Background colors on invitations artwork are different than on in situ images

[LindaS1]

In general, the background colors as you're creating a product and on the artwork downloads are quite a bit different than the in situ images.

I'm assuming the in situ is closest to the color that will actually print?

Many designers are using the more vibrant artwork download in their mockups, which could lead to returns if the actual product is more dull, right? Should everyone be encouraged to use the in situ version for more color accuracy?

[Cat]

It's a great question, and I wish I knew the answer. My hunch is that the colors will reproduce differently on different products, and it's not clear to me how accurate the in situ images are in that respect.

For cards and invitations, the in situ images are much lighter and more washed out in color and I initially thought that this was the more accurate color. However, I received a number of complaints from customers telling me that the products were printing much darker (like the actual color) than the in situ images would suggest.

I had a collection of wedding invitations etc that were a dark reddish brown - I chose that color because I wanted a deep burgundy which is how they looked in the in situ images. But customers told me it printed more like a chocolate brown. UG! So I re-named them all "auburn brown" and made a new collection with a lighter redder shade.

Something similar happened with the navy blue collection - it actually got flagged by Zazzle's Quality Control team. They told me that the color was printing so dark that it looked black! Had to re-do hundreds of products for that one!

So for cards at least, I think if anything they print darker and more saturated than the chosen color, not lighter and washed out as the in situ images would suggest.

In terms of other products - I have NO clue, and I'd dearly love to know.

[LindaS1]

Wow... thank you! I wish they were consistent across their downloads and in situ images so the customer would know what they're getting. I had also selected a color based on the more washed-out in situ images for a wedding invitation - thankfully I haven't done the entire collection yet!