Moonrise Rainbow Trout Trucker Hat

Full moon, and the river breaks open.

A rainbow trout jumping a moonlit river between rust red cliffs, in night blue, sage green and deep teal, made for a trucker hat.

A rainbow trout jumps clear of a moonlit river while a second trout cruises the open water below. Rust red cliffs, sage green brush and deep teal water sit under a night blue sky and a moon cream full moon.

Rainbow trout jumping under a full moon
Rust red cliffs and sage green brush
A second trout cruising deep teal water
Moon cream splash rings and droplets
Night blue sky fading to the horizon

The cap

One design, four caps. The front panel is what the paint or the dye sits on, so it changes the hat.

Trucker
The house cap — structured mid profile, foam-and-mesh back, snapback.
Specs
Profile
Mid profile
Build
6-panel · Structured — buckram behind the front
Crown
3½ in (8.9 cm)
Visor
Pre-curved, 2¾ in (7 cm)
Closure
Snapback
Adjusts to
21½–24 in (54.5–61 cm)
Airbrushed on
Natural cotton twill
Sublimated on
White polyester foam
Rope cap
Structured five-panel with a near-flat brim and a cord across it.
Specs
Profile
Mid-high profile
Build
5-panel · Structured
Crown
4 in (10.2 cm)
Visor
Near-flat, 2⅞ in (7.3 cm), contrast rope
Closure
Snapback
Adjusts to
21½–23¾ in (54.5–60.5 cm)
Airbrushed on
Stone cotton twill
Sublimated on
White polyester twill
Dad hat
Soft, low and unstructured — washed cotton with a strap back.
Specs
Profile
Low profile
Build
6-panel · Unstructured — soft front
Crown
3¼ in (8.3 cm)
Visor
Curved, 2¾ in (7 cm)
Closure
Strap back, brass buckle
Adjusts to
21–23½ in (53.5–59.5 cm)
Airbrushed on
Washed khaki cotton
Sublimated on
White polyester twill
Five-panel camp
Flat brim, low crown, packs flat in a vest pocket.
Specs
Profile
Low profile
Build
5-panel · Unstructured
Crown
3¼ in (8.3 cm)
Visor
Flat, 2½ in (6.4 cm)
Closure
Strap back, side-release clip
Adjusts to
21½–23½ in (54.5–59.5 cm)
Airbrushed on
Field olive nylon-cotton
Sublimated on
White polyester

Fit

A cloth tape measure around the crown of a blank cap

Cap	Profile	Crown height	Visor	Adjusts to
Trucker	Mid profile	3½ in (8.9 cm)	Pre-curved, 2¾ in (7 cm)	21½–24 in (54.5–61 cm)
Rope cap	Mid-high profile	4 in (10.2 cm)	Near-flat, 2⅞ in (7.3 cm), contrast rope	21½–23¾ in (54.5–60.5 cm)
Dad hat	Low profile	3¼ in (8.3 cm)	Curved, 2¾ in (7 cm)	21–23½ in (53.5–59.5 cm)
Five-panel camp	Low profile	3¼ in (8.3 cm)	Flat, 2½ in (6.4 cm)	21½–23½ in (54.5–59.5 cm)

One size per cap. Run a tape around your head just above the ears, keeping it level — anything inside the range above will close on it.

Two finishes

The same design, made two ways. Pick one in the panel; the cap and the quantity are yours to choose too.

Hand airbrushed
$85 for one hat, on a trucker
Painted to order — would ship in about 2 weeks
How it is made
How it is made
Sprayed by hand through this design's own stencils, one layer at a time, each left to dry before the next mask goes down.
How it looks
Soft gradients and hand-cut stencil edges. Every cap is a little different.
What it sits on
On a natural cotton twill front.
Durability and care
Water-based paint, heat set and sealed. It takes rain and a season on a boat; spot clean with cool water, never a washing machine.
Sublimation printed
$32 for one hat, on a trucker
Printed to order — would ship in 5–7 business days
How it is made
How it is made
The design is printed in dye onto transfer paper, then pressed with heat so the dye soaks into the polyester fibres.
How it looks
Full colour edge to edge, and identical every time.
What it sits on
On a white polyester foam front — sublimation only takes on white polyester.
Durability and care
The dye is in the fibre, not on it, so it will not crack or peel. Gentle wash, air dry.

