RGB, CMYK and DTF printing don't always behave the same way. Understanding the difference helps you prepare artwork correctly and achieve more predictable print results.
Screens create colour using light, while printed transfers reproduce colour using ink. Because the two systems work differently, some very bright screen colours cannot be reproduced exactly the same way on a physical garment.
RGB is an additive colour model used by monitors, phones, cameras and digital artwork.
CMYK is an ink-based colour model commonly associated with physical printing.
You do not need to convert your artwork to CMYK before uploading it to DTF Market. We recommend supplying a high-resolution RGB file with a transparent background. Our print workflow manages the colour conversion required for the DTF printing process.
A colour gamut is simply the range of colours a device can reproduce. Modern screens can show extremely vivid colours, particularly bright greens, blues and neon-style tones.
When artwork is printed, those colours must be reproduced using the available ink channels, so some colours may appear slightly different from what you see on screen.
DTF Market uses a premium 9-colour setup combining CMYK + RGB + Orange + White.
The additional colour channels provide a wider range of colour possibilities for vibrant artwork, detailed graphics and branded designs.
| Feature | RGB | CMYK |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Use | Screens & digital artwork | Ink-based printing |
| Colour Creation | Additive light | Subtractive ink |
| Colour Range | Very wide and bright | Dependent on ink system and media |
| DTF Market Artwork | Recommended | No manual conversion required |
| Typical File | PNG / high-resolution artwork | Managed during print workflow |
Keep your artwork in RGB rather than converting it manually to CMYK.
Prepare artwork at the final print size and ideally at 300 DPI.
Use a transparent PNG wherever the background is not intended to print.
Screen brightness and calibration can significantly affect how colours appear.
Extremely thin lines and tiny details may not transfer as reliably as stronger artwork elements.
For colour-critical jobs, test a sample before committing to a larger production order.
If exact colour appearance is important for your brand, we recommend testing a transfer first and viewing the finished result on the actual garment.
