Print preparation

CMYK for DTF printing

CMYK describes how cyan, magenta, yellow, and black combine on film and garments. Screens use RGB and hex for approximation — the chart below helps artwork setup but doesn't guarantee final colour. DTF results depend on your RIP, ICC profiles, printer limits, white underbase, and fabric; request a physical proof for critical brand colours.

Pre-flight checklist

Before you export

Work in your design app's CMYK workspace when possible; avoid converting RGB artwork at the last step unless you understand the colour shift.
Coordinate white ink and choke/spread settings with whoever runs your films — those choices affect how sharp colours read on dark garments.
Heavy ink stacks may hit printer limits; very saturated fills might need adjustment on press.

Questions about files or proofs?

Blacks

Standard black is used for text, while rich black is recommended for large background areas to prevent a washed-out look.

Standard Black

C0 M0 Y0 K100

Use for text and fine details.

Ink levels

100%

Rich Black

C60 M40 Y40 K100

Use for large solid backgrounds. Do not set all values to 100 to avoid over-saturation.

Ink levels

60%

40%

100%

Greys

Greys can be created using only the Black (K) channel for a safe, perfectly neutral result. Rich greys use a mix of CMYK for deeper, warmer, or cooler tones, but require careful balancing to avoid unwanted colour shifts.

Light Neutral Grey

C0 M0 Y0 K20

Safe, neutral light grey using only black ink. Perfect for subtle backgrounds.

Ink levels

20%

Medium Neutral Grey

C0 M0 Y0 K50

Standard mid-tone grey. No risk of colour casting.

Ink levels

50%

Dark Neutral Grey

C0 M0 Y0 K80

Dark, flat grey. Good for deep shadows without using rich black.

Ink levels

80%

Cool Rich Grey

C40 M30 Y30 K60

A deeper grey with a slight blue/steely undertone. Cyan is slightly higher than Magenta and Yellow.

Ink levels

40%

30%

60%

Warm Rich Grey

C30 M40 Y40 K60

A deeper grey with a slight brownish/warm undertone. Magenta and Yellow are higher than Cyan.

Ink levels

30%

40%

60%

Reds

Watch out for magenta and yellow levels. Too much magenta turns it pink; too much yellow turns it orange.

Vibrant Red

C0 M100 Y100 K0

Standard pure CMYK red.

Ink levels

100%

Deep Red

C15 M100 Y100 K20

A darker, richer red without turning muddy.

Ink levels

15%

100%

20%

Oranges & Browns

Combine two parts yellow and one part magenta for a bright orange.

Bright Orange

C0 M50 Y100 K0

Balanced formula for vibrant orange.

Ink levels

50%

100%

Earthy Brown

C30 M50 Y75 K10

A balanced, warm brown.

Ink levels

30%

50%

75%

10%

Earth Tones & Neutrals

Muted, natural tones are incredibly popular in modern streetwear. These require careful balancing of all four channels to achieve a dusty look.

Olive Drab

C50 M30 Y80 K20

Classic military/streetwear olive green. High yellow and cyan with enough black to mute it.

Ink levels

50%

30%

80%

20%

Terracotta

C10 M60 Y70 K15

Rusty, burnt orange-red. Earthy and warm.

Ink levels

10%

60%

70%

15%

Sand / Khaki

C15 M20 Y35 K5

Warm beige. Great as an accent colour against dark fabrics.

Ink levels

15%

20%

35%

Yellows & Greens

Equal parts Cyan and Yellow make vibrant greens. Yellow should be handled carefully to avoid mustard tones.

Pure Yellow

C0 M0 Y100 K0

Maximum yellow density.

Ink levels

100%

Vibrant Green

C100 M0 Y100 K0

Equal parts Cyan and Yellow.

Ink levels

100%

Teals & Aquas

High-impact cool tones. These rely heavily on Cyan and Yellow while keeping Magenta strictly at zero to prevent the colours from looking muddy or turning into a dull blue.

Bright Aqua

C70 M0 Y20 K0

Punchy tropical blue-green. Great for summer apparel.

Ink levels

70%

20%

Deep Teal

C85 M20 Y45 K10

Rich, jewel-toned teal. The slight magenta and black add depth without destroying vibrancy.

Ink levels

85%

20%

45%

10%

Blues

Blue is challenging in CMYK. Keep mixtures balanced to avoid purple or green tints.

Balanced Blue

C100 M50 Y0 K0

Reliable print blue.

Ink levels

100%

50%

Pure Cyan

C100 M0 Y0 K0

Standard pure CMYK cyan.

Ink levels

100%

Navy Blue

C100 M75 Y0 K30

Deep, strong dark blue.

Ink levels

100%

75%

30%

Purples

Regal purple tones are CMYK friendly using a 3:2 magenta to cyan ratio.

Regal Purple

C79 M100 Y0 K0

Magenta-heavy purple.

Ink levels

79%

100%

Pinks

Pinks rely on Magenta. Keep cyan, yellow, and black low for true pinks.

Hot Pink / Pure Magenta

C0 M100 Y0 K0

Maximum magenta density.

Ink levels

100%

Soft Pink

C0 M30 Y0 K0

A lighter pastel pink variation.

Ink levels

30%

Pastels & Soft Tones

Pastels look incredible in DTF because they utilise the bright white ink base layer. Keep your C, M, and Y values under 30% for the best soft-touch effect.

Mint Green

C30 M0 Y20 K0

Crisp, cool pastel green.