The artwork

A full moon hangs over rust red cliffs. Sage and silver brush crowds the bank, and a rainbow trout throws itself out of the teal pool in a ring of white splash. Below, a second trout slides through darker water, rose stripe catching the light.

Wear it on a late evening walk to the river, or on the drive home after the light is gone. People see the moon first, then the fish in the air, then the quiet one swimming underneath.

Soft-edged masking makes the moon. Lift the mask a few millimetres off the surface so the moon cream feathers into the night blue, and the glow reads as light rather than a sticker.

What arrives

The hat
A care card
On a hand airbrushed hat, a numbered tag naming the water it was painted from, when the design names one

A cap being spot-cleaned with a soft brush

Looking after it

Hand airbrushed

Spot clean with cool water and a soft brush. Never a washing machine.
Keep it out of a hot car for long stretches — heat-set paint is tough, but a dashboard in July is not a test worth running.
Reshape the brim by hand while damp.

Sublimation printed

Spot clean, or gently hand wash in cool water. No bleach.
Air dry. Do not iron the print.
Reshape the brim by hand while damp.
The dye is in the fibre, so the print will not crack or peel.

Details

Airbrush palette

Colours: night blue, moon cream, dusty blue, rust red, sage green, olive gold, deep teal, trout rose

Details

Subject: rainbow trout
Style: painted landscape scene

Make it yourself

A hat-painting bench with a blank cap, stencils and an airbrush

AdvancedAbout 5 hours at the bench, plus curing11 layersYou'll need an airbrush, a cap jig and 8 colours

The palette

Night blue
Moon cream
Dusty blue
Rust red
Sage green
Olive gold
Deep teal
Trout rose

The layers

11 layers, in this order. Each mask comes off and the paint has to dry before the next one goes down.

Sky
Moon
Far walls
Cliffs
Brush
Frosted brush
Grass tufts
River
Trout bodies
Trout stripes
Highlights

The kit's stencil set is cut from these layers; with the cutter (12 hats and up) you cut your own from this design's layer files.

How to mix each colour

Night blue
Primary blue, a drop of white to lighten it, a drop of black to deepen it; build it in thin coats
Moon cream
White with a drop of yellow and the smallest touch of brown
Dusty blue
Primary blue, a drop of white to lighten it, a drop of black to deepen it; build it in thin coats
Rust red
2 parts orange, 1 part brown, a drop of red
Sage green
2 parts green, 1 part white, a drop of black to dull it
Olive gold
2 parts yellow, 1 part black, a drop of red to warm it
Deep teal
2 parts blue, 1 part green, a touch of white to lift it
Trout rose
1 part red to 4 parts white, a drop of blue if it looks salmon

Setup

Ventilation or a spray booth. Water-based paint still throws a fine mist, and you will be breathing it for hours.
A half-mask respirator rated for paint mists. A dust mask is not one.
A compressor with a moisture trap, set and tested on a card before you start: wet air spits water into the paint.
Reducer and a cleaning pot within reach, so a clog is a ten-second fix instead of a ruined panel.
Spray a test card for every colour before it touches the cap. Colour reads differently wet, dry and on twill.

Prep

Lint-roll the front panel. Every fibre left on it prints as a speck in the paint.
Mask the mesh, any seams you want clean and the whole visor, underside included, with low-tack tape and paper.
Stretch the crown over the cap jig so the front panel is taut and curved the way it will be worn. Spraying a slack panel flat distorts the design when it is worn.
Spray one light coat of transparent base so the colour sits on the fabric instead of soaking into it.

