Understanding Water-based print results on Comfort Colors

Oct 14, 2025
min read

When it comes to printing water-based inks on Comfort Colors® garments, knowing how your artwork will appear on different dye types is key to getting the look you want.

Understanding Comfort Colors Print Results

When it comes to printing water-based inks on Comfort Colors® garments, knowing how your artwork will appear on different dye types is key to getting the look you want. Comfort Colors’ pigment and reactive dye processes affect how much ink discharges through the garment dye - meaning your design’s final vibrancy can vary from bold and bright to soft and vintage.

In this guide, we’ll break down the four main categories of print results: Reactive Dyed, 90% Vibrancy, 70% Vibrancy, and 40% Vibrancy.

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Reactive Dyed Garments - Vibrant Prints

Reactive dyed garments deliver the most vibrant print results. These shirt colors release more dye when printed, allowing the water-based ink to fully discharge and produce bright, bold colors that pop right off the fabric.

Other Reactive Dyed Colors include: Red, Midnight, White, and China Blue

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Pigment Dyed - 90% Vibrancy

Pigment dyed garments naturally have a soft, washed-in look, and they’ll continue to fade slightly over time for that perfect “lived-in” feel. Colors in this range print at about 90% vibrancy, meaning they still hold strong color but with a subtle vintage look.

Other 90% Pigment Dyed Colors include: Citrus

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Pigment Dyed - 70% Vibrancy

These garments bring a classic vintage feel - the kind of tee that looks like it’s been your favorite for years. Prints appear softer, more muted, and intentionally weathered.

Other 70% Pigment Dyed Colors include: Neon Cantalope, Neon Lime, Bay, Mustard, Melon, Orchid, Hydrangea, Celadon, Bright Orange, Burnt Orange, Royal Caribe, Sapphire, Bright Salmon, Crunchberry, Watermelon, Seafoam, and Ice Blue

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Pigment Dyed - 40% Vibrancy

This category represents the most vintage of pigment dyed results. The garment color holds onto more of its original pigment, giving your print a subtle, tonal appearance. Think soft, muted designs that look like they’ve been sun-washed over time.

Other 40% Pigment Dyed Colors include: Periwinkle, Grass, Boysenberry, Violet, Blue Jean, Flo Blue, Yam, Neon Pink, Cumin, Crimson, Blue Spruce, and Hemp

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Side-by-Side: Graphite (Reactive Dyed) vs Pepper (Pigment Dyed)

Here’s where the difference really shows. Both Graphite and Pepper are dark gray Comfort Colors tees - but their dye processes create dramatically different print results.

  • Graphite (Reactive Dyed): Produces bright, and high-contrast prints with truer color accuracy.
  • Pepper (Pigment Dyed): Prints appear muted and washed-in, creating a naturally vintage look right out of the box.

This comparison is the perfect example of why knowing your garment’s dye type matters when planning your artwork as the base color and dye process can completely transform the final result.

Bringing It All Together

Understanding how your garment’s dye impacts print results helps you choose the perfect combo for your design. Whether you’re aiming for bold and bright or soft and nostalgic, our team will help ensure your Comfort Colors order prints how you envision it.

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Sunday Cool Stock Inks

Water based ink is the point between here and heaven. Paired with our Super Soft Tees, the nonexistent feel of our Water based ink is magical and sure to be the talk of the town with you and your group.

Mar 1, 2026
min read

Water based ink is the point between here and heaven. Paired with our Super Soft Tees, the nonexistent feel of our Water based ink is magical and sure to be the talk of the town with you and your group.

Here at Sunday Cool, we inventory 66 different ink colors! These colors were curated based off of customer popularity and diversity. You can view those stock ink colors below.

During the ordering process, you can reference this page to view all of our stocked ink colors. You’ll also be served up a choice of our stock inks when you submit your Art Request Form.

But what if none of the Sunday Cool Stock Inks match my design or logo? Nothing to fear! We can Pantone Match your ink to whatever code you’re needing to a 90% accuracy. 

There are a few requirements to qualify for a Pantone Match on your project:

  • Stick to our Super Soft Signature line of apparel.
  • The garment color you choose must discharge vibrantly, not vintage. If you need help determining which of our inventory items discharge at which rates, check out our blog post entitled Waterbased Print Results.
  • Your order must include 144 units or more. 

Additionally, we charge $25/match! This means if we need to match 2 ink colors to a specific code, it’ll be a $50 charge.

