Tech Pack in Adobe Illustrator: The Ultimate Beginner-Friendly Tutorial (2025 Guide)

Have you ever imagined a beautiful design in your mind…
But when it reached the manufacturer, it looked nothing like what you planned?

Or maybe you spent weeks perfecting a sample, only to receive something that felt like a completely different garment?

Every fashion entrepreneur has faced this heartbreak.
And this is exactly why tech packs exist — to protect your vision.

Today, I’ll walk you through how to create a tech pack in Adobe Illustrator, even if you’ve never opened the software before.
Simple. Friendly. Step-by-step.

Let’s begin.

What Is a Tech Pack (in the Simplest Words)?

A tech pack is the instruction manual for your garment.

Think of it like a recipe book for manufacturers —
What to cut, how to stitch, which fabric to use, what measurements to follow, which trims to add, everything.

Without a tech pack:
→ Manufacturers guess.
With a tech pack:
→ They execute exactly what you want.

And Adobe Illustrator is the most widely used software globally for creating professional tech packs.

⭐ Why Adobe Illustrator Is Perfect for Tech Packs

Adobe Illustrator (AI) is vector-based.
This means your lines stay sharp, clean, and scalable — no blur, no pixelation.

Fashion designers and global brands prefer Illustrator because:

• It produces factory-ready sketches.
• You can create accurate measurements and clean flat sketches.
• Every version of the file stays editable.
• It’s compatible with tech pack templates and garment CADs.
• Most manufacturers already use Adobe Illustrator files.

Even if you’re a beginner, Illustrator gives you professional-level control over your designs.

🔥 Let’s Start: Creating a Tech Pack in Adobe Illustrator (Beginner Tutorial)

Below is a complete guide — step-by-step — exactly how a fashion brand founder or designer should start.

1. Set Up Your Illustrator Workspace

Step 1: Create a New Document

• Open Illustrator → New File
• Choose A4 or Letter size
• Orientation: Portrait

Step 2: Set Units to Millimeters

Factories work in cm and mm.

• Go to Preferences → Units → mm

Step 3: Create Layers

Using multiple layers keeps your tech pack clean.

Recommended layers:

• Flats Front
• Flats Back
• Trims / Details
• Stitch Lines
• Colorways
• Notes / Callouts
• Measurements

This one habit separates amateur designers from professionals.

2. Draw Your Garment Using Flat Sketches (Beginner Friendly)

Flat sketches = 2D technical drawings showing the garment with clean outlines.

How to Start Drawing:

1. Use the Pen Tool (P) for curves and edges.
2. Use the Line Segment Tool for straight seams.
3. Make symmetrical designs by drawing half → then use Reflect Tool (O).
4. Group elements (Ctrl + G) to keep your sketch tidy.

Pro Tip:

Keep strokes between 0.5–1 pt for factory readability.

Beginner-Friendly Trick: Use Reference Images

If you struggle to draw:

• Import a photo (File → Place)
• Reduce transparency
• Trace the outline with Pen Tool
• Delete the image later

Every designer in Zara, H&M, Shein, or Boohoo does this at least once.
It’s normal.

3. Add Stitch Lines and Construction Details

Manufacturers rely heavily on these lines.

Types of stitch lines to include:

• Top stitches
• Overlock stitches
• Binding details
• Hem stitches
• Pocket stitch outlines
• Button placements

How to draw stitch lines in Illustrator:

• Select line → go to Stroke Panel → Dashed Line
• Use a short dash (2–3 mm)

Tip:

Use light grey for stitch lines to differentiate them from garment outlines.

4. Add Callouts (Notes With Arrows)

Callouts explain small but important details manufacturers cannot guess.

For example:

• “Ribbed neck, 2×2, 1-inch width”
• “Metal zipper #5, YKK”
• “Fold hem 2 cm”
• “Logo embroidery, 3 cm, satin stitch”

How to add callouts:

• Use Line Tool (arrow)
• Add Text Tool (T) for notes
• Keep font readable: Arial / Roboto 9–11 pt

Global Example:

A US streetwear brand might note:
“Rubber patch, matte black, 4 cm width.”

A Korean brand might write:
“Coverstitch 4 needles, 6 mm spacing.”

These details ensure accuracy across countries.

5. Add a Measurement Sheet Inside Illustrator

You can create your entire measurement chart inside AI.

How to create measurements:

1. Use the Line Tool to mark measurement points.
2. Add arrows using Stroke → Arrowheads.
3. Use Text Tool (T) to label:
   • Chest
   • Length
   • Waist
   • Hip
   • Sleeve
   • Shoulder

Include Size Grading

Your table should include:

• XS, S, M, L, XL
• Tolerance (+/- 0.5 cm)

Example:

6. Add Fabric Details and Trims

A manufacturer cannot begin production without this information.

