One of the most common issues in print design is colour variation between what you see on screen and what appears in print. This usually comes down to the colour mode being used.
What is RGB?
RGB stands for Red, Green, Blue—the colour model used for digital screens like phones, laptops, and TVs. It works by adding light together to create colours. The more light you add, the brighter the result—combining all three at full intensity gives you white.
What is CMYK?
CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black—the inks used in printing. It works in the opposite way to RGB, using subtractive colour. Instead of adding light, it absorbs (subtracts) light reflected off paper. Combining inks results in darker colours, with black (K) added to improve depth and detail.
- Used for flyers, brochures and signage
- Designed for physical ink printing
- Provides more accurate print colour reproduction
Always supply artwork in CMYK colour mode for the most accurate print results.
Why Colours Change Between Screen and Print
The key reason comes down to colour range (gamut). RGB has a wider gamut - it can display brighter, more vibrant colours (especially neons and vivid blues/greens)
CMYK has a smaller gamut - some of those bright colours simply can’t be reproduced with ink. This is why neon greens, bright blues and vivid oranges can appear duller once printed.
