When is an Underlay needed?
September 24, 2019
To learn how to determine whether or not an underlay is needed, read the article below! The biggest determining factor on whether a design will or will not need an underlay is the garment material, garment color, and ink colors. Remember that if you ever have any questions on whether an order will or will not need an underlay you can always reach out to us first.
I know dark garments need an underlay, but is royal (or red, or orange, etc.) considered a dark garment?
Dark refers to any shirt that is a vibrant color. This includes but is not limited to, black, navy, purple, red, royal, green, yellow, gold, charcoal. You may need an underlay if your shirt color is anything other than white or a pastel.
Do I need an underlay on gray?
Some gray shirts and heather colors are a bit of a gray area when it comes to needing an underlay. Not including it can provide a softer print at the cost of opacity. Without it, you are likely to see some of the garment heather through the print and colors that are meant to be vibrant will become duller. Colors like ice grey, silver grey, and other light flat gray colors are generally okay without it. Darker colors need it if you want your colors to stay bright, vibrant, and opaque.
Are there any garment colors that never need an underlay?
Yes! White, cream, baby blue, baby pink and any light pastel colors. There are other colors that don’t need it, but if you are estimating on your own it is best to include one.
I want my print to be soft. Can we print without an underlay?
If you want your print colors to be accurate and vibrant you will want to use one. Brighter inks can be printed on darker garments without an underlay for a softer feel and vintage look but at the cost of opacity and color accuracy.
