T-Shirt Flat Sketch vs Mockup: What Clothing Brands Actually Need
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By The Clothing Game, founded in the UK · Last updated: 28 October 2026
A flat sketch is a 2D technical drawing of a garment laid flat, front and back, showing its exact shape, seams and details. A mockup is a template you drop artwork onto to show how a design looks. For clothing brands, one editable vector file often does both: you design your print on it, then send the same drawing to your factory inside your tech pack.
Flat sketch vs mockup vs render: what's the difference?
| Flat sketch | Vector mockup | Photo-real render | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Used for | Factory communication | Design + factory + pre-sale | Marketing, ads, product pages |
| Format | Vector (AI, SVG, PDF) | Vector (AI, SVG, PDF) | PSD or 3D |
| Shows exact proportions? | Yes | Yes, if built to scale | Not reliably |
| Goes in a tech pack? | Yes | Yes | No |
What makes a good t-shirt flat sketch?
- Front and back views at the same scale.
- The right fit: boxy, oversized and slim tees have different shoulder drops and body lengths. Using a regular-fit sketch for a boxy tee misleads the factory.
- Accurate neckline and rib width. Crew, mock, V, scoop and henley read very differently, and a 1.5 cm vs 3.5 cm rib changes the whole look.
- Sleeve and hem details: rib cuffs, coverstitch hems, sleeve length.
- Editable colour fills so you can test colourways quickly.
How to use a mockup to design and sample a tee (5 steps)
- Pick the body. Choose fit and sleeve length (short, long, ¾).
- Swap the neckline to match your spec.
- Place artwork to scale and note print width in cm and distance from the high point shoulder.
- Export front and back as PDF/PNG.
- Drop them into your tech pack with fabric, GSM and labels. (See what goes in a tech pack and our GSM guide.)
What software do you need?
Vector mockups (AI/SVG) open in Adobe Illustrator, Affinity Designer, Photopea, Vectorpea and Kittl. PNG/PDF versions work in Photoshop, Procreate, Canva and GIMP. You don't need Illustrator to get started.
Free vs paid clothing mockups
Free mockups are fine for testing one product. Paid packs make sense once you're designing a range and need consistent fits across styles.
- Free Hoodie Mock-Up: front and back pullover hoodie in AI, SVG and PDF. £0.
- The Complete T-Shirt Mock-Up Pack: 48 editable bodies (8 men's and 8 women's fits in short, long and ¾ sleeve: boxy, cropped boxy, oversized, longline, raglan, baby tee and more) plus 25 interchangeable necklines and drag-on rib cuffs. £10.
FAQ
Can I send a mockup to a manufacturer instead of a tech pack?
For a simple printed blank, sometimes. For anything custom (fit, fabric, rib, labels), send a tech pack that includes the flat sketch plus measurements and specs.
What file format do factories want?
PDF is universal. Many also accept AI files, which let them measure artwork precisely.
Is a flat sketch the same as a technical drawing?
Yes. "Flat", "flat sketch" and "technical flat" are used interchangeably in fashion.