per your note)
• Centered on chest
⸻
Line-by-Line Specs
1. Top Line (Arched)
Text:
THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
• Font: Cloister Black or Old English Text MT
• Style: Increased arch curvature (noticeably more than before)
• Size: ~52–56 pt equivalent
• Tracking: Slightly expanded for readability
⸻
2. Second Line
Text:
FOOTBALL
• Font: Varsity / College Block
• Size: Reduced an additional 10%
→ ~64–68 pt equivalent
• Straight baseline (not arched)
⸻
3. Emphasis Line (Primary Visual Anchor)
Text:
BIG 10 CHAMPIONS
• Font: Same Varsity / College Block
• Size: Scaled UP to span full print width
→ ~80–90 pt equivalent, adjusted to hit edges cleanly
• This line should visually define the width of the design
⸻
4. Rule (Separator Line)
• Thin horizontal rule
• Width: ~70–75% of text width
• Spacing:
• Add ~10–12 pt space above
• Add ~10–12 pt space below
(This is subtle but makes a big difference visually)
⸻
5. Championship Years (Back to Two Lines)
Text:
THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO (arched)
FOOTBALL
BIG 10 CHAMPIONS
────────────
1899 • 1905 • 1907 • 1908
1913 • 1922 • 1924
• Font: Sans serif bold (this is a great call for contrast)
• Recommended:
• Franklin Gothic Bold
• Helvetica Bold
• Size: ~26–30 pt
• Tight tracking so both lines align cleanly under the rule
• Centered
Here’s what I already have:
• Clear reference photos of the shirt front and back
• A -usable AI illustration
• Notes on ink colours and a preferred set-up for a print shop, but I have no idea what to send to a local printer
It is ONE color on a colored shirt,
What I need from you:
1. Recreate the original layout and artwork, including all text elements
2. Apply a few minor tweaks we’ve discussed—specifically, tighten up the font choice and refine size/placement so everything feels balanced on modern garment specs.
3. Supply a fully print-ready vector file (Adobe Illustrator, layered), complete with colour call-outs, separations, and any trap/bleed settings the printer will ask for.
Acceptance:
• When the printer tests the file on their RIP, there are no font substitution or sizing issues.
• All colours land on the four screens exactly as called out.
• Final files open flawlessly in whatever platform a printer will use without missing links or fonts.
If you’re comfortable translating vintage art into crisp, production-ready vector work, let’s get this shirt back into circulation.
FINAL DESIGN SPEC (READY FOR PRINTER)
Shirt Color
• Pantone: PANTONE 202 C (Chicago Maroon)
• Fabric: 100% cotton, slightly heathered if you want a vintage look
⸻
Ink Color
• Primary ink: Soft cream (NOT bright white)
• Recommended:
• Pantone 7506 C (warm cream — best choice)
• or Pantone Warm Gray 1 C (slightly cooler option)
⸻
Typography & Layout
Overall Print Block
• Width: ~10 inches total
(~1 inch narrower on each side than standard 12” block — per your note)
• Centered on chest
⸻
Line-by-Line Specs
1. Top Line (Arched)
Text:
THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
• Font: Cloister Black or Old English Text MT
• Style: Increased arch curvature (noticeably more than before)
• Size: ~52–56 pt equivalent
• Tracking: Slightly expanded for readability
⸻
2. Second Line
Text:
FOOTBALL
• Font: Varsity / College Block
• Size: Reduced an additional 10%
→ ~64–68 pt equivalent
• Straight baseline (not arched)
⸻
3. Emphasis Line (Primary Visual Anchor)
Text:
BIG 10 CHAMPIONS
• Font: Same Varsity / College Block
• Size: Scaled UP to span full print width
→ ~80–90 pt equivalent, adjusted to hit edges cleanly
• This line should visually define the width of the design
⸻
4. Rule (Separator Line)
• Thin horizontal rule
• Width: ~70–75% of text width
• Spacing:
• Add ~10–12 pt space above
• Add ~10–12 pt space below
(This is subtle but makes a big difference visually)
⸻
5. Championship Years (Back to Two Lines)
Text:
THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO (arched)
FOOTBALL
BIG 10 CHAMPIONS
────────────
1899 • 1905 • 1907 • 1908
1913 • 1922 • 1924
• Font: Sans serif bold (this is a great call for contrast)
• Recommended:
• Franklin Gothic Bold
• Helvetica Bold
• Size: ~26–30 pt
• Tight tracking so both lines align cleanly under the rule
• Centered