Layer by layer

1 · Sky — 0.5 mm · 25–30 PSI
night blue — a dark fade across the top, easing lighter toward the far horizon
Mask None on the panel itself: the mesh and the visor are already masked from the prep.
Colour Night blue — Primary blue, a drop of white to lighten it, a drop of black to deepen it; build it in thin coats
Needle
0.5 mm (a 0.35 mm works, it just takes longer)
Pressure
25–30 PSI
Distance
6–8 in from the panel
Passes
3–4 light passes, building the colour
Dry
10 minutes, or 60–90 seconds with a heat gun on low, before the next mask goes down
Tip Fade wet to dry and never lay one heavy coat: twill wicks paint sideways and the edge blooms.
2 · Moon — 0.35 mm · 20–25 PSI
moon cream — a round full moon with a soft glow, upper left
Mask Lay this layer's mylar stencil and burnish the edges flat with your thumbnail.
Colour Moon cream — White with a drop of yellow and the smallest touch of brown
Needle
0.35 mm
Pressure
20–25 PSI
Distance
4–6 in from the panel
Passes
2–3 passes
Dry
10 minutes before lifting the stencil
Tip Spray away from the stencil edge, not into it, so the air does not push paint underneath.
3 · Far walls — 0.35 mm · 20–25 PSI
dusty blue — hazy distant cliffs sitting low between the near rock
Mask Lay this layer's mylar stencil and burnish the edges flat with your thumbnail.
Colour Dusty blue — Primary blue, a drop of white to lighten it, a drop of black to deepen it; build it in thin coats
Needle
0.35 mm
Pressure
20–25 PSI
Distance
4–6 in from the panel
Passes
2–3 passes
Dry
10 minutes before lifting the stencil
Tip Spray away from the stencil edge, not into it, so the air does not push paint underneath.
4 · Cliffs — 0.35 mm · 20–25 PSI
rust red — stepped mesas and cliff walls rising on both sides
Mask Lay this layer's mylar stencil and burnish the edges flat with your thumbnail.
Colour Rust red — 2 parts orange, 1 part brown, a drop of red
Needle
0.35 mm
Pressure
20–25 PSI
Distance
4–6 in from the panel
Passes
2–3 passes
Dry
10 minutes before lifting the stencil
Tip Spray away from the stencil edge, not into it, so the air does not push paint underneath.
5 · Brush — 0.35 mm · 20–25 PSI
sage green — rounded bushes along the far bank and the middle ground
Mask Lay this layer's mylar stencil and burnish the edges flat with your thumbnail.
Colour Sage green — 2 parts green, 1 part white, a drop of black to dull it
Needle
0.35 mm
Pressure
20–25 PSI
Distance
4–6 in from the panel
Passes
2–3 passes
Dry
10 minutes before lifting the stencil
Tip Spray away from the stencil edge, not into it, so the air does not push paint underneath.
6 · Frosted brush — 0.35 mm · 20–25 PSI
dusty blue — pale silvery shrubs on the near bank, left side
Mask Lay this layer's mylar stencil and burnish the edges flat with your thumbnail.
Colour Dusty blue — Primary blue, a drop of white to lighten it, a drop of black to deepen it; build it in thin coats
Needle
0.35 mm
Pressure
20–25 PSI
Distance
4–6 in from the panel
Passes
2–3 passes
Dry
10 minutes before lifting the stencil
Tip Spray away from the stencil edge, not into it, so the air does not push paint underneath.
7 · Grass tufts — 0.35 mm · 20–25 PSI
olive gold — warm spiky clumps in the foreground and at the water's edge
Mask Lay this layer's mylar stencil and burnish the edges flat with your thumbnail.
Colour Olive gold — 2 parts yellow, 1 part black, a drop of red to warm it
Needle
0.35 mm
Pressure
20–25 PSI
Distance
4–6 in from the panel
Passes
2–3 passes
Dry
10 minutes before lifting the stencil
Tip Spray away from the stencil edge, not into it, so the air does not push paint underneath.
8 · River — 0.35 mm · 20–25 PSI
deep teal — the curving pool and a lower band of open water beneath it
Mask Lay this layer's mylar stencil and burnish the edges flat with your thumbnail.
Colour Deep teal — 2 parts blue, 1 part green, a touch of white to lift it
Needle
0.35 mm
Pressure
20–25 PSI
Distance
4–6 in from the panel
Passes
2–3 passes
Dry
10 minutes before lifting the stencil
Tip Spray away from the stencil edge, not into it, so the air does not push paint underneath.
9 · Trout bodies — 0.3 mm · 18–22 PSI
olive gold — backs, fins and tails of the jumping trout and the cruising trout
Mask The hand-cut subject stencil, inner pieces first, then the outline piece.
Colour Olive gold — 2 parts yellow, 1 part black, a drop of red to warm it
Needle
0.3 mm
Pressure
18–22 PSI
Distance
3–4 in from the panel
Passes
2–3 passes per tone, light to dark
Dry
10 minutes between tones
Tip Light tones first: a light colour over a dark one needs many coats, a dark one over a light one needs two.
10 · Trout stripes — 0.35 mm · 20–25 PSI
trout rose — the pink side band on both fish
Mask Lay this layer's mylar stencil and burnish the edges flat with your thumbnail.
Colour Trout rose — 1 part red to 4 parts white, a drop of blue if it looks salmon
Needle
0.35 mm
Pressure
20–25 PSI
Distance
4–6 in from the panel
Passes
2–3 passes
Dry
10 minutes before lifting the stencil
Tip Spray away from the stencil edge, not into it, so the air does not push paint underneath.
11 · Highlights — 0.2–0.3 mm · 12–15 PSI
moon cream — splash rings, flying droplets, moon glints on the water and bellies of the fish
Mask None: freehand, with a shield card held against any hard edge.
Colour Moon cream — White with a drop of yellow and the smallest touch of brown
Needle
0.2–0.3 mm
Pressure
12–15 PSI
Distance
1–2 in from the panel
Passes
Freehand, in short controlled strokes
Dry
10 minutes, then check it before you cure
Tip Low pressure, close in and moving: stop the stroke before you release the trigger.

