Members often comment that the colours on their shirts look different on RedBubble than they do in the original design on their computers.
There is a reason for this – and it is a very good reason.
RB alter your colours to more accurately reflect what they will look like when printed on a shirt.
“But why Byron, why can’t my customers have my colours on my shirt?” I hear you ask.
[Ok I don’t actually hear you ask that, or maybe I do, its hard to tell with all these voices in my head…]
Well, if RB displayed YOUR colours, then that is what your client would be expecting, … and its not what they are gonna get.
“But why don’t my customers get my colours on my shirts Byron?” [another voice in my head that insists it is you keeps asking…]
Well, think about it… a tee shirt is a low-res matt-finish print medium, and because of its very nature it will slightly alter the colours that are printed on to it.
If you look at the colours on the RB Stickers [which come from the same image file] you will notice that they are brighter.
“But why is that, Byron?” [really, you gotta stop talking while I am typing!].
It is because the stickers are a gloss white higher-res print medium.
So in an effort to help you all get some accurate idea of your tee-shirt colours, I have a suggestion:
MAKE YOUR OWN “RB-TEES COLOUR CHART”
Pick different colours, then copy the colour “number” and print that number in that colour. Do this for a range of colours. Then when you want THAT particular colour [or something similar] you just type the colour number into your production software [GIMP, PS, etc] and away you go.
Here is my colour chart:
STICKERS:
ON A BLACK TEE:
ON A RED TEE:
ON A GOLD TEE:
ON A GREEN TEE:
ON A DARK GREEN TEE:
ON AN ARMY TEE:
ON A BLUE TEE:
ON A LIGHT BLUE TEE:
ON AN ORANGE TEE:
This is the colour swatch from the American Apparel website:
DonDavisUK
Fantastic, What a lot of work and very helpful. Don.
BYRON:
Thanx Don,
It is important to remember that this will look different on everyone’s computer [because our monitors are not all calibrated the same] – so you are probably best doing your own version and uploading it.
Still, its a pretty accurate idea of what you can expect.
Corri Gryting ...
Great charts and advice, Byron!
One other thing that I think is true for dark shirts…
tell me if I’m right…if the artist merges the layers or deletes RedBubble’s white layer on the template, that makes the colors look much darker on darker color shirts?
BYRON:
That should make no difference.
It may seem different, but either way with or without the white layer, the coloured sections are printed directly onto the shirt – there is no white printed underneath the colour.
Layer Merge makes no difference. These charts were made using 7 Layers, all Merged.
BYRON:
The reason that colours look darker on darker shirts is that the dark shirt colour will show-thru a bit [not that you can tell, but it does].
DragonFlyer
Thanks for doing all this work Byron – I’ll just add that I didn’t understand a word of what you were talking about – couldn’t hear you over all of them chatting away inside my head….
BYRON:
You are, as always, most welcome Kallena.
You have “head-voices” too?
artsmitten
gr8 ..its going to help me , thanks a lot byron for sharing :))
BYRON:
Anytime Artsmitten!
DragonFlyer
corse I have “head voices” Byron… haven’t you noticed? Sometimes one of them/us comments here on RB, sometimes another…..
patjila
I just found your helpful writing huge thanks for that it’s very helpful!
As usual I lost my way and now it’s found yaay double fave!
BYRON:
I am glad to be of service!
Jen Wahl
Thanks Byron :)
BYRON:
You are most welcome Jen. I hope you find this idea useful!
Justin Minns
Have you actually had t-shirts printed or is this just an on screen guide? I’ve found that even though RB adjust the colours on screen to make it a more accurate proof, in reality the printed version is still somewhat different.
In particular Im trying to find a good colour split for a bright red… mine seem to come out a bit dark and duller than expected
BYRON:
I have compared the onsceen version with my own shirts, and it is pretty damned close, but not exactly the same.
The “colour charts” rare just a guide to give you a better idea of what to expect.
But yes… reds always seem to come out more like burgundy or maroon. I was disappointed about that too. Maybe they need a bit more yellow in them, perhaps…
Cindy Schnackel
Good info!
BYRON:
It really helps when picking colours for your designs, this way you get a much better idea of how things will look online and when printed!
VenusOak
you are awesome…..this i the most helpful thing I’ve ever come across on rb……keep listening to those voices, they are clever……
BYRON:
Thanx Venus… you should check out my Tutorials on my Profile Page – I am just chock-full of helpful things!
SurrealSander
Thanks for the info! :)
BYRON:
No worries. I hope you find it to be useful!