CMYK vs RGB
Screens mix red, green and blue light. Printers mix cyan, magenta, yellow and black ink, which cannot reach every screen color.
Your screen makes color by shining light. Ink makes color by absorbing it. Light can produce some colors ink simply cannot, mostly the electric ones: neon green, bright royal blue, hot purple.
When an RGB file prints, those out-of-range colors get pulled to the closest printable color. Usually that is a little duller. The rest of the file barely changes.
Which to send
- Stickers, banners, signs and decals: an RGB file is fine. Our printers run more than four inks, and the software converts it.
- Business cards, flyers and other paper: CMYK is best. Design in CMYK from the start so what you see is closer to what prints.
Screens lie a little
Every monitor and phone shows color a bit differently, and most are set too bright. If a color has to match a sign you already have, a paint chip or a brand guide, tell us before we print and bring the sample if you can.
Related
Spot colors and PantoneA spot color is one specific named color, usually a Pantone number, that a brand uses to stay consistent everywhere.Rich blackBlack built from all four inks instead of black ink alone, used to make large dark areas look deep instead of grayish.ProofsA preview of exactly what will print, with sizes and details, that you approve before anything is made.
