Comfort Colors Sandstone is a light, dusty tan, darker than Ivory and lighter than Khaki. It is pigment dyed, so it has a washed, slightly uneven look that reads like beach sand or an old canvas tote. It takes earthy and dark DTF art beautifully and swallows anything pale.
- Style
- 1717 tee, 100% ring-spun U.S. cotton, 6.1 oz
- Family
- White and neutral
- Dye type
- Pigment
- Also on
- 6014, 6030, 9360
- Best ink
- Brown, rust, forest green, navy, black
The color in plain words
Picture dry sand at noon. Sandstone is a pale beige with a little warmth and a little gray in it. It is not yellow, not pink, and not quite khaki. In bright sun it can look almost cream. In shade it reads as a soft tan.
Because it is pigment dyed, the shade is not perfectly flat. You will see slight variation at the seams and collar where the dye settles differently. That is the look people buy it for.
Sandstone next to its neighbors
Sandstone sits in the middle of the light neutrals. The most common question we hear is how it differs from the colors on either side of it.
- Ivory. Ivory is an off-white. Sandstone is a full step darker and clearly tan. If someone says "cream," they usually mean Ivory.
- Khaki. Khaki is the classic tan with more depth and a touch more yellow-brown. Sandstone is lighter and grayer.
- Hemp. Hemp leans olive. Put the two side by side and Sandstone looks warm, Hemp looks green.
Rule of thumb: Ivory for a soft vintage white, Sandstone for "neutral but not white," Khaki when you want a real tan.
What pigment dye means for Sandstone
Pigment colors are made to fade gradually and look broken in. On Sandstone that fade is subtle, since the color starts light, but it is real. After a dozen washes the shirt gets softer and a little lighter.
Pigment dye also varies more between production lots than reactive dye. If you are printing a reorder for a group that already has shirts, expect the new batch to be close but not identical. For a matched team look, order everything at once. Our page on garment-dyed shirts explains why.
Ink colors that work on Sandstone
| Ink color | Result on Sandstone |
|---|---|
| Dark brown or espresso | Warm, tonal, very vintage. One of the best pairings. |
| Rust, burnt orange, terracotta | Desert and western feel. Strong contrast. |
| Forest or olive green | Outdoorsy, national park style. |
| Navy and black | Crisp and readable. Good for text-heavy designs. |
| White | Low contrast. Works only as an accent, never for body text. |
| Pale yellow, light pink, light gray | Disappear. Avoid. |
Sandstone loves limited palettes. A two or three color design in earth tones looks intentional. A neon full-color design can look out of place on it.
Styles that carry Sandstone
Sandstone is a tee color first. S&S Activewear lists it on the 1717, the 6014 long sleeve tee, the 6030 pocket tee, and the 9360 tank. At the time of writing it was not listed on the 1566 crewneck or 1567 hoodie, so if your customer wants a matching sweatshirt, Ivory is the closest neutral that comes on the 1566.
Who orders Sandstone
- Fall collections. Pumpkin patch, harvest, and Thanksgiving designs.
- Beach towns and surf shops. It reads like sand, which is the point.
- Western and boho brands. Pairs with rust and turquoise art.
- Coffee shops and bakeries. A neutral that does not look like a uniform.
- Weddings. Welcome party and bridal shirts for desert or beach venues.
Pressing notes
Standard DTF settings work: 300°F, high pressure, 10 seconds, hot peel, 5 second post-press. Pre-press 5 seconds first. Light pigment colors can darken a little right after pressing because the cotton is hot. Let the shirt cool for a minute before you judge the color. It comes back.
If you are pressing a large back print, our DTF placement guide has the measurements. For short runs with several designs, lay them out on one gang sheet and save on film.
Photographing Sandstone for a product listing
Sandstone is one of the hardest Comfort Colors to photograph accurately. Bright sun and auto white balance push it toward cream, and warm indoor bulbs push it toward peach. Shoot in open shade or next to a north-facing window, and set white balance off a white sheet of paper in the same light.
Put a dark object in the frame, like the printed design itself, so the camera does not overexpose the shirt. If you sell online, add a line in the listing that Sandstone is a light tan, not white. That one sentence saves returns. If you sell the same design on Ivory and Sandstone, shoot them side by side so buyers can see the difference without guessing.
FAQ
Is Comfort Colors Sandstone the same as Khaki?
No. Sandstone is lighter and grayer. Khaki is a deeper, warmer tan. They look related but not interchangeable in a group order.
Does Sandstone look white in photos?
It can in harsh light or with a bright camera setting. In normal light it reads as a soft tan. Shoot product photos in shade to keep the color true.
What color text is easiest to read on Sandstone?
Dark brown, navy, and black are the most readable. White text is too low contrast for anything but accents.
Can I get Sandstone in a hoodie?
We did not find it on the 1567 hoodie or 1566 crewneck at S&S Activewear. Check with your supplier, since the lineup changes.
Earth tones on Sandstone
Sandstone does its best work with two or three warm colors. Build a sheet, press at 300°F, and you are done. Compare it to the full line on our Comfort Colors color chart.