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You need print-on-demand designs that sell, but sourcing them isn't always easy. Should you create them yourself or buy ready-made ones? This decision affects your budget, time, and brand identity.
Making your own print-on-demand designs means you get to be creative and make something original. Buying designs saves you time, but you have to pay for them first.
So, where and how can you get print-on-demand designs? Your choice depends on your skills, budget, and business goals.
In this guide, we’ll explain both choices so you can decide what works best for your POD store. Let's explore each option and learn how to create designs for print on demand that actually sell.
How to Create Your Own Print-on-Demand Designs
Knowing how to create your own print-on-demand designs puts you in the driver's seat. You control every detail, from colors to messaging. Plus, you'll never worry about copyright issues or seeing your designs in competitor stores.
The hard part is that it takes time to learn. But once you get the hang of it, creating becomes faster and cheaper than buying.
Let’s look at how you can get it done.
Step 1: Understand What Sells (Research Trends & Niches)
Before you start making designs, it’s important to know what people like to buy. Research shows that designs with words do really well in print-on-demand.
Funny quotes, motivational sayings, and phrases about specific hobbies or interests sell a lot.
Popular product categories include:
- Fitness and wellness quotes for activewear
- Gaming references for tech accessories
- Pet lover designs for mugs and shirts
- Professional humor for office workers
- Travel themes for bags and phone cases
Check trending hashtags on Instagram and TikTok. Look at bestsellers on Etsy and Amazon.
You can use Google Trends to see which topics are popular. For example, a search shows that fitness t-shirts are popular all year, while anime t-shirts get more attention at certain times of the year.
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Step 2: Choose a Design Tool
You don't need expensive software to create winning print-on-demand designs. Several tools work well for both beginners and professionals. Some of them are:
Canva
Canva has thousands of templates and easy drag-and-drop editing. Learning to use Canva for print on demand is easy because it’s simple and user-friendly.
Its free version has basic features. The Pro version costs $15 a month and gives you extra cool tools and pictures.
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Illustrator is a tool for making really detailed and sharp designs that can be made bigger or smaller without losing quality. It costs $23 a month. You can use it for fancy drawings and artwork, but it’s harder to learn than Canva.
Kittl
Kittl specializes in print-on-demand designs. It has cool fonts and pictures you can use for POD products. Pricing starts at $15 monthly. Kittl is easier than Illustrator but more powerful than Canva.
Step 3: Follow Design Best Practices
Great print-on-demand designs follow specific rules that ensure quality and sales success.
- Use High-Resolution Images: Low-resolution designs look blurry when printed ruining the customer experience and hurting brand reputation. Always design at the largest size your POD platform recommends.
- Avoid Copyright Violations: Make your own designs or use pictures you’re allowed to use. Use the free graphics from your design tool's library instead.
- Test Placement on Mockups: What looks good on screen might not work on a t-shirt or phone case. Use mockup templates to see how your design appears on actual products. Just like this Podbase preview:
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Step 4: Organize and Export Your Files Properly
Keeping your design files organized saves time and helps you avoid mistakes when uploading to print-on-demand platforms.
- Save Your Print-on-Demand Design Ideas in Multiple Formats: PNG files work for most platforms and keep it clear and transparent. And SVG files can be made bigger or smaller without losing quality.
- Create Folders for Each Design Category or Product Type: Name files clearly with keywords that describe the design. Organizing helps when you have multiple print-on-demand design ideas.
- Export at Recommended Sizes for Each Platform: Podbase wants no less than 260 DPI files. Printify prefers specific pixel dimensions. Check your POD provider's requirements before uploading.
Quick Question: Can you use Canva for print-on-demand?
Yes, Canva works perfectly for print-on-demand designs. Its commercial license covers POD sales when you use Canva Pro. Free elements might have restrictions, so upgrade to Pro for full commercial rights.
Where to Buy Designs for Print-on-Demand (Safely)
Buying print-on-demand designs can help you launch your store faster. You don’t have to learn how to make designs, and you get professional artwork right away.
But you have to pay for the designs first. Also, other people might buy and use the same designs. The important thing is to find good places that sell unique designs with the permission to use them.
Top Print-on-Demand Design Marketplaces
Here are the top 5 places where you can buy print-on-demand designs:
1. Creative Market
Creative Market sells really good designs made by independent artists. Most of the design packs let you use them for your print-on-demand store.
Each pack usually costs between $15 and $50. A lot of the designs are made just for Creative Market. So there’s a smaller chance that other people will be using the same design as you.
