CMYK vs RGB: Why Your Prints Look Different From Your Screen

Screens create colour with red, green and blue light (RGB); printing presses build colour from cyan, magenta, yellow and black ink (CMYK). RGB can display colours ink physically cannot reproduce — especially vivid blues, bright greens and neon tones — so an RGB file printed in CMYK often looks slightly duller than it did on screen.

Which colours shift the most?

Bright electric blue is the classic casualty — it often prints closer to purple. Neon greens, oranges and hot pinks also lose intensity. Muted tones, earth colours and anything already "printable" barely change.

How do I avoid the shift?

Design in CMYK from the start (Illustrator/InDesign: File → Document Colour Mode → CMYK), or convert before export and adjust anything that dulls. Canva works in RGB internally; choosing "PDF Print" applies a CMYK profile at export, which is fine for most jobs.

What about brand colours?

If a brand colour is critical, supply the CMYK breakdown (e.g. C100 M80 Y0 K10) rather than a hex code, and ask for a printed proof on the actual stock. Paper affects colour too — uncoated stock absorbs ink and mutes it further than gloss or silk (see paper choices for flyers).

Does black need special handling?

Yes. For text, use 100% K only — "rich black" (all four inks) can look fuzzy at small sizes. For large solid black areas, rich black (e.g. C40 M30 Y30 K100) prints deeper.

FAQ

Will you convert my RGB file? Yes, free, and we'll flag anything likely to shift noticeably. Why did my grey turn slightly pink? Greys built from CMY instead of pure K can drift. Use K-only greys. Do photos need converting? We handle photo conversion; supply them at 300dpi and don't over-saturate.