But how do I know which code to send you? Great question! Your organization might have a branding guide including all relevant codes and colors that set your group apart. OR you could send in your logo and ask us! Our talented Art Staff can color match the logo and tell you the code! We work often in the Pantone and HEX libraries!

As always, if you have any questions regarding our inks & matching guides, please reach out to a Sunday Cool Concierge member using the dot icon in the corner of your screen.

Sun Reveal Ink - The Shirts You Didn’t Know You Needed

Discover Sun Reveal Ink - the color-changing, sunlight-activated ink that makes custom tees stand out.

Feb 28, 2026
min read

You’ve done custom t-shirts before. But you’ve probably never seen one do this.

Enter Sun Reveal Ink — the specialty ink that adds a little bit of magic to your next order. Indoors? The design stays hidden in plain sight. Step into sunlight? Full-color art appears right on the shirt like it was waiting for the spotlight.

It's not just a cool trick. It’s the easiest way to take your custom church merch, camp shirts, or mission trip gear to a whole new level. Because let's be honest: your group deserves more than the same old logo on the same old shirt.

Why Sun Reveal Ink is the Coolest Thing Since Toasted Bread:

  • Color-Changing Magic
    Watch your design shift from minimal to full-color instantly when exposed to sunlight.
  • Super-Soft Feel
    Printed with our Super-Soft Water-Based Ink, on our Signature Super-Soft Tees — because wow-factor means nothing if the shirt’s uncomfy.
  • Built for Summer
    Perfect for youth camps, VBS, mission trips, and outdoor events where a little sun creates a lot of buzz.

How to Order Sun Reveal Ink Shirts:

1. Send us your design idea (or customize one of our ready-to-go templates).
2. Our team preps your design for print, optimizing it for Sun Reveal Ink magic.
3. You review and approve the final design.
4. We print & ship your shirts within 72 hours of approval.

FAQ: Sun Reveal Ink

How does Sun Reveal Ink work?
The ink is UV-reactive. Indoors, the design stays faint or invisible. In sunlight, it fully reveals your printed artwork.

Is Sun Reveal Ink only for white shirts?
Nope! It works best on lighter colors but can be applied to various colors depending on your design.

Can I combine Sun Reveal Ink with other specialty inks?
Absolutely. Many of our customers pair it with Water-Based Ink or even add dimensional flair with Puff Ink.

Is the shirt still comfortable with Sun Reveal Ink?
100%. All prints are done using our Super-Soft Water-Based Ink system, so the shirts stay breathable and soft, not heavy or stiff.

Let the Sun Do Its Thing

Ready to make your shirts do something extra?
CLICK HERE to start your Sun Reveal Ink order today.

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You’ve done custom t-shirts before. But you’ve probably never seen one do this.

Enter Sun Reveal Ink — Whether you’re leading a summer camp, heading on a mission trip, or launching new ministry merch, our Sun Reveal Ink gives your tees a moment worth remembering.

What Is Sun Reveal Ink?

Sun Reveal Ink is a UV-activated specialty ink that stays invisible indoors.
Step outside, and the sun brings your design to life—literally.

The result? A shirt that surprises, delights, and gets people talking.

Why Sun Reveal Ink?

1. Radiating Experience

Sun Reveal Ink creates an actual moment for your group.
That moment when the design shows up out of nowhere? It hits every time.

Perfect for:

  • First-day-of-camp shirt reveals
  • Outdoor summer camp retreats
  • Youth group giveaways
  • Volunteers and Staff
2. Durable, Not Disposable

Our Sun Reveal Ink is built to last and holds strong with repeated wear and exposure.

3. Comfort Still Comes First

Sun Reveal Ink is available to print on our signature Super-Soft Tees

4. Brand Exposure (Literally)

Looking to boost brand visibility? Sunlight-activated shirts don’t blend in. Whether you’re tabling at a conference or outfitting your team for a summer event, these tees will get people talking!

How to Order Sun Reveal Ink Shirts

We’ve made the process super simple:

  1. Get A Quote started today!
  2. Send us your design idea (or choose from our customizable templates)
  3. You review and approve a digital art proof
  4. We print and ship your shirts in 72 hours after art approval

Need design help? We’ve got in-house artists for that.
On a deadline? We were built for super-fast turnarounds!