Fabric details to include:

• Fabric type (Cotton, Lycra, Rayon, Polyester)
• Composition (e.g., 95% cotton, 5% elastane)
• GSM (Grams per square meter)
• Fabric color
• Wash care

Trims to specify:

• Zippers
• Buttons
• Labels
• Elastic width
• Drawcords
• Tags
• Packaging details

Example from real brands:

• H&M: always mentions colour code like “Black 900”.
• Shein: usually includes zipper quality like “#3 nylon zipper”.

7. Create the Bill of Materials (BOM)

This is your material shopping list.

Your BOM should contain:

• Fabric
• Threads
• Trims
• Accessories
• Print or embroidery thread
• Packaging materials

Example:

8. Add Colorways (Color Variations)

Illustrator makes colorways extremely simple.

How to add colorways:

1. Select garment area.
2. Use Swatches panel to change colours.
3. Create 3–5 variations like:
   • Black
   • White
   • Olive
   • Navy
   • Beige

Tip:

Add Pantone codes.
Factories LOVE Pantone.

Example:
Pantone 19-4104 TCX (Black Beauty)

9. Add Print / Embroidery Artwork

If your garment includes:

• Logos
• Prints
• Graphic placements
• Embroidery
• Puff print
• Rubber patches

Then you must include:

• Print size
• Print position
• Colors used
• Pantone shades
• Embroidery stitch style

Example:

Logo embroidery on left chest:

• Size: 6 cm width
• Stitch type: Satin stitch
• Thread color: Pantone 7421 C

10. Final Tech Pack Layout (Factory-Ready)

Your final tech pack pages should look like this:

Page 1: Cover Page

• Style name
• Style code
• Season
• Designer name
• Brand name
• Sample size
• Date

Page 2: Technical Flats

• Front and back sketches
• Stitch lines
• Callouts

Page 3: Measurements

• Measurement chart
• Size grading
• Tolerance

Page 4: Bill of Materials

• Fabrics
• Trims
• Labels

Page 5: Colorways / Artwork

• Print placements
• Embroidery details

Page 6: Construction Details

• Seams
• Stitching
• Finishing instructions

Page 7: Packaging Sheet

• Polybag size
• Fold method
• Barcode placement

🌍 Real-Life Scenarios: Why This Matters Globally

Scenario 1: A US Designer Working With a Vietnam Factory

Clear tech packs save:

• 5–7 days of back-and-forth
• 30–40% sample development cost

Scenario 2: A European Streetwear Brand Outsourcing to Bangladesh

Tech packs ensure:

• Zero miscommunication
• Accurate bulk sizing

Scenario 3: An Indian D2C Brand Scaling on Instagram

A clean Illustrator tech pack:

• Helps avoid production errors
• Reduces returns
• Increases customer satisfaction

🔧 Tools and Illustrator Features Beginners Should Use

Essential Tools

• Pen Tool (P)
• Line Tool
• Shape Tool
• Eyedropper Tool
• Pathfinder
• Layers
• Artboards
• Swatches

Useful for Tech Packs

• Dashed Lines
• Stroke panel
• Reflect Tool
• Clipping Masks
• Image Trace (for logos)

✔ Practical Tips You Can Apply Immediately

• Keep all text in one font for consistency (Arial or Roboto).
• Always use mm instead of inches for factories.
• Save your file as .AI + PDF.
• Use Artboards to keep each page separate.
• Create a master template so you don’t start from scratch every time.
• Use clear naming:
  • hoodie_front.ai
  • tshirt_back.ai

⚠ Common Mistakes Beginners Make

• Using thick lines (factories hate it).
• Forgetting measurement arrows.
• Not including Pantone codes.
• Not labeling stitch types.
• Giving only one colorway.
• Mixing too many fonts.
• Leaving notes unclear like “normal zip” (what is normal?).

🎯 Conclusion: Your Tech Pack Is Your Superpower

A beautiful design means nothing if a manufacturer cannot reproduce it accurately.

Your tech pack:

• Protects your vision
• Saves your time
• Lowers production mistakes
• Increases your brand’s professionalism
• Builds trust with factories worldwide

And Adobe Illustrator makes the whole process faster, cleaner, and more reliable.

If you are serious about growing your clothing brand —
Start creating tech packs the right way.

Or if you want professional, factory-ready tech packs in 72 hours,
Tech Pack Genius is always here for you.

FAQs (Short & Helpful)

1. Is Adobe Illustrator mandatory for tech packs?

Not mandatory, but it is the industry standard globally.

2. Can beginners make tech packs in Illustrator?

Yes. The tools are simple once you practice for a few hours.

3. Do factories accept PDF tech packs?

Yes — PDF + AI files are the most preferred formats.

4. Should I include Pantone colors?

Absolutely. It avoids color mismatch during bulk production.

5. Can I use Canva for tech packs?

You can, but it’s not recommended for professional production.

6. How long does it take to make a tech pack?

For beginners: 2–4 hours.
Professionals: 30–45 minutes.

7. How many pages should a tech pack have?

Typically 6–10 pages, depending on garment complexity.