It’s probably happened to you once: you’ve designed a fun flyer for your business or a party using a tool like Canva. On your screen, the design pops with bright, vibrant colors and looks perfect. But when you finally get the printed version back from the printer, the colors look duller or even completely different. That crisp blue looks more like purple, the neon green has disappeared altogether, and the pink looks washed out.
Sound familiar? You’re definitely not alone. It’s a very common issue, and even some of our own clients run into it when they ask us to create print materials and providing us images originally made for websites. In this post, we’ll explain why colors often look different in print and, more importantly, what you can do to prevent it.
Why do my colors look dull when printed?
The main reason is simple: the colors you see on your screen are built differently from the ones used in print. Your screen uses the RGB color model, which stands for Red, Green, and Blue. These colors are created by light emission, and together they produce white.
Because they are light-based, RGB colors can appear extremely bright and vivid, sometimes even neon. That’s why digital designs can feature bold colors like hot pink, lime green, or electric blue.
Printing, however, works in a completely different way. Printers use the CMYK color model, which stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (Black). This process is also called four-color printing or full-color offset. Each color has its own printing plate, and when the four layers are printed and combined, they form the final image.
Here’s the catch: CMYK inks reflect light instead of emitting it. As a result, they cannot reproduce the same bright, glowing neon tones that you see on a screen. See the two images below as an example. The CMYK version of the image, looks dull and not as vibrant as the RGB version.
So, when you print a design made in RGB without first converting it to CMYK, the printed result will always look duller and flatter. The difference isn’t caused by bad printing but by the fact that the colors are created using an entirely different system.
Unfortunately, tools like Canva only support RGB colors by default since it is an online platform designed for screen use rather than professional print production. If you are not aware of that, you can easily end up disappointed when your vibrant design comes back from the printer looking muted.
Are there other factors at play?
Yes, there are. While color mode is the main cause, paper choice also affects how colors appear.
You might think paper is just paper, but there are actually many different types. Some absorb more ink than others. For example, uncoated paper such as offset paper absorbs more ink, which tends to make colors look darker and less vibrant. Coated or glossy papers, on the other hand, hold the ink on the surface, resulting in sharper and brighter colors.
Another factor is the finish, such as applying varnish or lamination to your design. Lamination adds a transparent film over your print for protection or to enhance its appearance. Matte lamination usually makes colors appear lighter and softer, while glossy lamination deepens and enriches them. If your design is already quite dark, a glossy finish might make it even darker.
Varnish works in a similar way. A glossy varnish makes colors look more vibrant, while a matte varnish gives a softer and less saturated appearance.
How to fix color issues in print?
If you want more control over how your colors turn out in print, there is no single magic button. But there are a few important things you can do to achieve the best possible results.
First of all, work in CMYK mode from the very beginning. Before you start designing, make sure your document’s color mode is set to CMYK. While you are at it, also set the resolution to 300 dpi for high-quality printing.
As mentioned earlier, Canva only supports RGB. However, Canva suggests a workaround. You can use online color converters such as Picsart’s color picker or CMYKTool to find the CMYK equivalent of your desired color. Once you have found it, copy the HEX code and paste it into the Canva color picker/library.
If you use Canva Pro, you can also download your design as a PDF using the CMYK color profile. This allows you to compare how your colors will look in print with how they appear in the Canva editor. You can read more about all of this on Canva’s help page.
Beyond color mode, think about the type of paper you want to use. A glossy coated paper will make your colors appear more vibrant, while uncoated paper gives a softer, more natural look. Keep in mind that dark designs will appear even darker on uncoated paper.
Finally, remember that some colors that look vivid on your screen will always print duller, no matter what you do. These include bright blues, greens, and pinks.
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Blues tend to print with a purplish tint.
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Greens can take on a brownish hue.
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Pinks often appear darker or slightly purple.
To adjust for that:
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For a clean, fresh blue, use 100% cyan.
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For pink, go with 100% magenta.
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For green, 75% cyan and 100% yellow gives a bright, balanced tone.
Hopefully, this helps you understand why printed colors often look different and how to make sure your next print project turns out just the way you envisioned.
Still not sure how your file will print? We are always happy to take a look and offer advice to make sure your design comes out beautifully from the press.
