Why do my colours look different from the screen?

Screens are backlit (RGB) and prints reflect light (CMYK). Printed colours are always slightly less vivid than screen colours. This is normal for all printing methods.

Will neon colours print accurately?

Neon and fluorescent colours cannot be reproduced in standard CMYK printing. The print will be the closest CMYK approximation, which is less saturated than the on-screen version.

Does fabric colour affect print colour?

On dark fabrics, a white ink base ensures accurate colours. On white or light fabrics, the fabric colour can slightly affect how colours appear, but the difference is minimal.

Can I request a colour proof before printing?

Contact us to discuss colour matching for specific projects. For standard orders, the colours will be a faithful CMYK reproduction of your uploaded design.

How do I make sure my design prints vibrantly?

Use a high-resolution image (300 DPI), choose bold colours, and avoid very light pastels if vibrancy is important. Design in CMYK colour space if possible.

Why Are My Iron-On Transfer Colours Dull? 5 Causes

Dull or washed-out colours on iron-on transfers have specific, identifiable causes. The issue is almost always in the source image, the application process, or the fabric choice - not a defective transfer. Here are the 5 most common reasons and how to fix each one.

1. Low-Resolution Source Image

The most common cause of dull prints is a low-resolution source image. Images pulled from social media, screenshots, or small web thumbnails are typically 72-150 DPI. When enlarged to print size, they look blurry and colours appear flat.

Fix: use images at 300 DPI or higher. A design intended for an A4 print (21x29cm) should be at least 2480 x 3508 pixels. If you only have a small image, our AI upscaling tool can improve it, but starting with a high-resolution original is always better.

2. RGB vs CMYK Colour Space

Computer screens display colours in RGB (red, green, blue). Printers use CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black). Some bright, saturated colours that look vivid on screen - especially neon greens, electric blues, and hot pinks - cannot be reproduced exactly in CMYK. The printed version will be slightly less saturated.

Fix: this is a physics limitation, not a defect. Design your artwork with CMYK output in mind. Avoid relying on extremely vivid neon colours. Most colours translate well; the gap is only noticeable on the most saturated tones.

3. Fabric Colour Affects Perception

On dark garments, DTF transfers print a white ink base layer under the colour. This white layer makes colours vibrant against dark fabric. On light or white garments, the colours sit directly on the fabric without a white base. The fabric colour shows through slightly, which can make colours appear marginally lighter.

Fix: on white garments, this is normal and usually looks great. If you want maximum colour intensity on a light garment, choose a design with bold, saturated colours rather than subtle pastels.

4. Over-Pressing or Wrong Temperature

Pressing at too high a temperature or for too long can cause the colours in the transfer to fade slightly. This is more noticeable on designs with pastel colours or detailed gradients.

Fix: use the correct temperature for your fabric (150-165°C for cotton, 145-150°C for polyester) and do not press longer than recommended. A single, correctly timed press produces better colours than multiple presses.

5. Comparing Screen to Print

Your computer or phone screen is backlit - it produces light. A printed transfer reflects light. Backlit colours always appear more vivid than reflected colours. This is not a defect; it is how all physical printing works.

Fix: calibrate your expectations. Print a test page from your home printer and compare it to the screen version. The difference you see between screen and home print is similar to the difference between screen and DTF transfer.