Color Matching For Spoonflower Prints
Achieving precise color matching for Spoonflower prints can be a complex but highly rewarding process. We’ve all experienced the frustration of a single element in a room standing out—whether it’s a stark snow-white detail against a backdrop of warm eggshell tones or a rug that leans orange-red while the couch cushions pull cool.
At Peacoquette, we specialize in fine-tuning designs to align perfectly with your desired color palette. While the process involves careful adjustments, the end result ensures a harmonious and visually cohesive design tailored to your exact specifications.
At Peacoquette, we specialize in fine-tuning designs to align perfectly with your desired color palette. While the process involves careful adjustments, the end result ensures a harmonious and visually cohesive design tailored to your exact specifications.
Understanding Color Variability
There are a few key factors to consider when color matching:
Screen Variations
Every screen displays colors differently. A color viewed on your phone may look different when viewed on a computer. While you might want to send us a photo to match, a photo of an item in your home will not always accurately reflect its true color due to camera settings, lighting conditions, and the device’s internal color sensors. For example, a photo taken under warm indoor lighting will differ from one taken in natural daylight.
Fabric and Material Differences
Each Spoonflower substrate (fabric or wallpaper type) has a unique base white, much like the difference between printer paper and newsprint. Synthetic fabrics tend to have a cooler, brighter white, while natural fibers lean warmer. This base color can subtly influence the way a printed color appears. A pure blue on linen, for instance, may take on a slight greenish tint.
Spoonflower utilizes ink to print directly onto fabric and wallpaper, making it an environmentally friendly option by minimizing material waste of keeping back stock. However, this printing method comes with certain limitations. On looser-weave fabrics, colors may appear less saturated than expected, and while the color gamut is extensive, there are inherent limits to vibrancy and depth. To maintain the longevity of your prints, it is essential to follow the care instructions specific to each substrate. While durability continues to improve, some materials may experience fading over time with frequent laundering.
Additionally, Spoonflower’s printing process does not achieve a true black ink but instead produces a relative black because it is black ink being printed onto white. This is why we recommend ordering our "Blackest Black" design on the same substrate as your project if you need a coordinating black fabric. Likewise, a peel-and-stick wallpaper print will not appear exactly the same as a grasscloth wallpaper print.
Those with a keen eye for color should expect slight shifts across materials. Peacoquette’s own Sarah is a tetrachromat and sees more variations in color than most people.
We get it! We celebrate it! You're not picky; you're sensitive! It is special and worth accommodating.
Every screen displays colors differently. A color viewed on your phone may look different when viewed on a computer. While you might want to send us a photo to match, a photo of an item in your home will not always accurately reflect its true color due to camera settings, lighting conditions, and the device’s internal color sensors. For example, a photo taken under warm indoor lighting will differ from one taken in natural daylight.
Fabric and Material Differences
Each Spoonflower substrate (fabric or wallpaper type) has a unique base white, much like the difference between printer paper and newsprint. Synthetic fabrics tend to have a cooler, brighter white, while natural fibers lean warmer. This base color can subtly influence the way a printed color appears. A pure blue on linen, for instance, may take on a slight greenish tint.
Spoonflower utilizes ink to print directly onto fabric and wallpaper, making it an environmentally friendly option by minimizing material waste of keeping back stock. However, this printing method comes with certain limitations. On looser-weave fabrics, colors may appear less saturated than expected, and while the color gamut is extensive, there are inherent limits to vibrancy and depth. To maintain the longevity of your prints, it is essential to follow the care instructions specific to each substrate. While durability continues to improve, some materials may experience fading over time with frequent laundering.
Additionally, Spoonflower’s printing process does not achieve a true black ink but instead produces a relative black because it is black ink being printed onto white. This is why we recommend ordering our "Blackest Black" design on the same substrate as your project if you need a coordinating black fabric. Likewise, a peel-and-stick wallpaper print will not appear exactly the same as a grasscloth wallpaper print.
Those with a keen eye for color should expect slight shifts across materials. Peacoquette’s own Sarah is a tetrachromat and sees more variations in color than most people.
We get it! We celebrate it! You're not picky; you're sensitive! It is special and worth accommodating.
Here we see four different fabric types with the same Peacoquette toile
The Best Approach to Color Matching
For the most accurate results, we recommend starting with a custom palette that we create specifically for you. This palette will be printed on your chosen Spoonflower substrate and will include:
- Your selected base color(s)
- Variations that are slightly more saturated/desaturated
- Shades that are marginally warmer/cooler
Example of a client project to find the perfect soft blue. A1 is the starting point.
Once you receive the printed palette, evaluate it in the space where it will be used and under the lighting conditions you’ll most frequently see it—whether that’s evening lamp light, morning sunlight, or theatrical stage lighting.
We have successfully matched colors for countless projects, from home décor to professional stage productions. While waiting for a fabric sample to arrive may feel like a delay, seeing the color in person ensures the most precise match and prevents costly mistakes in the final order.
We have successfully matched colors for countless projects, from home décor to professional stage productions. While waiting for a fabric sample to arrive may feel like a delay, seeing the color in person ensures the most precise match and prevents costly mistakes in the final order.
How to Find Color References
We accept any image or link that contains a solid color reference, such as a paint swatch, a picture of an item, or a digital color sample. If you have specific hex codes (six-digit color codes used for digital representation), you can generate them using a tool like Color-Hex. If you’re looking to match an item in your home, such as a velvet chair, a simple and effective approach is to visit a local paint supplier and select swatches that closely match the chair’s color. Be sure to compare them in the same lighting where the item is typically seen. Once you’ve found the best match, send us that color name or the name of the swatches that come closest.
Color Matching Process
Submit a Request
Review & Quote
Confirm & Proceed
Receive Your Review
Order a Sample
Evaluate & Provide Feedback
Final Adjustments
Place Your Full Order
Enjoy Your Bespoke Design
- Email [email protected] with the subject line "Customization Request."
- Include the URL or design name/number of the print you’d like to modify.
- Describe your desired color adjustments.
- Attach any relevant links, images, shade names, or hex codes for reference.
- Specify the Spoonflower substrate you plan to use (e.g., cotton, denim, grasscloth wallpaper).
Review & Quote
- We will assess whether the design can be altered.
- Some intricate designs may not allow for simple color swaps; we will advise you on potential adjustments or whether your request requires a full New Commission.
- If your request is possible, we’ll provide a quote and a payment link for the service.
Confirm & Proceed
- Once payment is received, you can choose whether you’d like us to adjust the design immediately or create a custom test palette first.
Receive Your Review
- We will send you a link to either the modified design or your custom color palette.
Order a Sample
- You will place a sample order through Spoonflower on your chosen substrate.
Evaluate & Provide Feedback
- After receiving the sample, assess it in the intended space under the typical lighting conditions.
- Let us know whether the match is successful or if additional adjustments are needed.
Final Adjustments
- Each color matching request includes up to three rounds of revisions at no additional cost.
- You are responsible for purchasing fabric samples.
- We do not offer refunds, but in over a decade of experience, we have never had an unresolved case.
Place Your Full Order
- Once satisfied with the match, proceed with your full Spoonflower order, knowing your design will be exactly as envisioned.
Enjoy Your Bespoke Design
At Peacoquette, we take pride in ensuring your designs come to life with the perfect color balance.
Whether you need an exact shade for home décor, theatrical backdrops, or a bespoke textile project,
we are here to make your vision a reality.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out.
We look forward to helping you achieve your perfect match!
Whether you need an exact shade for home décor, theatrical backdrops, or a bespoke textile project,
we are here to make your vision a reality.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out.
We look forward to helping you achieve your perfect match!