The Guide to the Comfort Colors Color Chart

Comfort Colors is one of the most recognized garment-dyed blank brands in the US market, known for a soft, lived-in hand feel and a nature-inspired color palette that performs consistently well in retail, print-on-demand, and custom decoration programs. Understanding the color chart — how it is organized, the difference between dye types, and which colors behave differently under heat — is essential for anyone sourcing or printing Comfort Colors blanks.

 

What Makes Comfort Colors Different

Comfort Colors uses a garment-dye process: the finished garment is dyed after it is cut and sewn, rather than dyeing the yarn or fabric before construction. This produces several defining characteristics:

•       Worn-in softness from day one. Pre-washing during the dye process relaxes the cotton fibers, eliminating the stiffness of a new garment.

•       Slight color variation between units. Garment dyeing is an inherently variable process. Two shirts from the same dye lot will be very close but not perfectly identical in tone — which is part of the aesthetic.

•       Pre-shrunk. The dye and wash process pre-shrinks the fabric, resulting in minimal shrinkage at home.

•       100% ringspun US cotton. The 1717 and most core styles are made from 100% ringspun cotton grown and harvested in the US, certified by Cotton USA.

 

The Two Dye Types: Pigment vs Reactive

Comfort Colors uses two distinct dyeing processes across its color range. Understanding the difference matters for print programs because the two dye types behave differently under heat.

Pigment Dye (Pigment Pure™)

Most Comfort Colors are pigment dyed. Pigments are insoluble color particles attached to the fiber surface using a binding agent rather than chemically bonding to the fiber itself. This creates the signature faded, vintage quality — colors appear slightly muted and earthy, and they continue to soften and fade subtly over the garment's life in a way that enhances rather than degrades the look.

Pigment dye is heat-sensitive. The recommended maximum fabric temperature during screen printing or heat pressing is 320°F. Above that, colors can scorch, shift, or lose vibrancy permanently. Always use a temperature strip on the first run and reduce dryer belt speed to keep fabric below 320°F.

Reactive Dye

A smaller set of colors in the Comfort Colors range are reactive dyed. Reactive dyes bond chemically with the cotton fiber, producing a more saturated, true-tone appearance compared to the earthy, faded quality of pigment colors. Reactive dyed colors look more like a standard garment-dyed color and less like a vintage wash. Reactive colors are slightly more tolerant of heat but still benefit from the 320°F ceiling during printing.

 

Comfort Colors 1717 Color Chart

The 1717 Adult Heavyweight T-Shirt is Comfort Colors' flagship style and the most widely stocked blank in the range. It is available in the broadest color selection of any Comfort Colors style. Colors are organized below by dye type.

Pigment Dyed Colors (1717)

These colors have the signature vintage, faded aesthetic. They are heat-sensitive — maximum fabric temperature 320°F during decoration.

Color Name	Color Family	Notes
Ivory	Neutrals	Clean warm white; one of the most popular colors
Butter	Neutrals	Soft pale yellow; spring/summer staple
Chamomile	Neutrals	Muted warm yellow-cream
Sandstone	Neutrals	Warm sand tone; earthy and versatile
Khaki	Neutrals	Classic tan-brown; outdoor and lifestyle programs
Hemp	Neutrals	Warm gray-tan; neutral and gender-inclusive
Grey	Neutrals	Classic medium gray
Blue Jean	Blues	Faded denim blue; casual and highly wearable
China Blue	Blues	Medium cornflower blue; note: reactive on some runs
Island Blue	Blues	Bright sky blue with a tropical feel
Topaz Blue	Blues	Medium-dark teal blue
Lagoon Blue	Blues	Deep muted teal
Ocean	Blues	Rich medium blue; nautical and lifestyle appeal
Washed Denim	Blues	Light stone-washed blue; very popular for vintage programs
Flo Blue	Blues	Bright electric blue
Fern	Greens	Muted sage-green; very popular in lifestyle programs
Light Green	Greens	Pale mint green
Moss	Greens	Deep earthy green; fall programs
Forest	Greens	Rich dark green
Cypress	Greens	Deep olive-green
Cumin	Warm tones	Deep golden-orange; earthy and bold
Terracotta	Warm tones	Warm clay-red; one of the top-selling earthy colors
Burnt Orange	Warm tones	Classic autumn orange
Clay	Warm tones	Muted dusty orange-brown
Mustard	Warm tones	Golden yellow; fashion and lifestyle programs
Crimson	Reds & Pinks	Deep rich red
Watermelon	Reds & Pinks	Bright coral-pink
Blossom	Reds & Pinks	Soft dusty pink; highly popular in women’s programs
Flamingo	Reds & Pinks	Medium bright pink
Crunchberry	Reds & Pinks	Deep berry pink
Pepper	Darks	Very dark charcoal — not pure black; salt-and-pepper texture
Granite	Darks	Medium-dark heathered gray; note: reactive on some runs
Amethyst	Purples	Medium-dark purple
Violet	Purples	Bright medium purple
Grape	Purples	Deep rich purple
Neon Lemon	Neons	Bright neon yellow; extra heat-sensitive
Neon Pink	Neons	Bright neon pink; extra heat-sensitive
Neon Orange	Neons	Bright neon orange; extra heat-sensitive

 

Reactive Dyed Colors (1717)

These colors have a more saturated, traditional dyed appearance rather than the faded vintage look of pigment colors. Still limit heat press fabric temperature to 320°F.