Great Uses for Sun Reveal Ink

  • Summer Camps
  • Retreats + Conferences
  • Outdoor Events – Let the sun do the work of your merch reveal

FAQs About Sun Reveal Ink

Does Sun Reveal Ink work on any shirt color?
It works best on t-shirts with "Bright and Vibrant" printability. Our Project advisors can help direct you to the best color options depending on your design.

Is it only for logos?
Nope. You can get as creative as you want. Words, graphics, symbols—we’ll help you bring your vision to life.

Can I combine this with other inks?
Absolutely. Sun Reveal pairs well with Water-Based Ink (for indoor visibility).

Let the Sun Do Its Thing

Ready to make your shirts do something extra?

Click HERE to start your Sun Reveal Ink order today!

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Now Trending — Earth Tone T-Shirts

Earth tones are having a moment. These super-soft, neutral, wear-it-again colors take your custom t-shirts to the next level!

Feb 28, 2026
min read

Earth tones are having a moment—and it’s not just a trend. These soft, natural hues are showing up in merch rooms, summer camps, and Sunday services everywhere.

Whether you’re outfitting your staff, organizing a student retreat, or rebranding your church merch, a well-chosen earth tone tee is the kind of piece people actually want to wear again.

What to Consider Before Choosing an Earth Tone Shirt

Not every neutral hits the same. Before you dive in, here are a few things to help guide your pick.

1. The Purpose

Are these shirts for camp counselors? Youth group? Sunday volunteers?
Choosing a versatile color like Heather Sage or Heather Tan makes it easy for shirts to serve multiple roles—you can even mix and match t-shirt colors with the same artwork to differentiate your group.

2. Ink & Design Contrast

Neutrals are a blank slate—our neutral T-shirts offer vibrant print options to showcase your design. Need help visualizing it? Our Art Team can mock up your design on multiple colorways for you to compare.

3. Gender-Neutral Appeal

Our Super-Soft T-shirts are not only unisex in size, but in colorways too. Choosing an Earth-Tone neutral leaves less guesswork on who's wearing what color. They also photograph well and avoid clashing with event themes.

4. Long-Term Wearability

Will people want to wear this tee after the event is over?
If the answer’s yes, you’ve already added value to your merch. Earth tone tees don’t scream “freebie.” They feel more like something you’d actually buy—and that’s the goal.

Our Team’s Favorite Earth Tones

Here are the tried-and-true Sunday Cool earth tones that groups keep coming back for:

  • Heather Sage
    • Pair with: Super-soft Ink, Sun Reveal Ink
  • Heather Slate Blue
    • Pair with: Super-soft Ink, Sun Reveal Ink, Water Reveal Ink
  • Heather Tan
    • Pair with: Super Soft Ink, Sun Reveal Ink, Water Reveal Ink, Iridescent Ink
  • Heather Military Green
    • Pair with: Super Soft Ink, Sun Reveal Ink, Water Reveal Ink, Iridescent Ink‍
  • Heather Denim‍
    • Pair with: Super Soft Ink, Sun Reveal Ink, Water Reveal Ink, Iridescent Ink

We have some of the softest tees around. Seriously. We have replaced the basic heavyweight T-shirt with a super-soft ringspun alternative.

Why Earth Tone Tees Work for Ministry Groups

  • Flattering on everyone – No weird neons or highlighter yellows
  • Pairs well with any ink color – White, black, full color, specialty ink—you name it
  • Great for organizing roles – Use different neutrals to distinguish staff, students, or volunteers
  • Timeless – No explanation needed!

FAQs About Earth Tone Custom Tees

Can I still use a bold print on a neutral shirt?
Absolutely. Earth tones are actually ideal for contrast. We’ll guide you on the best ink choices to make your design stand out.

What shirt styles are available in these colors?
Our go-to is the Signature Super-Soft Tee, but several earth tones are also available in fleecewear and long sleeves.

Are you looking for something else? Wether you're looking for Comfort Colors, Bella+Canvas, Port & Company, or more, our team can source anything under the sun to bring your vision to life. CLICK HERE to Get a Quote on custom Earth Tone Tees today!

What if I need help with the design?
Our in-house artists are ready to help. Whether you’ve got a logo or just a napkin sketch, we’re here to bring your vision to life!

Start Your Earth Tone Tee Order Today

If you’re ready to ditch the standard giveaway shirt and level up your group’s apparel with something timeless, earth tones are the move.

CLICK HERE to Get a Quote on custom Earth Tone Tees today!

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