Colours and Pantones
The print method depends on the product you pick. Colour accuracy varies between methods:
- Direct to garment. CMYK-based inkjet. Renders most colours within a couple of shades of an on-screen swatch. Pantone matching is approximate; we hit the same hue but the saturation and brightness can shift by a few percent.
- Screen print. Ink mixed to a specific recipe per colour, so spot colours sit closer to a Pantone reference than direct to garment can get.
When to choose each
- Direct to garment is the right call for photographic artwork, multi-colour gradients, and small runs (under 100 units).
- Screen print is the right call for one or two solid colours at volume (over 250 units), where colour consistency across the batch matters more than artwork complexity.
We default to direct to garment for most company merch because it is faster, the unit economics are better under 250, and the result holds up to 50 wash cycles on a 30 °C cold wash.
Pantone matching
For brand-critical work, send the Pantone code (PMS xxx) with the order. We confirm on the mockup whether direct to garment or screen print is the right method to hit it.
- Spot colours in Pantone book. Screen print: close to the reference. Direct to garment: approximate.
- Process colours (CMYK). Direct to garment: same gamut as CMYK printing. Screen print: requires a 4-colour process screen print, more expensive.
- Metallics and fluoros. Screen print only.
Garment colour interactions
Print on a coloured garment is not the same as print on a white garment:
- White ink lays down first as a base coat. The colour ink prints on top. This means a navy print on a black garment is closer to mid-blue than navy unless we explicitly request a heavier white base.
- Hot colours on dark garments need 2 to 3 passes of white. We confirm this on the mockup; it does not change the price.
Matching screen to print
Monitors are not print. We do not offer physical print proofs, so the most reliable check is to:
- Send the Pantone code with the order and tell us the colour is brand-critical.
- Compare the finished goods against your brand book or a Pantone chip when they arrive.
