Topic: TROS T-Shirts
Started by: Jake Norwood
Started on: 5/17/2002
Board: The Riddle of Steel
On 5/17/2002 at 4:29pm, Jake Norwood wrote:
TROS T-Shirts
We've had growing interest in TROS t-shirts (hell, we want 'em). So here's my question...
What should it look like? How much would you pay for them (so I can decide if I want to use multiple colors or not). I'm thinking a black shirt with white ink, but which picture from the book (or whatever), and what should be on the back (if anything), etc.
jake
On 5/17/2002 at 4:42pm, Clinton R. Nixon wrote:
RE: TROS T-Shirts
Jake,
I actually think multiple colors would be kind of annoying. It always sounds like a good idea, but in my experience, it becomes a shirt that I'd rarely wear. I'd go with a black shirt with the RoS logo in white on the front. I'd also do the opposite - make a white shirt with a black RoS logo. (I, for one, never wear black t-shirts: I rarely wear anything but white ones.)
On 5/17/2002 at 4:57pm, Ace wrote:
RE: TROS T-Shirts
I agree with Clinton on the color selection. Black or White, you can't grow wrong there.
As to the look how about "What is The Riddle of Steel" with the words Riddle of Steel done as the front emblem of the book.
Thats way if someone sees it at a convention, martial arts training, movie fest or whever they can get the question stuck in their mind.
It will remind some folks of the Conan movie but that is a good thing, get em asking and you might amke a convert. Plus it has kind of a cool philospohical twist to it...
As to costs and all Keep them under $20, $12-14.95 would be better if it makes you money.
BTW Have you gone here
http://www.cafepress.com/cp/info/index.aspx
They do custom mugs, shirts and all sorts of geat for a number of gaming companies including I belive Adept Press
On 5/17/2002 at 6:19pm, Bankuei wrote:
RE: TROS T-Shirts
As someone who used to do screen printing for a living:
1) go with single colors(it's way cheaper)
2) always print dark on light, not light on dark(unless you want to pay for an extra color)
3) Try not to give the printers artwork with really fine lines/crosshatching, greytones, etc, unless you want the art to look like shit.
I'm fond of "Seek the Riddle, Find the Answer" bit on the back of the book.
:P
Chris
On 5/17/2002 at 7:10pm, Jake Norwood wrote:
RE: TROS T-Shirts
Ok, use the logo, use the slogan, do one color...
But what about the picture...
On 5/17/2002 at 10:32pm, Brian Leybourne wrote:
RE: TROS T-Shirts
Jake Norwood wrote: Ok, use the logo, use the slogan, do one color...
But what about the picture...
Well, personally, I'm fond of the picture from the book (and it was one of the three you included for the GM screen alternate covers) of the woman who is down with arrows sticking into her (mountains in the background), but that's just me I guess :-)
It's pretty hard to predict how many you should have made up; if made-to-order isn't too expensive I would go with that. If you have to make them up in advance, make sure you go with the larger sizes - in my experience, gamers tend to be bigger guys :-)
On 5/18/2002 at 12:10am, Henry Fitch wrote:
RE: TROS T-Shirts
I have to speak out on behalf of the black shirt. If it's only available in white, I'm only going to wear it to sleep in.
On 5/18/2002 at 12:59am, Wolfen wrote:
RE: TROS T-Shirts
I say the logo on the left breast in the front, and the whole knotwork image from the website index on the back... But that's just me.
On 5/18/2002 at 2:08am, Casey Goddard wrote:
I agree with wolfen.
I like the hand holding the bloody and broken sword it has a cool look to it that really captures the essence of tRoS.
On 5/18/2002 at 4:05am, Rattlehead wrote:
RE: TROS T-Shirts
I don't know how well it would look on a T-shirt, but the picture on page 100 (bad-ass with crossed arms) is great. I also like the "Seek the Riddle. Find the Answer." bit. As for colors, white on black would be better in my opinion, but I'm sure black on white would be fine too. I also agree that some sort of knotwork would be good.
Brandon
On 5/18/2002 at 5:38am, Jhilahd wrote:
RE: TROS T-Shirts
I don't know that I'd use an image at all.
Most line art(dependant upon size) will get mushy looking if it is too fine.
The logo and the "slogan" will be more than enough to garner attention and possible questions. Remember, less is more.
But that's just the Graphic Designer in me. ;D
Jhilahd
On 5/18/2002 at 6:23am, Jake Norwood wrote:
RE: TROS T-Shirts
Point taken. I think we'll go with the logo, slogan, and perhaps the big knot, maybe with a sword...
Now, how many of you want one? I need to have an idea of how many I should get to sell online.
Jake
On 5/18/2002 at 9:21am, Wolfen wrote:
RE: TROS T-Shirts
Gimme a price and a place to send my money, Jake.
