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NoNeck · March 24th, 2010

I know that POD Fulfillment services won't print white on light colored garments,... so my question is:

Can you use a light grey instead of white and will it be printed on light colored garments?

If so, what is the "lightest" RGB value for grey that will print?

Again - Primarily looking at Fulfillment services who use DTG printing.

Inked2012 · March 24th, 2010

When the first T-Jet 1 hit the market, before white ink was available, I used to make the area that should be white a blueish tint to make it pop rather than leaving the area blank. If you use grey it might just make it look darker.

DAGuide · March 24th, 2010

I am not sure if I understand the reasoning behind your question, but it is important to understand what happens when you print CMYK inks on different light colored garments. Here is a page that provides some examples - What Color Garments Can I Print Using Only CMYK Ink on a Direct-to-Garment Printer? | DAGuide.

So if you tint or print any other colors on a colored garment, it may or may not change the way the graphic looks depending on the color of the garment and the color of the ink. But the real question is do you need to even change the color of the white areas? For example, check out this picture and look at the Eagle's head. Your eyes make you think that it looks lighter than the color of the garment is... but it is really the same.

Just some things to consider. If I am completely not understanding your question, please feel free to post an example.

Mark

NoNeck · March 24th, 2010

Mark - Thank You for the response. From the link/ and explanation of printing with CMYK inks you've answered what I was trying to get answered. (and I also understand why you might've been confused with the question)

Using the Eagle pic you posted as an example: Think of using a "light blue" t-shirt inplace of white/grey one that it's on.

Now the "head" wouldn't be white at all, it would just be the color of the shirt - because it wouldn't print any "shade" of white. Correct?

**Reason my question didn't make sense to those with Experience using DTG printing --- I was focusing on the wrong thing - **

Quote:


	it is important to understand what happens when you print CMYK inks on different light colored garments.

I was simply focusing on the term "No White", and thinking I could substitute a light gray to get around that. (like if a painter was told he couldn't use the color "White", he would simply use "light grey").

I should have been focusing on the fact that "CMYK ink colors" are INCAPABLE of printing "white pigment colors"... which of course would include my light grey. **

So, the only way to have the eagle design show the "correct" way on a light blue t-shirt, would be to screen print (or some other method that prints white) that I haven't researched yet.

Is there a POD Fulfillment service that is capable of printing white (by not using DTG) ?

DAGuide · March 24th, 2010

Check out this post as well for more examples - Inkjet Garment Printing - Screen Printing University • View topic - Fun recent prints.

dtgprinter · March 24th, 2010

Look for a fulfilment center that has a Kornit or a new Brother GT782. There are some people using epson based printers that can print white first then color as well.

We do it in Canada but there are quite a few in the States as well.

Good Luck

dmfelder · March 24th, 2010

I'm not 100% sure what you asking either, but we're a POD fulfillment shop and we print white on light colors when specified by the client. There's no limitation, per se. Obviously, we knock it out on white shirts, but the rest is up to the clients.

Perhaps you're speaking of printing PURE WHITE. Pure white is RGB 0,0,0 or CMYK 0,0,0,0. Just like your computer printer, most (if not all) direct to garment printers will not print pure white by default. When we want to print white ink--even on a light garment--we shift the color to CMYK 0,0,0,1.

In any case, perhaps 0,0,0,1/0,0,1 answers your question.

DAGuide · March 24th, 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmfelder


	Perhaps you're speaking of printing PURE WHITE. Pure white is RGB 0,0,0 or CMYK 0,0,0,0. Just like your computer printer, most (if not all) direct to garment printers will not print pure white by default. When we want to print white ink--even on a light garment--we shift the color to CMYK 0,0,0,1. In any case, perhaps 0,0,0,1/0,0,1 answers your question.

To elaborate on this, the reason for changing the CMYK / RGB values just a little is needed to let the printing software (RIP or driver) understand the difference between a transparent or white background and what part in the artwork we want printed with white ink. This process will vary depending on which printing software you are using. This is not done for color purposes though.

Mark

NoNeck · March 24th, 2010

Sorry for all the confusion... I was looking for a "work around" for most POD's who don't print white.

After doing more "google searching" I found the following that explains what I was talking about. (sadly, I am among those who are bolded in the quote ... "designers who get the idea and decide to work around the issue") ...

Quote:


	For most PODs there is a difference between how light and dark apparel is printed. The most noticeable effect of this difference is where white appears in the design. On light apparel there is no white ink and white in the design simply shows the fabric color. Designers sometimes get the idea that the POD is replacing the white, removing it, for some mysterious reason. So they decide to "work around" the issue by using some light color such as a light grey or light blue. This doesn't work for printing on light apparel for the same reason it wouldn't work on your home color printer. The ink is translucent, not opaque.

Link to the entire article: Tutor Tanith: White on Light

Dmfelder - I think offering white on light with POD Fulfillment sets you apart from the "more known" Fulfillment places. The exception, not the "norm"... in this case is a GOOD thing.

dmfelder · March 24th, 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoNeck


	Dmfelder - I think offering white on light with POD Fulfillment sets you apart from the "more known" Fulfillment places. The exception, not the "norm"... in this case is a GOOD thing.

Thanks. We realized the issue a long time ago, when people wanted to print on dark garments WITHOUT an underbase. We created a design-specific override: ALWAYS, NEVER, PER SHIRT COLOR.

It's also an issue when anyone wants to print white (like the color of eyeballs) in art, etc. You WANT to print white on light blue shirts, yada yada.

At the same time, this probably creates a longer set-up for our clients than Cafe Press and Zazzle because they print anything while we require very specific art formats to ensure a quality print.

Cheers

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