Step by step

Mask everything outside the artwork. Spray night blue across the top as a fade, darkest at the upper edge. Starting point: 20 PSI, 0.3 mm needle, 15 cm away, light passes.
Hold a round moon mask just above the surface, upper left. Mist moon cream at 15 PSI, 0.2 mm needle, 8–10 cm away, so the edge glows softly into the sky.
Mask the skyline of the distant walls. Spray dusty blue low and thin between where the near cliffs will sit. Start at 18 PSI, 0.3 mm needle, 10 cm away.
Cut stepped mesa shapes for both sides. Spray rust red, heavier at the base, lighter on the tops. Start at 20 PSI, 0.3 mm needle, 10 cm away. Add darker passes for shadowed faces.
Use a torn-edge or stipple mask for the bushes. Dab sage green clumps along the far bank and middle ground. Start at 18 PSI, 0.3 mm needle, 6–8 cm away.
Spray dusty blue over the near-left shrubs in short bursts for a frosted look. Start at 15 PSI, 0.2 mm needle, 5–6 cm away.
Freehand or mask spiky olive gold tufts in the foreground and at the waterline. Start at 15 PSI, 0.2 mm needle, 4–5 cm away, quick flicks upward.
Mask the bank line and fill the curving pool and the lower band of water with deep teal. Start at 20 PSI, 0.3 mm needle, 12 cm away, darker toward the bottom.
Cut two trout masks: one arched mid-jump, one level and swimming. Spray olive gold for backs, fins and tails. Start at 15 PSI, 0.2 mm needle, 5 cm away.
Mask a narrow band along each fish and mist trout rose for the side stripe. Add small night blue spots freehand. Start at 12 PSI, 0.2 mm needle, 3–4 cm away.
Finish with moon cream: splash rings, droplets around the jumping trout, glints on the water and pale bellies. Start at 12 PSI, 0.2 mm needle, 2–4 cm away.
All settings are a starting point; test on scrap first. Let the work dry fully, heat-set per your paint maker's directions, then apply a thin, even clear seal.

Cure

Heat set at 300°F / 150°C. Water-based textile paint is not wash-fast until it is heat set.
Cap press: 3–5 minutes with a teflon sheet over the design.
Or heat gun: 2–3 minutes per panel, keeping it moving 2–3 in off the fabric so it does not scorch.
If you have neither, air cure for 72 hours before the cap touches water.

