I get this question all the time: “RGB vs CMYK — what does it even mean?”

Here’s the quick version:

• RGB (Red, Green, Blue) is for screens. These colors are made with light, so they look bright, vibrant, and saturated.
• CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) is for print. These colors are made with ink, so they usually appear a bit lighter or muted compared to what you see on your monitor.

 

Important: If you convert an RGB file to CMYK, the colors will shift.

 

Pantone Colors for Exact Matches

If you need a precise color (think Facebook Blue), you’ll need to use a Pantone-specific color with a professional printer. Pantone ensures consistency across all prints for big brands.

Pantone Guide 

 

DIY Printing Tips

If you’re printing locally or doing it yourself:

• Expect some trial and error.
• If a color prints lighter than expected, darken it slightly on screen and try again.
• Adjust saturation or contrast in your editing software to get closer to your desired printed color.

Are you using a Mac? Colors on a mac screen are WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get). So, you know your monitor is always calibrated correctly and colors appear as they should. If you are using a PC, calibrating your monitor may help.

Keep in mind that the brightness and contrast setting on your monitor will also have an effect on the appearance of color- both Mac and PC.