Design
Red Logo
1 Color Print
Screen printing education
Understanding ink colors & shirt colors.
Not sure how your project will print? Contact us and we'll be happy to help.
Request a quote ->Color count
How screen printing colors are counted.
Each ink color usually needs its own screen. More colors can mean more setup, more print passes, and more production time.
Design
Red + Blue Logo
2 Color Print
Design
Red + Blue + Gold
3 Color Print
Light shirt
White shirt example
Red + blue artwork on a white shirt usually prints as the two visible ink colors.
Red
Blue
2 Color Print
Dark shirt
Black shirt example
Dark garments often need a white underbase so red and blue stay bright. That underbase is typically counted as an added print color.
White Underbase
Red
Blue
3 Color Print
Ink layers
What is happening on the shirt.
Think of the white underbase like primer. It goes down first on dark fabric, then the visible colors print on top.
Top layer
Red Ink
01Top layer
Blue Ink
02Base layer
White Underbase
03Garment
Black Shirt
04Mixing shirt colors
Can I mix shirt colors?
Black
Navy
Dark Gray
Usually Compatible
These garments often use the same print setup and white underbase.
White
Ash
Light Gray
Usually Compatible
These garments often print using the same ink colors without an underbase.
Black
White
Red
May Require Additional Setup
Mixing light and dark garments can require different print configurations and additional production time.
Tip
If you want to order multiple garment colors while keeping costs lower, choose colors within the same general lightness group, all dark colors or all light colors, whenever possible.
FAQ
Common color-count questions.
Why does a black shirt cost more than a white shirt?
Dark shirts often need an extra white print layer under the design so bright colors stay vibrant. That extra layer can add setup and production time.
Why does the same design sometimes have different color counts?
The shirt color can change the print setup. A red and blue design may be two colors on a white shirt, but three colors on a black shirt if it needs a white underbase.
Can I order multiple shirt colors?
Yes. The easiest orders usually keep garment colors in the same general lightness group, such as all dark shirts or all light shirts.
Why do dark garments need a white base?
Ink can lose brightness on dark fabric. A white underbase gives the colored ink a bright foundation so the final print looks cleaner.
What is an underbase?
An underbase is a white ink layer printed beneath the visible colors. Think of it like priming a wall before painting a bright color.
Can I mix black and white shirts in the same order?
Usually, yes, but the print setup may change. Black shirts may need a white underbase while white shirts may not, so we will review the order before quoting.
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