Guide to Colour Combos for T-Shirt Printing.
Choosing the colours used in your design is one of the most important elements in any print run or custom embroidery project. Our guide to colour combos for t-shirt printing will provide ideas and help you decide what works best for you. By the way, we’ve focused this article on tees but it applies to sweatshirts, hoodies or any other garment that you brand.
More than meets the eye.
Colour is a fundamental part of life and found throughout the natural world. Hardly surprising that it’s been a source of fascination since the dawn of humanity. From functional to aesthetic, it’s a constant in our everyday existence. Even its absence is noteworthy. Newton was the first to provide a scientific basis for colour theory in the 17th Century. In the intervening period, our understanding has developed and deepened to include the perceptive and psychological impact of colour.
Colour can be broken down into two main categories.
- Primary: red, blue and yellow. These colours cannot be created by mixing others
- Secondary: orange, green and purple. These sit between the primary and are generated by mixing them
The colours made by mixing primary and secondary fill the gaps between them to form a ‘wheel’ of colour (example pictured below).
The colour wheel
Colour Combinations that Make Your Design Shine.
Visual appeal is obviously the objective in terms of customising clothes. And, just like some foods taste good together, some colour combinations are pleasing to the eye. They simply feel right. However, there are other aspects to the significance of colour in our lives. It’s worth taking a moment to consider why colours carry so much weight before getting into the detail of which combine well.
The psychology of colour.
Certain colours are associated with certain emotions. This subject requires an entire article of its own but we can take a few examples. Red is associated with passionate emotions and energy. Which explains why a heart, representative of love, is most often depicted as red. Blue is calm, peaceful and professional. Green is growth, harmony and safety. Orange confident and creative. The list goes on but it illustrates why you should think carefully about the colours you choose. Because they can amplify the meaning you want to convey. Put simply, they bring your design alive.
Brand concept and colour.
The colours in your design have to take account of your target market and how the clothing is used. For instance, bright colours may not be appropriate for some jobs. On the other hand, bright might be perfect if you’re branding workwear for a young and vibrant bar. Again, you want your design to echo the values and ideas behind your business.
Colours and current trends.
For some, the fashion effect on colour is a vital consideration. Of course, core colours are ever reliable for fashion brands but seasonal trends can’t be ignored. New shades of t-shirt are regularly introduced and the colours used in a logo or design may have to be nuanced. Plus, even if your company isn’t particularly fashion orientated, including an on-trend touch can keep you feeling current and contemporary.
Designers tend to rely on established principles when picking colours for artwork. That’s not to say they won’t deviate from them but the influence is usually evident. So, let’s take a look at colour theory and the basic colour scheme ideas.
Colour schemes.
Below, we’ve explained six approaches that can be useful when you’re thinking about your colour combos for t-shirt printing. Don’t be put off by the rather heavy sounding terminology – the actual theories are fairly straightforward. For reference, all of these colour theories are based on the colour wheel.
Monochromatic Colour scheme
1. Monochromatic
A monochromatic design sticks to a single colour. However, it uses different variations of that colour – shades, tones and tints – to achieve the result. So, as an example, you could take a red base shirt and print or embroider the design using colours from the same tonal range. A segment, if you like, from the colour wheel. T-shirts and clothing decorated in this way have a clean, often quite subtle feel.
Analogous Colour scheme
2. Analogous
An analogous colour scheme has a main colour and then adds those adjoining on the wheel. Hence, sometimes referred to as a related scheme. It makes for a harmonious overall effect whilst having more depth and being somewhat more vibrant than the monochromatic. The proximity on the wheel makes these colours feel natural together. This palette commonly consists of three colours but you can have more.
Complementary Colour scheme
3. Complementary
With a complementary colour scheme you have a contrasting approach to the previous two. And we mean that in a quite literal sense because this sort of design combines colours from opposite sides of the wheel. As you would expect, the results are bold and eye-catching. Employing this level of contrast is a particularly popular method with printed shirts where the artwork needs to really stand out.
Split complementary colour scheme
4. Split complementary
Along the same lines but a little more interesting, split complementary uses colours on either side of the opposite shade. That line for the opposite colour is relevant only as a reference point – it isn’t necessarily used in the design. Incidentally, we say more interesting because this idea feels less obvious. That is, the intensity is dialled down whilst having a similarly bold impact.
Triadic Colour scheme
5. Triadic
An especially striking arrangement, the triadic scheme employs three colours which are equidistantly spaced around the wheel. Having three colours, that variety and balance, is very appealing when it works within your concept. As with many of these approaches, it’s not unusual to choose a main colour and use the others to highlight certain parts of the design.
Tetradic Colour scheme
6. Tetradic
You can think of a tetradic scheme as doubling up on the complementary. That’s to say, you take two points and then add the opposite of each. It’s the richest mix and the most complex. Consequently, it needs to be carefully executed in order to get a satisfactory effect. We’ve shown a rectangle above. Similarly, a square would have the four colours spaced equidistantly on the wheel.
Colour combinations with t-shirt printing.
Whilst the above are recognised starting points for artwork, you’ll come across a huge variety of combos with print and embroidery. For example, we haven’t mentioned achromatic colour schemes – those composed of only black, white and grey. They’re a staple with printed tees. And how often do you see a black or white shirt screen printed with a single colour. Simple and striking shouldn’t be underestimated – some of the most popular tees of all time are showcases of simplicity.
Simplicity
Inspiration
Creativity
As you can imagine, we’ve seen numerous colour combinations after fifty years of branding garments and accessories. One thing (amongst many) that we’ve learned is that the beauty of creativity isn’t limited. By which we mean you can take inspiration from established approaches without feeling constrained by them. The best designs are informed by what’s gone before and yet still achieves a sense of originality. Ideally the colours used enhance it. Be creative, don’t be afraid to experiment, and ask your printer for advice when unsure.
Other Resources articles related to colour and customisation: