Ink Color Selection
Let’s talk about color for a second (and get a little nerdy).
Colors you see on your screen are made of light—tiny beams of red, green, and blue (RGB) that mix to create what you see. Ink, on the other hand, is physical pigment. It reflects light rather than emitting it, and it’s built using CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black). Because these two systems create color in completely different ways, what looks perfect on your screen won’t always match exactly when printed.
Even with a white underbase layer, the color of the garment you’re printing on will still influence how the ink looks once cured. For example, printing red ink on a black hoodie will look slightly darker than the same red printed on a white tee. Different fabrics, dyes, and textures all impact the final color too—it’s just part of how ink interacts with real-world materials.
Your Ink Selection Options
-Use Exact File Colors (CMYK Match): We’ll use the CMYK values from your submitted artwork exactly as provided, with no adjustments on our end. Please note that ink layering and the required white underbase can impact how colors appear once printed, and colors on screen may look different from colors in real life.
-Ridgeline Discretion: Let our team handle it! We’ll use our experience to make your design look as good as possible on the items you’ve chosen.
- Preproduction Sample ($35): We’ll print one sample for your approval before running the full order. This can be reviewed in person (if you’re near Salt Lake City) or shipped to you for review. Shipping time adds to turnaround.
-Color Partnership Process ($250): This is our most hands-on option. We’ll print physical swatches of your ink colors directly on the apparel so you can select exactly how each color should appear. Once finalized, we’ll move forward with your full order. This can be done in person (Salt Lake City area) or by shipping samples to you.
Important Notes
-Turnaround time does not begin until all aspects of the order are approved, including ink color.
-Due to the high cost of Pantone-matching tools and setups, we don’t offer Pantone color matching. However, our Color Partnership Process ensures an accurate, collaborative result that achieves your desired look.
-If your ink colors are crucial—such as team colors or brand guide accuracy—please let us know so we can involve you in the color selection process.