When designing custom T-shirts for your business or event, you want to create something that not only captures your brand’s identity but is also attractive and eye-catching enough that people want to wear it. That’s why you need to choose the right colors. Armed with some basic design tips, you can create a shirt that delights your customers and gets plenty of attention.

3 Tips for Selecting Custom T-Shirt Design Colors

1. Contrast

For a design that is legible close-up and at a distance, choose ink colors that contrast with the shirt. For dark shirts like navy, dark gray, and black, choose lighter design colors, and vice versa.

Keep in mind that a design that appears legible on a computer screen may not show up the same on the actual shirt. Navy ink might look fine on a gray shirt on the screen, but when it’s printed, the colors can look dull and hard to see. Produce a sample beforehand so you can check whether the colors pop against the background. 

2. Use Color Theory

When you follow basic color theory, it’s easier to select shades that pair well together. There are four basic types of color theory.

• Monochromatic: These are shades of the same color. You might choose several different shades of blue or green for your design, for instance.
• Analogous: These colors stand next to each other on the color wheel, like yellow and green or yellow and orange. Analogous color schemes allow you to add a pop of color to your design without going overboard; for instance, shades of red and pink with a tangerine accent.
• Complementary: These colors come from opposite sides of the color wheel, such as blue and orange or green and purple.
• Triadic: These color schemes use three contrasting colors, each chosen from an equidistant point on the color wheel. If you placed a triangle over the wheel, each color would be at a point of the triangle. Purple, green, and orange is a triadic scheme.

3. Keep It Simple

Ideally, your design should contain three or fewer colors; any more can look cluttered and confusing. If you’re having trouble selecting three colors that work well together, look at classic pairs, such as red and white, blue and gray, or green and gray, then choose one more similar shade.

For help with color selection and custom T-shirt design, turn to Honolulu Shirt Shop. Since 1984, they’ve used the most advanced design and printing tools to produce top-quality custom shirts for businesses. To learn more about their services, visit them online, or call (808) 847-0831 to speak with a team member about your needs.