Seal

Two light coats of matte fabric sealer, UV-resistant, from 8–10 in, 15 minutes apart.
Leave it 24 hours before the cap is worn.
Never a gloss sealer on cotton twill: it shines, cracks along the creases and looks like a sticker.

Clean-up

Flush the brush with water, then airbrush cleaner, until it sprays clear.
Strip the needle and wipe it toward the tip, never away from it.
Never soak the brush body overnight.

Common mistakes

Moon edge too hard: pressing the mask flat gives a cut-out look. Lift it slightly and mist from further back.
Muddy brush: sage green over wet rust red turns brown. Let each colour dry before the next mask goes down.
Trout stripe too wide: a broad rose band hides the fish. Keep the mask narrow and spray at low pressure.
Overloaded splash: too much moon cream reads as a blob. Use quick, short bursts and stop early.

Tips

Keep the moon and its reflection on the same side so the light makes sense across the whole scene.
Spray the far walls lighter and bluer than the near cliffs; that one choice gives the scene its depth.
Leave a thin unpainted line around the jumping trout before the splash goes on, so the white rings stay crisp.
Build the deep teal in several light passes rather than one wet coat, darkening only the lower edge.

An airbrush, compressor, moisture trap, six colour bottles and a cleaning pot. — The kit

Every kit size

Trucker · kit for 1 hat

$229

Bought separately $255 · you save $26

Includes Starter airbrush set · Cap jig · and 7 more

Every item in this kit · 9 items

Blanks

Trucker blank, natural cotton twill front$91

Stencils

Pre-cut mylar stencil set for this design — 11 layers$181

Paint & masks

Water-based textile airbrush colour, 2 oz — one per colour in this design$482 oz × 8
Transparent base and reducer, 4 oz$71
Low-tack masking film and ¼ in tape$81
Matte fabric sealer, 4 oz$121

Equipment

Starter airbrush set — 0.3 mm dual-action gravity brush, mini compressor, braided hose$1291
Cap jig — holds the crown taut while you spray$241

Guide

Printed step-by-step guide for this designIncluded1

Trucker · kit for 12 hats

$1,085

$90.42 a hat

Bought separately $1,234 · you save $149

Includes Dual-action gravity-feed airbrush · Quiet compressor with tank and moisture trap · Cap jig and two spare crown forms · Tabletop spray booth with exhaust fan · and 11 more

Every item in this kit · 15 items

Blanks

Trucker blank, natural cotton twill front$7812

Stencils

Desktop stencil cutter, 12 in — the "stencil printer": cuts mylar from this design's layer files$2991
Stencil mylar, 7 mil, 12 × 12 in$2210 sheets
This design's layer files, every layer (SVG)Included1

Paint & masks

Water-based textile airbrush colour, 4 oz — one per colour in this design$1124 oz × 8
Transparent base and reducer, 16 oz$161
Low-tack masking film$181 roll
Matte fabric sealer, 16 oz$281

Equipment

Dual-action gravity-feed airbrush, 0.3 mm$1351
Quiet compressor with tank and moisture trap$1791
Cap jig and two spare crown forms$641
Tabletop spray booth with exhaust fan$1491
Cleaning pot, brushes and a half-mask respirator$991
Heat gun for curing$351

Guide

Printed step-by-step guide for this designIncluded1

Trucker · kit for 12 × 12 hats

$3,165

$21.98 a hat

Bought separately $3,724 · you save $559

Includes Two dual-action gravity-feed airbrushes · Production airbrush · Twin-piston compressor with tank and two regulators · Production spray booth · and 13 more

Every item in this kit · 17 items

Blanks

Trucker blank, natural cotton twill front$756144

Stencils

Stencil cutter-plotter, 24 in — the production "stencil printer"$6491
Stencil mylar, 7 mil, 12 × 12 in$8550 sheets
This design's layer files, every layer (SVG)Included1

Paint & masks

Water-based textile airbrush colour, 32 oz — one per colour in this design$38432 oz × 8
Transparent base and reducer$491 gal
Low-tack masking film$543 rolls
Matte fabric sealer$891 gal

Equipment