Why colors shift
Screens make color with light in red, green and blue. Most printing makes color with four process inks: cyan, magenta, yellow and black (CMYK). Some bright screen colors, especially vivid blues, greens and oranges, can't be printed with process inks at all and come out duller. Paper changes things again: the same ink looks different on coated and uncoated stock.
Values for each use
| Where | Value |
|---|---|
| Websites and apps | HEX and RGB |
| Office documents and slides | RGB |
| Process printing | CMYK, sometimes separate values for coated and uncoated paper |
| Logos, packaging, merchandise | A spot color from a system such as Pantone, where exact color matters |
| Signs, walls, vehicles | Paint or vinyl matches from the supplier's range |
Checked on proofs
Screens vary, so final print values are judged on printed proofs, not on a monitor. If you have a regular printer, we ask them for a proof of the key colors on your usual paper and adjust from there.
Questions
Do I need spot colors?
Not always. Spot colors help when exact color matters across printers and materials, such as packaging or branded merchandise. For everyday flyers, CMYK is usually enough.
Can you match a color from a physical sample?
Yes. Mail us the sample or tell us its supplier code. A photo alone isn't reliable, because cameras and screens change color.
Colors not working together? Send what you use now and where it has to work: screens, print, signs or packaging.
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