The Art of Colour Psychology in Personalised T-Shirt Printing

Do you know that when it comes to custom t-shirt printing, there is one aspect that is just as important as its design? That is ­–  colour.

When printing a t-shirt, choosing the colour may be one of the trickiest parts of the process for many in Singapore. Why so? Simply because colours are so profound. As Pablo Picasso once said, “Colours, like features, follow the changes of the emotions.” It appeals to people’s emotions, and consciously or unconsciously draw an association with a positive or negative experience. It is a huge indicator of personality, and has the power over the message you send to the people around you.

Above all, these hues also correspond to biological conditioning, preferences and other intangible connections, which in turn, can be heavily influential in the decision someone makes.

With that said, understanding the concept of colour psychology can be a valuable asset for anyone who is looking to produce their own personalised printed t-shirt – especially for individuals who are looking to adopt it as a marketing tool to evoke an emotional response from consumers.

However, it is also undeniable that colour psychology is a very complex subject – due to the many factors that can impact its multitude of meaning. This means, colour preference varies widely between individuals. Still, they do carry a general connotation.

Now, before you embark on your t-shirt printing journey, let’s take a closer look into colours and their underlying meanings.

The general connotation of colours

Black

An incredibly versatile colour, black is often associated with mystery, sophistication, power and everything in between, which makes it a popular choice among modern brands. When it comes to custom printed t-shirts, it is also regarded as a sleek, timeless and stylish choice.

Blue

Blue emits a sense of stability, dependability, maturity and calmness – and the corporate world tends to lean towards this choice of colour. Collective and ubiquitous, blue holds a universal appeal.

However, the hue of blue does matter – a lot. The young and hip love shades like turquoise and aqua for its association with peace and tranquillity, while white-collared workers are more drawn to the conservative alternative, navy blue.

Red

Striking, bold and intense, red is known as a powerful colour that is commonly used to capture attention. Hence, if the objective of your personalised printed t-shirt is to do just that, red is your best bet. On top of that, it is also known as a universal sign of strength, excitement and passion.

Yellow

Drawing its colour identity from the sun, yellow radiates optimism, positivity and enlightenment. It is a colour that is packed with positivity. When used on printed t-shirts, yellow brings forth some interesting effects such as improved concentration and creativity stimulation.

Green

A colour that resembles nature, green symbolises renewal and growth. Exuding a calming effect, green is also a colour that is pleasant to the human’s eye. At times, the more subdued variations like emerald green also suggest wealth. Then again, if you’d like to add a youthful spin to the colour, opt for vibrant hues like lime green. 

Purple

A blend of red and blue, purple is the colour of choice if you want to show a hint of femininity. Interestingly, purple is also associated with imagination, wisdom and spirituality.

Brown

For custom printed t-shirts, brown is a colour that has the ability to bring up sentiments of support, security and comfort. Simultaneously, it emphasises the down-to-earth nature of one’s personality.

Final remarks

Now that you have a better understanding of colours, take time to explore your ultimate goal. Remember – aesthetics are in all our senses, not just the sight.