Recently found this again when searching for something else… funny how that works.

Anyway, I am glad you found my comment helpful. I just wanted to add that there is probably a better method than designing in CMYK, converting to RGB, and uploading (so that CafePress will then do its own RGB to CMYK conversion), as I recommended (amateurishly) above. Instead, you can work in RGB, but select “proof colors” in the view panel of Photoshop, and select “CMYK” as your proofing option. That way you don’t convert back-and-forth (losing data) but you still design while seeing more realistic colors.

Cheers,
Gabriel L.

I wanted to comment on the CMYK/RGB discrepancy. The issue is this:

All printing is done using CMYK. RGB is used for on-screen graphics, which can display more vibrant colors. Cafepress, however, does not accept CMYK images because they automatically do their own RGB->CMYK conversion. This is supposed to make things more idiot proof, since everyone is required to upload one kind of file (RGB), but really it’s annoying, because you should still DESIGN in CMYK.

What do I mean by this? Well, since Cafepress will in fact print your images using CMYK, you should use only CMYK colors when designing your products. Yes, they’re duller than RGB, but that’s the point–you cannot print better, so you should design for how it will print, not how it will look on your screen.

However, when it comes time to upload to Cafepress, you should convert BACK to RGB file format and send that. What will this do? Well, the CMYK gamut fits (mostly) within RGB, so you won’t have a dramatic shift in color. And then when Cafepress converts back from RGB to CMYK, it won’t change much, since the colors are already in the CMYK gamut (even though they’re saved inside an RGB file).

The advantage is that you will follow Cafepress’s rules, but also design with colors that actually print how you designed them. No surprising and disappointing conversions into mud.

Sorry if this seems complicated; unfortunately color management one of the things that makes pros tear their hair out and go to bed crying. Cafepress tries to make things simpler, but that actually makes things harder if you want to do things right.

-Gabriel L.