If you sell the same design on multiple shirt colors, you do not need to create a separate Shopify product listing for each color. Printeez lets you create artwork variations, different versions of your design adapted for each shirt color, all linked to a single product. Your customer sees one Shopify product with multiple color options, and each color automatically displays the correct version of your artwork.
What You Can Do with Artwork Variations
- Recolor your design for each shirt color: directly inside the Printeez designer, without uploading new files
- Assign specific shirt colors to each artwork variation: so the right design appears automatically for each color option
- Adjust white ink settings: for tone-on-tone looks where your artwork color is close to the shirt color
- Set up separate artwork for front and back placements: each placement is configured independently
- Keep everything under one product listing: no duplicate Shopify products needed
Before You Start
Make sure you have:
- A product already created in Printeez: with at least one artwork uploaded
- The shirt colors you want to sell: already selected as variants in your product
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1 — Select your shirt colors
In the Printeez designer, select all the shirt colors you want to offer as variants (for example: white, black, sage green, light blue). These become the color options in your Shopify listing.
Step 2 — Open the Artwork Variations panel
In the designer, locate the Artwork color variations panel. You can access it from the product setup area beside your placement selection. This panel lets you manage different artwork versions for each shirt color.
Step 3 — Create your first variation
Your original uploaded artwork is your first variation. It is automatically assigned to the first shirt color. Use the Printeez recolor tool, built directly into the designer, to adjust the colors of your design so it looks correct on that shirt color. You do not need to upload a new file.
Step 4 — Add a variation for each additional shirt color
Click to add a new artwork variation. The recolor tool opens, letting you adjust the same design for a different background. For example: if your original design has a dark navy graphic on a white shirt, you might switch it to a light cream version for the black shirt.
Step 5 — Assign shirt colors to each variation
Once your variations are created, assign each one to the appropriate shirt color or colors.
For example:
- Variation A to White and Light Grey;
- Variation B to Black and Dark Navy.
Multiple colors can share the same variation if the artwork works for all of them.
Step 6 — Configure white ink for tone-on-tone prints
If your artwork color is close to the shirt color (tone-on-tone), enable the white ink underbase setting. This prints a white layer underneath your design first, making the colors visible and vivid. This is most common for light-colored graphics on dark shirts.
Step 7 — Set up variations for each placement
Front and back placements are completely independent. If your product has both a front and back print, repeat the variation setup for each placement separately. Changing the front artwork does not automatically update the back. Make sure the back variations match the front for every shirt color so the finished product is consistent.
When you publish to Shopify, all shirt color variants appear under one product listing. Each variant automatically displays its correct artwork variation in the product preview, no duplicate listings needed.
Important Notes
Each placement is configured independently
Front, back, sleeve, and any other print placements each require their own artwork variation setup. A change to one placement has no effect on the others.
No new file uploads required
The recolor tool works directly on your existing artwork file. You do not need to create or upload separate files for each shirt color.
White ink and visibility
Always enable the white ink underbase when printing light-colored artwork on dark shirts. Without it, the design may be invisible or wash out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a new Shopify product for each shirt color?
No. Use artwork variations in Printeez to keep all shirt colors under one product listing. Each color variant automatically displays its correct artwork version.
What if my front and back designs need to match?
Set up matching artwork variations in both the front and back placements. Printeez does not automatically sync front and back variations, each placement is configured independently.
Can I assign multiple shirt colors to the same variation?
Yes. If several shirt colors work with the same version of your artwork (for example, white, light grey, and cream all use the same dark graphic), you can assign all of them to one variation.
What is a tone-on-tone look?
A tone-on-tone print is when your artwork color is very close to the shirt color (for example, a beige graphic on a tan shirt), creating a subtle, textured effect. Enable the white ink underbase for this type of print so the design registers correctly.