Color Name	Color Family	Notes
White	Neutrals	True bright white; best for DTG printing
Black	Darks	True black; consistent across units
Graphite	Darks	Medium-dark gray
Midnight	Darks	Very dark navy, near black
True Navy	Blues	Classic saturated navy
Mystic Blue	Blues	Deep muted blue
Sapphire	Blues	Medium-bright blue
Sage	Greens	Soft muted green-gray; currently transitioning to pigment
Red	Reds	Classic bright red
Chili	Reds	Deep muted red-brown
Paprika	Reds	Medium warm red-orange

 

Color Blast™ Collection

Color Blast is a separate collection within the Comfort Colors range that uses a pigment dye technique producing a unique, mottled two-tone effect. No two Color Blast garments are identical.

The result is more subtle than tie-dye but more visually interesting than a standard solid. Color Blast is available in both the 1717 t-shirt and the 1545CC crewneck sweatshirt. Because consistency between units cannot be guaranteed, Color Blast is best suited for programs where each piece being unique is a feature rather than a limitation.

 

Printing on Comfort Colors: Key Considerations

Heat Temperature Limit

The maximum recommended fabric temperature for all Comfort Colors garments is 320°F. Above this, pigment dye colors can scorch or permanently shift in hue. Always use a temperature strip on new runs. On neon colors, stay well below 320°F — these are the most heat-sensitive in the range.

DTG Printing

Comfort Colors blanks perform well for DTG because of their 100% ringspun cotton surface. The soft, lightly napped surface from garment dyeing may require slightly increased pretreatment coverage compared to a standard cotton blank. Always test pretreatment settings on a washed sample before production runs, as the garment-dyed finish behaves differently from conventional cotton.

Screen Printing

Screen printing on Comfort Colors requires dryer temperature management. Keep belt speed moderate and use temperature strips to confirm fabric stays below 320°F. Discharge printing works well on Comfort Colors pigment dyed styles — the garment-dyed cotton is an ideal substrate for discharge agents. Test discharge results on a sample first, as results vary slightly between colors.

Color Variation Between Units

Garment dyeing produces inherent variation between units. For programs where color consistency between garments is critical, confirm that all units are from the same dye lot. This is especially relevant for bulk orders where the same design will be applied to many shirts that will be worn or displayed together.

 

Most Popular Comfort Colors Colors for Custom Programs

Based on consistent wholesale demand, these are the colors that move most reliably across retail, print-on-demand, and custom decoration programs:

•       Ivory: The top-selling light neutral. Clean and versatile for almost any design.

•       Blossom: Consistently among the top colors in women's programs and lifestyle brands.

•       Terracotta: One of the defining colors of the Comfort Colors aesthetic for several seasons running.

•       Fern: Muted sage-green with broad cross-demographic appeal.

•       Washed Denim: Popular in vintage and streetwear-adjacent programs for its broken-in blue tone.

•       Sandstone: Neutral earthy tone that works across all demographics and seasons.

•       Black (reactive): The most consistently stocked dark color in the range.

•       Pepper: Unique to Comfort Colors — a heathered dark charcoal that has no direct equivalent in other blank brands.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between pigment and reactive dyed Comfort Colors?

Pigment dyed colors have a faded, vintage appearance that softens further over time. Reactive dyed colors look more traditionally dyed with stronger color saturation. Both are garment dyed but produce a noticeably different aesthetic.

What temperature can I heat press Comfort Colors?

The maximum recommended fabric temperature is 320°F for all Comfort Colors garments. Neon colors are extra heat-sensitive and should be pressed at lower temperatures. Always use a temperature strip to verify fabric temperature during screen printing or heat pressing.

Do Comfort Colors shirts all look exactly the same?

No. Garment dyeing produces slight variation between individual units in the same color and dye lot. This is a characteristic of the process and part of the brand's identity. For programs requiring very consistent color between units, confirm all garments are from the same dye lot.

What is the Comfort Colors 1717?

The 1717 is Comfort Colors' flagship Adult Heavyweight T-Shirt. It is made from 100% ringspun US cotton, garment dyed, pre-shrunk, and available in the widest color selection in the Comfort Colors range.

What is Color Blast by Comfort Colors?

Color Blast is a collection that uses a unique pigment dye technique producing a mottled, two-tone effect on each garment. No two pieces are identical. It is available in the 1717 t-shirt and 1545CC crewneck sweatshirt.