Here at Relentless Merchandise, we care about making sure your colors are right. Whether it's printing tees for your band, brand, or your next big event, we know that the color accuracy can make all the difference in the final look. That's why we use Pantone Coated (C) colors for all of our screen printing projects. Pantone is the industry standard for a reason, it helps keep things consistent, vibrant, and precise.
That said, printing on fabric isn't the same as looking at a color on your screen or in a Pantone book. There are a couple variables that we need to think about so you can know what to expect.
Color Shifting On Surfaces Explained:
Here's the deal: color can look different depending on where you're seeing it. A Pantone on your monitor is probably not gonna be exactly the same as the one you see in a printed book. And neither of those may look 100% like the final result on a t-shirt. But that's just how color works across different materials, lighting, etc...
Why can the colors shift?
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Screens glow, shirts don't: Colors on a monitor use light (RGB), and even if you've bought the exact same monitor, there can be slight differences in color between the two. We know this because we've had to deal with that ourselves. And shirts differ from screens in that they reflect light, which also affects how the color appears.
- Fabric type, texture, and absorbency matter: While garments are usually cotton, poly, or a blend, each interacts with ink in its own way. Light and heavier fabrics will absorb ink differently, which can also affect how the color turns out.
- Lighting changes everything: Studio lights, sunlight, shop lighting, and all other light affects how we perceive color.
Basically, there are a bunch of moving pieces. Even with the best prep, slight shifts (Think around 5-10%) are a normal part of the process.
Our Process: Keeping It as Close as Possible:
Even with all those variables, our goal is always to get your colors looking as close to perfect as possible. Here's how we do it:
- Start with your Pantone: You give us your color reference, and we'll use that as our target. But if you don't have a specific Pantone for us, we've got that covered too.
- Test it on fabric: We'll test coloring on the same material your merch is made of to see how it actually looks.
- Adjust if needed: If it's not hitting quite right, our team will fine-tune the ink until it does.
- Lock it in: Once we've got the match, we save the recipe so we can replicate it every time.
We've done this thousands of times, which means we know how to navigate those tricky colors. So if something is off, we'll catch it before it makes the full run.
Design Tips to Keep Colors Looking Great:
If color accuracy is a big deal for your project, here are a few simple things that can help:
- Share your Pantone codes or ideas early: The sooner we have them, the sooner we can plan.
- Talk with your designer early: This makes it easier to lock in the right Pantone for your project.
TL;DR:
At Relentless Merchandise, we use Pantone Coated (C) colors to make sure your prints come out vibrant and consistent. But colors don’t always look the same across screens, Pantone books, and actual fabric—things like shirt color, fabric texture, ink absorption, and lighting can all affect the final look.
Even with all those variables, we’ve got a solid process:
- You give us your Pantone or a good idea of what you want
- We test it on the fabric
- We tweak it if needed
- Then we give you some sick merch
At the end of the day, we're here to make your design look awesome. Our team is all about helping you get the right result the first time. If color accuracy is something you're worried about, let's talk. We have the tools and know-how to make sure your merch is looking crisp and clean.
