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# Use Full Opacity for the Best Results

# Why are low-opacity colors harder to print?

When a design uses low opacity (transparency) — for example 10%, 30%, or 50% — it means the color is not fully solid. On a screen, this can look subtle and visually appealing, but in practice, printing works differently.


**The Main Reasons**
**1. Printing Uses Ink, Not Light**
On a screen, transparency is created by letting light pass through or blending pixels.
In printing, a transparent color is translated into **less ink being applied** in that area.
Less ink results in:
* Lighter, less visible colors
* Small imperfections becoming more noticeable
* Colors appearing more faded than expected


**2. White Underbase on Colored Garments**
With low opacity, the color is already faint. To achieve accurate colors on colored garments, the printer first applies a **white base layer**, followed by the colored design.
If your design uses low opacity, the white underbase can show through the color, resulting in a different final appearance than expected.
* For **white garments (DTG)**: no white base layer is applied first
* For **DTF printing**: a white base layer is always used

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/7/7/9/5/7795d7eea232ec00/image_1mnyfqa.png)

**In Short**
💡 *Low opacity = less ink = less visible color → leading to lower and less predictable print quality.*


**Small Production Variations Become More Visible**
Every printing process has minor variations in ink distribution.
With solid colors, these are usually not noticeable. However, with light or transparent colors, this can result in:
* Uneven areas
* A “patchy” or inconsistent look
* Less solid color coverage


**The Physical Result Differs from Screen Display**
Transparent colors often look different when printed compared to how they appear on screen. This depends on the printing technique, the garment color, and the material used.
**Example:**
* With **DTG**, 20% blue on a black T-shirt will appear much less visible than on a white T-shirt
* With **DTF**, a white underbase is always applied, which can also affect how the final color appears

**Recommendation**
For the best and most predictable print results, always use **fully opaque (100%) colors** in your designs whenever possible.