You approve a design on screen, the colours look vibrant and perfect, and then the printed version arrives a little duller — the electric blue is softer, the neon green is flatter. Nothing went wrong at the printer. What you are seeing is the difference between RGB and CMYK, and understanding it is the single easiest way to get better print results.
RGB: the language of screens
RGB stands for Red, Green and Blue. Screens create colour by emitting light through tiny red, green and blue pixels. Mix all three at full strength and you get white. Because RGB is made of light, it can display extremely bright, saturated colours — especially vivid blues, greens and neon shades.
RGB is used for websites, social media, apps, digital ads, presentations and anything viewed on a screen.
CMYK: the language of print
CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key (black). Printers create colour by layering these four inks on paper. Instead of emitting light, ink absorbs light — the more ink you add, the darker the result. This is called a subtractive colour model.
CMYK is used for business cards, flyers, brochures, banners, stickers, packaging and virtually everything printed.
Why colours shift between the two
The range of colours a system can produce is called its gamut. The RGB gamut is larger than the CMYK gamut. When an RGB file is printed, any colour outside the CMYK range must be converted to the nearest printable colour. Bright, saturated shades are usually the most affected:
- Electric and royal blues can print slightly purple or duller.
- Neon and lime greens become more muted.
- Bright oranges and pinks lose some intensity.
Paper also plays a part: gloss paper holds colour more vividly, while uncoated paper absorbs ink and looks softer. See our guide to gloss vs matte finish printing for more.
How to prepare artwork correctly
- Design in CMYK from the start for anything that will be printed. In Adobe Illustrator, InDesign or Photoshop, set the document colour mode to CMYK.
- Convert RGB images before sending. Check how they look after conversion and adjust if needed, rather than leaving the conversion to chance.
- Use your brand's CMYK values. Most brand guidelines list RGB/HEX for digital and CMYK/Pantone for print. Use the right one for each.
- Request a proof when colour accuracy is critical, such as large packaging runs or corporate stationery.
What about Pantone?
Pantone (PMS) colours are standardised spot colours mixed to an exact formula. They are used when a brand colour must be identical across every item — for example, a logo on screen-printed apparel, promotional pens, lanyards or packaging. Many full-colour digital print jobs reproduce Pantone colours using CMYK equivalents, which can be very close but not always identical. If your brand colour is critical, share the Pantone reference so we can advise on the closest match for your product.
Rich black vs plain black
Plain black (0/0/0/100) can look slightly grey on large areas. For large black backgrounds, designers use a “rich black” that adds some cyan, magenta and yellow under the black for a deeper tone. Keep small text in plain black only — rich black on fine text can cause slight blurring if the layers are not perfectly aligned.
Common colour mistakes to avoid
- Sending logos downloaded from a website — they are RGB and low resolution.
- Using screenshots as artwork.
- Judging final colour from a phone screen at full brightness.
- Using total ink coverage that is too heavy, which can cause drying or smudging problems.
- Expecting fluorescent or metallic effects from standard CMYK — those need special inks or foils.
Quick reference
| RGB | CMYK | |
|---|---|---|
| Made of | Light | Ink |
| Colour model | Additive | Subtractive |
| Used for | Screens, web, social media | All printed items |
| Colour range | Wider, brighter | Narrower |
| File formats | PNG, JPG for web | PDF, AI, EPS, TIFF for print |
Frequently asked questions
Can you print my RGB file?
Yes, but it will be converted to CMYK during printing, so colours may shift slightly. Converting and checking it yourself first gives you more control.
Why does my logo look different on my business card and my website?
Your website uses RGB light; your card uses CMYK ink on paper. Using the correct colour values for each medium keeps them as consistent as possible.
Do banners and stickers also use CMYK?
Yes — large-format banners, roll-ups, stickers and backdrops are all printed from CMYK artwork.
Send us your files
Not sure whether your artwork is print-ready? Our team checks files before printing, and many of our products include free design support to set everything up correctly for print.