If you order one of our badge tees in Black, Navy, Maroon or another dark color, the artwork arrives on a light rectangular panel. It is not a production mistake. It is how the file is built. This post explains it so you can pick a color with that in mind.
What the panel is
Each Pet Love Club badge is a painted illustration with soft shading, gold highlights and a lot of fine detail in the frame. To keep that detail sharp, the artwork is applied as a full rectangle with a light background, not as a cut-out shape with transparent edges. On a light shirt the rectangle blends into the fabric and you only see the badge. On a dark shirt the rectangle is visible around the badge.
Why we did not just cut it out
Cutting the badge out of its background would work on a white shirt and fail on a dark one. Direct-to-garment printing on dark fabric lays down a white underbase first, then the colors. Very fine edges, thin gold lines and soft shadows tend to fringe or fade where the underbase ends. Keeping the panel means the whole illustration sits on the same base and the frame keeps its crisp edge.
Which colors look seamless
| Look | Colors |
|---|---|
| Panel invisible | White, Natural, Ash, Heather Prism Ice Blue, Heather Peach, Heather Ice Blue |
| Panel faintly visible | Athletic Heather, Heather Prism Lilac, Pink, Mustard |
| Panel clearly visible | Black, Black Heather, Navy, Maroon, Red, Brown, Dark Grey Heather, Heather True Royal, Mauve |
If you want the badge and nothing else, order White or Natural. If you like the look of a printed patch on a dark shirt, some people do, order the dark color knowing what you will get. The product photos on each color show exactly how the panel sits.
If you ordered a dark color and changed your mind
You can exchange it for a light color. The Returns page has the window and the steps.
See the badge on every color on the Your Little Magic tee page, or read how the two shirt blanks compare in Bella+Canvas 3001 vs Comfort Colors 1717.