Year-End Project Highlight - Low Roller T-Shirt Design

Project Overview

As the year wraps up, I’m excited to share one of my favorite personal projects—a Low Roller T-Shirt design inspired by the ups and downs of tabletop gaming. This design was an opportunity to dive into custom lettering and illustration, combining my love for Dungeons & Dragons with a nod to the humor and frustration of rolling low during a game. For more on Dungeons & Dragons, please check out this great article: What is D&D?

Goals

The goal for this project was to create a striking design that would resonate with D&D players who consistently roll low, as well as showcase my skills in custom typography and illustration. I wanted a simple, bold design that could stand out on a T-shirt while capturing the essence of a “Low Roller” in a fun, relatable way.

Design Process

1. Starting with a Reference in ProCreate
   I began by using a photo of a d20 die as a reference in ProCreate on my iPad Pro. This gave me a realistic starting point for the shape and perspective. I sketched over the photo, refining the lines to create a stylized version of the die that felt both accurate and visually engaging.

2. Experimenting with Layout
   Once the die was sketched out, I played around with the layout, figuring out the best placement for the die, text, and background elements. I wanted a balanced composition that would look cohesive on a T-shirt and communicate the “Low Roller” theme at first glance.

3. Scraping it All & Starting Over
   Like any artist, I almost never keep my first sketches, and this project was no exception. After some trial and error, I decided to completely redo the lettering, ultimately arriving at a bold, textured font that gave the design a rugged personality.

4. Color, Shading, and Details
   With the final layout and lettering in place, I started adding color, shading, and highlights. Using a bold red for the die and complementary colors for the text, I carefully layered in details to give the design depth and vibrancy. Fine details, like shadowing on the die and highlights on the edges, were added to make the design pop and give it a three-dimensional look.

5. Transition to Adobe Illustrator
   Once the ProCreate composition was complete, I imported it into Adobe Illustrator. Here, I cleaned up the design, vectorizing it to ensure crisp lines and scalability. I refined the shapes, adjusted the colors slightly, and ensured all details were polished for a high-quality, print-ready finish, best applicable to direct transfer printing for apparel.

6. Comparing ProCreate and Illustrator Versions
   Here’s a comparison between the ProCreate version and the Illustrator version. You can see how the transition to vector allowed for cleaner lines and a polished, professional look, perfect for T-shirt printing. I also touched up the lettering and added extra details that felt like a better fit.

Time-Lapse Video

One of the reasons I love starting designs in ProCreate is due to its Time-Lapse feature. It allows me to show my clients unique insight at the illustration process. Below is that time-lapse video of the ProCreate phase capturing the evolution from initial sketch to completed digital artwork before it was finalized in Illustrator.

Reflection

This project allowed me to expand my skills in both custom lettering and illustration while diving into a theme I’m genuinely passionate about—Dungeons & Dragons. It was a rewarding experience that also pushed me further into the world of custom typography, a growing area of interest for both myself and my clients who want designs that feel truly unique to them.

Thanks for joining me on this deep dive into my Low Roller T-Shirt design! I look forward to sharing more projects, insights, and tips in future posts on The Foundry. If you’re interested in collaborating or bringing your own ideas to life, feel free to reach out—I’m here to help make it happen.

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