Ink levels

30%

20%

Soft Lavender

C15 M30 Y0 K0

Gentle floral purple. Zero yellow keeps it cool and clean.

Ink levels

15%

30%

Peach

C0 M20 Y30 K0

Warm, soft pastel. Popular on modern graphic tees.

Ink levels

20%

30%

Print preparation

CMYK for DTF printing

Pre-flight checklist

Before you export

Work in your design app's CMYK workspace when possible; avoid converting RGB artwork at the last step unless you understand the colour shift.
Coordinate white ink and choke/spread settings with whoever runs your films — those choices affect how sharp colours read on dark garments.
Heavy ink stacks may hit printer limits; very saturated fills might need adjustment on press.

Questions about files or proofs?

Blacks

Standard black is used for text, while rich black is recommended for large background areas to prevent a washed-out look.

Standard Black

C0 M0 Y0 K100

Use for text and fine details.

Ink levels

100%

Rich Black

C60 M40 Y40 K100

Use for large solid backgrounds. Do not set all values to 100 to avoid over-saturation.

Ink levels

60%

40%

100%

Greys

Light Neutral Grey

C0 M0 Y0 K20

Safe, neutral light grey using only black ink. Perfect for subtle backgrounds.

Ink levels

20%

Medium Neutral Grey

C0 M0 Y0 K50

Standard mid-tone grey. No risk of colour casting.

Ink levels

50%

Dark Neutral Grey

C0 M0 Y0 K80

Dark, flat grey. Good for deep shadows without using rich black.

Ink levels

80%

Cool Rich Grey

C40 M30 Y30 K60

A deeper grey with a slight blue/steely undertone. Cyan is slightly higher than Magenta and Yellow.

Ink levels

40%

30%

60%

Warm Rich Grey

C30 M40 Y40 K60

A deeper grey with a slight brownish/warm undertone. Magenta and Yellow are higher than Cyan.

Ink levels

30%

40%

60%

Reds

Watch out for magenta and yellow levels. Too much magenta turns it pink; too much yellow turns it orange.

Vibrant Red

C0 M100 Y100 K0

Standard pure CMYK red.

Ink levels

100%

Deep Red

C15 M100 Y100 K20

A darker, richer red without turning muddy.

Ink levels

15%

100%

20%

Oranges & Browns

Combine two parts yellow and one part magenta for a bright orange.

Bright Orange

C0 M50 Y100 K0

Balanced formula for vibrant orange.

Ink levels

50%

100%

Earthy Brown

C30 M50 Y75 K10

A balanced, warm brown.

Ink levels

30%

50%

75%

10%

Earth Tones & Neutrals

Muted, natural tones are incredibly popular in modern streetwear. These require careful balancing of all four channels to achieve a dusty look.

Olive Drab

C50 M30 Y80 K20

Classic military/streetwear olive green. High yellow and cyan with enough black to mute it.

Ink levels

50%

30%

80%

20%

Terracotta

C10 M60 Y70 K15

Rusty, burnt orange-red. Earthy and warm.

Ink levels

10%

60%

70%

15%

Sand / Khaki

C15 M20 Y35 K5

Warm beige. Great as an accent colour against dark fabrics.

Ink levels

15%

20%

35%

Yellows & Greens

Equal parts Cyan and Yellow make vibrant greens. Yellow should be handled carefully to avoid mustard tones.

Pure Yellow

C0 M0 Y100 K0

Maximum yellow density.

Ink levels

100%

Vibrant Green

C100 M0 Y100 K0

Equal parts Cyan and Yellow.

Ink levels

100%

Teals & Aquas

High-impact cool tones. These rely heavily on Cyan and Yellow while keeping Magenta strictly at zero to prevent the colours from looking muddy or turning into a dull blue.

Bright Aqua

C70 M0 Y20 K0

Punchy tropical blue-green. Great for summer apparel.

Ink levels

70%

20%

Deep Teal

C85 M20 Y45 K10

Rich, jewel-toned teal. The slight magenta and black add depth without destroying vibrancy.

Ink levels

85%

20%

45%

10%

Blues

Blue is challenging in CMYK. Keep mixtures balanced to avoid purple or green tints.

Balanced Blue

C100 M50 Y0 K0

Reliable print blue.

Ink levels

100%

50%

Pure Cyan

C100 M0 Y0 K0

Standard pure CMYK cyan.

Ink levels

100%

Navy Blue

C100 M75 Y0 K30

Deep, strong dark blue.

Ink levels

100%

75%

30%

Purples

Regal purple tones are CMYK friendly using a 3:2 magenta to cyan ratio.

Regal Purple

C79 M100 Y0 K0

Magenta-heavy purple.

Ink levels

79%

100%

Pinks

Pinks rely on Magenta. Keep cyan, yellow, and black low for true pinks.

Hot Pink / Pure Magenta

C0 M100 Y0 K0

Maximum magenta density.

Ink levels

100%

Soft Pink

C0 M30 Y0 K0

A lighter pastel pink variation.

Ink levels

30%

Pastels & Soft Tones

Pastels look incredible in DTF because they utilise the bright white ink base layer. Keep your C, M, and Y values under 30% for the best soft-touch effect.

Mint Green

C30 M0 Y20 K0

Crisp, cool pastel green.

Ink levels

30%

20%

Soft Lavender

C15 M30 Y0 K0

Gentle floral purple. Zero yellow keeps it cool and clean.

Ink levels

15%

30%

Peach

C0 M20 Y30 K0

Warm, soft pastel. Popular on modern graphic tees.

Ink levels

20%

30%