Tshirtsy Print Guide
Choosing Colours That Print True Every Time
Why Colours Shift Between Screen & Fabric
Your monitor emits light using the RGB colour model — red, green, and blue light mixed together create every colour you see. But when your design is printed onto a hoodie, sweater, or t-shirt using DTF (Direct-to-Film) technology, the ink sits on top of fabric fibres and absorbs light instead of emitting it.
This fundamental difference — emissive vs. reflective colour — means what you see on screen will always look slightly different in print. The good news? With a few smart choices, you can get colours that are remarkably close.
Choosing the Right Garment Colour
The colour of your hoodie, sweater, or shirt is the canvas — and it affects everything printed on top. With DTF printing, ink is applied on a clear film then transferred, which means colours print brightly on any garment colour, including darks. But the fabric tone still influences the overall feel.
White
Most colour-accurate base. Every hue prints true.
Cream / Sand
Warms up cool tones slightly. Earthy, premium look.
Black
DTF prints vividly on black. Perfect for bold, high-contrast designs.
Navy
Sophisticated base. Bright oranges and whites pop perfectly.
Heather Grey
Slight texture softens colours. Vintage, relaxed aesthetic.
Maroon / Burgundy
Rich, bold base. Keep designs bright for contrast.
Design Colours That Print Vibrant
Not all colours in your design software will translate equally. Some reproduce brilliantly with DTF; others need careful handling. Here's a quick breakdown of how common design colours perform on custom hoodies, sweaters, and shirts:
| Colour Type | DTF Performance | Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Bright oranges & reds | Excellent | Use CMYK values. Avoid neon — slightly desaturate for accuracy. |
| Deep navy & black | Excellent | Rich, consistent output. Great for text and fine line details. |
| Bright whites | Excellent | DTF uses white underbase ink — whites stay crisp on any garment. |
| Pastels & light tones | Good | May look slightly muted. Boost saturation 10–15% in your file. |
| Neon / fluorescent | Limited | No printer can fully match neon. Use the closest CMYK equivalent. |
| Metallic / foil | Not applicable | DTF does not print true metallics. Consider foil transfers separately. |
Colours to Approach with Care
Certain colour combinations can cause issues that even the best DTF printer can't fully resolve. Here's what to watch for when designing your custom sweater, hoodie, or shirt:
Gradient designs are beautiful, but very pale gradient fade-outs (fading to near-transparent) can show banding on fabric. Keep gradient endpoints at least 20–30% opacity to maintain smooth transitions through the DTF film process.
Pro Tips for Colour-True Results
Always design in sRGB, export in sRGB
Tshirtsy's DTF process is calibrated to the sRGB colour space. Submitting CMYK files can cause unexpected colour shifts. Keep your files in sRGB for the most accurate result.
Increase saturation by 10–15% before uploading
Fabric absorbs a small amount of ink vibrancy. A slight pre-press saturation boost keeps your hoodie or sweater design looking punchy and bold in the final print.
Order a sample first for brand-critical colours
If you're producing branded merchandise where colour accuracy is non-negotiable, order a single sample shirt before a full run. It's the only way to see the true result on your chosen garment.
Avoid very thin white elements on coloured garments
Fine white details below 1pt on coloured shirts or hoodies can soften slightly. Keep white outlines and text at 1.5pt or above for crisp, clean edges.
Use our free design template
Tshirtsy provides garment-specific design templates pre-set to the correct colour profile, dimensions, and safe zones — making it easy to design with confidence.
Ready to Print Something Brilliant?
Upload your design and let Tshirtsy's DTF technology bring your colours to life — on hoodies, sweaters, shirts and more.
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