Oh.. And I'd like the black shirt.
On 5/18/2002 at 6:59pm, Rattlehead wrote:
RE: TROS T-Shirts
Yeah, I'd be interested. As long as I can afford it, I'd love to get one. Any idea yet on the price?
Brandon
On 5/18/2002 at 9:58pm, Ace wrote:
RE: TROS T-Shirts
Jake Norwood wrote: Point taken. I think we'll go with the logo, slogan, and perhaps the big knot, maybe with a sword...
Now, how many of you want one? I need to have an idea of how many I should get to sell online.
Jake
Sorry Jake I doubt you will sell me oneI don't wear "gamer" realted clothes or T Shirts in general. Good luck though, hope you make a bundle
On 5/19/2002 at 10:16pm, Jürgen Mayer wrote:
RE: TROS T-Shirts
Jhilahd wrote: I don't know that I'd use an image at all.
Most line art(dependant upon size) will get mushy looking if it is too fine.
The logo and the "slogan" will be more than enough to garner attention and possible questions. Remember, less is more.
Seconded!
White on black, logo and cool slogan, no image, but knotwork could look nice. Prize it between $15 and $18.
On 5/20/2002 at 2:38pm, Ron Edwards wrote:
RE: TROS T-Shirts
Hey all you blackshirts,
I like a black t-shirt best myself, but there's something you should know. Cafe Press, for instance, does not offer shirts except in white or grey. That means that if Jake were to submit to your fashion preferences, he'll have to use some other means of production, and the shirts are going to cost him tons and tons more money, not to mention being a huge pain in the ass.
In other words, if you want to be supportive of the game for real, loosen up your fashion sense and consider wearing a white or grey shirt for once.
Best,
Ron
On 5/20/2002 at 4:05pm, Jake Norwood wrote:
RE: TROS T-Shirts
Actually I *think* we've got a guy locally that will do them rather reasonably (Ron--I'd love to know what your rates were at Cafe Press) in black. I'm still ironing out the details, but I'm pretty darn sure that I can do it with no change in cost (and I won't have to have them shipped directly to me, as I can just drive out and pick them up).
Jake
I'm partial to black myself, with gray as the standby.
On 5/21/2002 at 5:14pm, Shadow wrote:
RE: TROS T-Shirts
I'd agree if there's a picture it should be the hand with the broken sword (I would go for that shirt). Also, black is the color I would want.
On 5/21/2002 at 5:37pm, Bankuei wrote:
RE: TROS T-Shirts
Quick note to Jake:
1) Make sure its screenprinted, not the crappy "iron on" stuff that washes off after three washes.
2) White(or any color on black) costs an extra color, because they have to do a underwhite, and then print on top of that. It gets ugly if it has detailed art or line work in it, as they have to try to match registration. It's not so bad if your ordering a few thousand, cause then they break out the automated presses, but for a couple hundred shirts, they typically do it by hand.
I'm all for black on grey myself.
Chris
On 5/21/2002 at 6:50pm, Henry Fitch wrote:
RE: TROS T-Shirts
Well, I'm a big black shirt wearer, but I'd like to assure you that I won't let that get in my way here. Grey is fine too, or even white.
On 5/21/2002 at 7:02pm, Rattlehead wrote:
RE: TROS T-Shirts
Bankuei wrote: It's not so bad if your ordering a few thousand, cause then they break out the automated presses, but for a couple hundred shirts, they typically do it by hand.
Are you sure about this??? I investigated getting some t-shirts printed for an organization I was involved with about 6 months ago. The place I contacted was a little place local to me (backwoods, heh). Everything they did was computer controlled. Nothing was done by hand in their case.
Another note to Jake: How many are you planning on having printed Jake? If you don't sell the first batch right away, you can still use them as prizes/gifts at cons and such. Not to mention that you can sell them on the website. It's not like they're gonna go rancid. :-) Maybe it would be cheaper in the long run to get a larger batch? Then again, you probably know this already...
Brandon
On 5/21/2002 at 10:12pm, Bankuei wrote:
RE: TROS T-Shirts
Everything they did was computer controlled. Nothing was done by hand in their case.
Well, if you had them doing 4 color process type art, then it has to be computer controlled(up the cost a lot tho). Most places usually reserve the machines for their larger orders of several thousand to 10's of thousands, and use hand presses for smaller runs. When you have a $50,000 job that needs to be done in 3 days, and a $400 job that you've got two weeks on...well.... I can only speak from having to do this kind of stuff for over a year and a half.
All I can say is make sure not to have any lines that are extra fine on the artwork, because those rarely burn properly on the screens, and they're really hard to match up. Pretty much if it doesn't show up on 100 dpi scan(black and white, no grayscale), it won't show up on the shirt.
Chris