2. Envato Elements
This site lets you download as many designs as you want for $16.50 a month. It has a huge library with graphics, fonts, and templates for print-on-demand.
You can use the designs for your business. But it’s important to read the rules for each one to make sure you’re using it the right way.
3. Designious
Designious is a website that sells drawings called vector graphics, which work great for POD products. You can join for $12 a month and use the designs to sell things.
They have all kinds of art. This includes old-school styles, cool modern designs, and pictures for specific hobbies or interests.
4. Etsy
Etsy has lots of sellers who sell print-on-demand designs you can use for your business. These designs usually come with a license that says it’s okay to sell products with them.
Prices can be anywhere from $5 to $100 for a pack. Just make sure the seller gives you the right permission to use the designs for selling.
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5. Vexels
This design website is made for t-shirts and print-on-demand products. It costs between $14 and $49 a month to join.
You get access to designs you can change, plus special collections for holidays and seasons.
What to Look for When Buying Designs
- Commercial use rights: Look for "commercial license," "extended license," or "print-on-demand license" in product descriptions.
- File quality: Download sample files before purchasing large bundles to check resolution and color accuracy. Poor-quality files create blurry prints and unhappy customers.
- Editable templates: Choose designs that let you change colors, modify text, and adjust elements to match your brand. PSD, AI, and EPS files allow customization.
- Niche relevance: Match design styles to your customer demographics and product categories. Generic designs rarely perform as well as niche-specific artwork that appeals directly to your target audience.
Free vs Paid Designs: Pros and Cons
Free design sites like Freepik and Pixabay offer thousands of graphics without upfront costs. You can find free designs for print on demand on these platforms. But they come with risks. Licensing terms often restrict commercial use or require attribution.
Also, many free designs appear on countless other POD stores, reducing your competitive edge.
Paid designs typically include clear commercial licenses and higher-quality artwork. You'll get better customer support and legal protection.
Quick Question: Can you use free stock images on POD products?
Most free stock images require attribution or restrict commercial use. Check each image's license before using it on POD products. Websites like Unsplash and Pexels offer some commercial-friendly options, but always read the fine print.
Design Licensing and Copyright Rules
Before using any print-on-demand designs, it’s important to understand the licensing rules. Mistakes here can lead to copyright strikes, store takedowns, or legal trouble.
For starters, royalty-free doesn’t mean “free for commercial use.” It simply means you don’t pay ongoing royalties. You still need to purchase the right license if you plan to sell products using the design.
Standard licenses usually allow personal use only. For print-on-demand designs, you’ll need an extended or commercial license. This covers product sales and business use.
Also, watch out for trademark or copyright infringement. Don’t use images of Disney characters, sports logos, or celebrity faces unless you have permission.
When buying designs, check that the seller owns full commercial rights. Some resell stolen content without permission. Stick to trusted marketplaces that clearly state license terms. And always keep a copy of your license as proof.
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Should You Create or Buy Designs? (Decision Framework)
Your decision depends on four key factors that determine what works best for your print-on-demand business:
- Budget: Creating designs costs time but saves money in the long-term. Design tools like Canva Pro cost $15 monthly versus buying individual design packs for $20-50 each.
- Design skills: Beginners need a few months to create sellable print-on-demand designs. But if you have an on-demand graphic design background, creating might be a better bet.
- Branding goals: Building a recognizable brand requires a consistent visual style across all products. Buying from multiple sources often results in mismatched styles.
- Time constraints: Creating quality print-on-demand designs takes several hours per design initially. If you're managing multiple business areas, purchasing might be better in the short-term.
Mix Both - Hybrid Strategy for Print-on-Demand Stores
Start by creating 5-10 core designs that define your brand style and messaging. These become your signature pieces that customers associate with your store.
Then buy complementary designs for holidays, trending topics, or new product categories. This hybrid approach gives you brand consistency while maintaining speed to market.
Summary
Choosing between creating and buying print-on-demand designs doesn't have to be an either-or decision. Most successful POD entrepreneurs use both strategies at different stages of their business growth.
Creating designs gives you complete control, builds your brand identity, and saves money in the long term.
If you need to launch fast, buy quality designs with proper commercial licenses. Remember to always verify licensing rights, avoid copyright violations, and keep your target audience in mind.
Ready to launch your print-on-demand business with professional designs? Podbase makes it easy to create, manage, and scale your POD store with the right design strategy. Get started with Podbase today!
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Saulius Meilutis is the CEO of Podbase, helping creators and entrepreneurs monetize their ideas with print-on-demand. He shares insights on eCommerce, growth, and building lean online businesses.
