If a digitally printed umbrella looks colorful outside but pale or white inside, one option is to print a coordinating background color on the reverse of the same fabric. The outside keeps its full artwork; the inside receives a simpler color instead of a black, silver or colored coating. Based on our experience with ordinary umbrella projects, this treatment may add approximately RMB 5–6 per umbrella. Fabric suitability, appearance and the actual additional charge must be confirmed for each order through a quotation and physical sample.
When planning a custom printed umbrella, buyers often approve the outside artwork before considering the underside. Once the finished umbrella opens, a pale inner canopy can look disconnected from the exterior design. This guide explains one approach we use to improve that appearance. It is not a universal process that can be applied to every fabric.
Why can the inside stay white after digital printing?
In our production work, digital umbrella printing often starts with white base fabric. After a colorful design is printed on the outside, the reverse may remain noticeably white or show only faint traces of the exterior colors.
For example, an outside design with a dark blue background may have a largely pale underside. Both surfaces are visible when the umbrella is open, so approving only the exterior artwork misses part of the finished product’s appearance.
Review the outer artwork, alignment between sewn panels and inner color together on a complete umbrella. Our guide to pattern matching on digitally printed umbrellas discusses the separate challenge of joining artwork across canopy seams.
White reverse, coating or printed inner color: which option fits?
The right choice depends on the buyer’s visual preferences, material requirements and budget. If the customer accepts the original underside, an extra printing step may not be necessary.
| Option | Inner appearance | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Leave the reverse unprinted | White or pale, sometimes with faint show-through from the outer artwork | Whether the customer accepts the actual sample’s inner appearance |
| Use a black, silver or colored coating | The selected coating color | Acceptance of the coating and color, plus the order’s material requirements |
| Digitally print a coordinating inner color | A defined background color chosen to complement the outside | Fabric suitability, color choice, sample appearance and additional cost |
If the buyer dislikes black, silver and colored coatings but also dislikes a white underside, a printed inner color is worth sampling. The decision should be based on the actual material and finished appearance, not just a rendering.
How does double-sided digital printing work in this approach?
This approach arranges printing on both sides of the same piece of canopy fabric. It does not add a separate inner lining.
- Outside: keep the complete, full-color artwork.
- Inside: print a selected background color rather than repeat the entire outside image.
The outside background can provide a starting point: green with a coordinating green underside, blue with blue, or red with red. Where the artwork has no clear background color, choose a complementary main color and assess it in a sample.
The objective is a more coordinated umbrella when viewed from either side. “Coordinating” does not mean an electronic design can guarantee an exact color match on the two physical surfaces.
For a broader explanation of different inside and outside colors, see double-sided umbrella printing and canopy construction options.
How should buyers approve the inside color?
Open the umbrella and inspect it from both sides. When comparing an unprinted reverse with a printed inner color, use similar lighting and the same open-canopy condition.
- Check the color against the entire outside design. A small isolated color swatch does not show how the whole umbrella will look.
- Check the actual underside. Look for remaining pale areas or show-through and decide whether the result is acceptable.
- Approve the complete umbrella. Artwork communicates the design direction; the mutually approved physical sample should establish the expected appearance.
This treatment primarily improves inner color and appearance. Do not assume it completely blocks the outside image from showing through. That needs to be checked on the actual sample.
How much extra does printing the inner color cost?
Our previous ordinary umbrella projects suggest an additional cost of approximately RMB 5–6 per umbrella for a full exterior print combined with a coordinating printed inner background.
This is an experience-based reference for the extra treatment—not the price of the complete umbrella, not a fixed surcharge for all specifications, and not a quotation for your order. Fabric, canopy size, quantity and printing requirements can change the cost.
Send the following information when requesting a quotation:
- Umbrella size and fabric requirements
- Expected order quantity
- Outside artwork
- Preferred inner color or reference sample
- Any additional material or performance requirements
Ask whether sample making, print setup and sample shipping are charged separately. Our custom umbrella quotation checklist explains the other information needed for a complete quote.
A useful decision is a side-by-side sample comparison: one umbrella with the original pale reverse, and another with a coordinating inner color. Assess the visual improvement against the confirmed additional charge.
When is this option worth considering?
- The exterior artwork has a clear background color and the buyer wants a more coordinated inside.
- The customer does not want a black, silver or colored coating.
- The appearance of the open umbrella matters enough to justify additional cost.
Choose the final solution using samples, material requirements and the order-specific quotation. If UV protection or other performance is specified, verify it separately. A darker or more attractive underside is not a substitute for product-specific performance evidence.
Frequently asked questions
Must both sides carry a full design?
No. In the approach described here, the outside carries the complete artwork and the inside has a simple coordinating background color. The inner surface does not need to repeat the outer image.
Will a printed inner color eliminate show-through?
Not necessarily. The purpose is to improve a pale underside and coordinate colors. Check the physical sample for remaining show-through and agree on acceptable appearance before production.
Does double-sided printing mean two layers of fabric?
Not in this approach. Both surfaces of the same fabric are printed. Adding a separate lining is a different construction and should be discussed and quoted separately.
Does every digitally printed umbrella cost RMB 5–6 more?
No. That figure is our experience-based additional cost reference for ordinary umbrella projects. The actual charge depends on fabric, size, quantity and printing requirements and must be confirmed for the current order.
Is an umbrella without black, silver or colored coating automatically more environmentally friendly?
No. The absence of those coatings alone does not establish an environmental advantage. Assess the actual materials, processes and relevant supporting documentation against the buyer’s requirements.
Does a darker underside guarantee better UV protection?
No. Color alone does not establish UV performance. Orders with a specific protection requirement need evidence corresponding to the actual product configuration.
Confirm the underside when you send the outside artwork
Send Guangzhou Hand in Hand Umbrella Factory your artwork, preferred inner color, umbrella size and expected quantity. We can discuss fabric suitability and printing options, then use a physical sample to confirm appearance before proceeding.