Comfort Colors Ivory is a warm, creamy off-white, closer to unbleached cotton or old paper than to a bright white tee. It's a garment dyed color in Comfort Colors' pigment dye group, so it has a soft, lived-in tone instead of a crisp optical white. If you want a light shirt that looks vintage instead of brand new, this is the one.
- Color family
- Cream, warm off-white
- Brand
- Comfort Colors
- Dye type
- Pigment, garment dyed
- Pantone reference
- 2309 C (Comfort Colors' nearest match)
- Fabric (1717)
- 100% ring-spun cotton
What color is Comfort Colors Ivory?
Ivory is cream with a hint of tan. Hold it next to a regular white t-shirt and the difference is obvious: the white looks blue and bright, Ivory looks warm and soft. On its own, from across a room, most people will just call it a cream shirt.
It's not beige and it's not khaki. Those are darker and read as a "color." Ivory still reads as a light, neutral base, which is why it's one of the most popular Comfort Colors shades for minimal designs, church and school events, bachelorette shirts, and brands going for an earthy, natural look.
Pigment dyed, and why that matters for a light color
Comfort Colors groups its colors into pigment dyes and direct or reactive dyes. Its current swatch card lists Ivory with the pigment colors. Older Comfort Colors material noted that Ivory, along with a few others, was being moved from reactive to pigment dye, so if you have old stock, it may look slightly different from a fresh case.
Pigment dye is what gives Ivory its slightly uneven, washed tone. On a dark shirt you barely notice the variation. On a light shirt like Ivory, you may see faint shading at seams and collars. That's normal for garment dyed cotton.
Which Comfort Colors styles come in Ivory?
At the time of writing, S&S Activewear lists Ivory on the 1717 heavyweight tee, the 6030 pocket tee, the 6014 long sleeve, and the 1566 crewneck sweatshirt. It does not show it on the 1567 hoodie. Stock moves around, so confirm colors and sizes with your supplier before you lock in a design.
Ivory vs other light Comfort Colors shades
| Color | How it compares to Ivory |
|---|---|
| White | A reactive dye color. Brighter, cooler, and more even. Use White if you want clean and crisp, Ivory if you want warm and soft. |
| Butter | A pale yellow. It's noticeably more colorful than Ivory and reads as yellow, not cream. |
| Sandstone | A light tan. Darker and earthier than Ivory, more like dry sand. |
| Khaki | A true tan. A step darker again, and no longer a "light shirt" for most designs. |
See where Ivory sits in the full palette in our Comfort Colors color chart.
DTF on a light shirt: what changes on Ivory
Most DTF advice is written with dark shirts in mind. Ivory flips a few things around.
- White in your art will show. DTF prints a white layer under your colors, and any white areas in your design print as solid white ink. On Ivory, that white sits on top of cream and looks brighter than the shirt. Sometimes that's a nice effect. Sometimes it looks like a sticker. Decide on purpose.
- Want the shirt to act as your "white"? Remove the white from your art and leave those areas transparent. The cream fabric shows through instead, and the print blends into the shirt.
- Soft edges need care. Glows, shadows, and fades rely on partial transparency. Convert them to halftones so they blend into the cream instead of leaving a hard white edge.
- Pale art disappears. Light yellow, pale pink, cream, beige, and light gray all wash out. If an element is too close to the shirt, it won't read.
Design colors that work on Ivory
- Black and charcoal. Maximum contrast and a classic printed-poster feel.
- Navy and forest green. Softer than black, still very readable.
- Rust, brick, and burnt orange. Warm tones that match the cream for a cohesive, earthy look.
- Muted sage, dusty blue, and mauve. Great for boutique and minimal designs, as long as they're dark enough to separate from the shirt.
Colors that fail on Ivory
- Pastels. Butter yellow, baby pink, and mint sit too close to the shirt.
- Tan and beige text. It reads like a stain more than a design.
- Large pure white shapes. They can work, but they'll look like a patch. Test with a mockup first.
Pressing DTF on garment-dyed Ivory
Light shirts show everything. A dirty platen, a scorch line, or a crooked post-press sheet will be more visible on Ivory than on Pepper or Blue Spruce. Distributors also note that Comfort Colors pigment dyes react to heat, with a recommended maximum fabric temperature of 320°F. Our standard settings sit below that.
- Clean the platen and cover sheet. Any residue can transfer onto a cream shirt.
- Pre-press for 5 seconds. Drives out moisture and flattens the heavyweight cotton.
- Press at 300°F for 10 seconds with high pressure.
- Peel hot. Peel right away in one smooth, low motion.
- Post-press for 5 seconds. Use parchment or a Teflon sheet over the print.
Let the shirt cool before you judge the color. For the full process, see DTF heat press settings.
FAQ
Is Comfort Colors Ivory white or cream?
Cream. It's a warm off-white. Next to a standard white tee it clearly looks creamier and slightly tan.
Do I need a white underbase on an Ivory shirt?
DTF transfers always include the white layer, and that's a good thing: your colors print true instead of tinting toward the cream. Just remove any white from your art that you want the shirt to show through.
Is the Comfort Colors Ivory shirt see-through?
The 1717 is a heavyweight cotton tee, so it's thicker than most basic tees. Like any light color, it's still lighter in coverage than a dark shirt.
What's the difference between Ivory and White Comfort Colors?
White is a reactive dye color with a brighter, cooler, more even finish. Ivory is a pigment dye color with a warmer, softer, slightly washed look.
Print on Ivory
Build your sheet with transparent backgrounds, and orders placed before 1PM PT ship the same business day.