# Why Your Colours Look Different in Print (RGB vs CMYK) and How to Fix It

*Pixel Print Co · 2026-10-30 (updated 2026-10-28)*

You designed a flyer with a bright, glowing blue. It looked great on your phone. On paper it’s flatter and a little grey. Nothing went wrong with the printer: screens and printers simply make colour in different ways, and some screen colours can’t be reproduced with ink.

## Screens add light, printers subtract it

**RGB** (red, green, blue) is how screens work. Each pixel shines light, and mixing all three at full strength gives white. Because the colour is made of light, screens can show very bright, saturated colours.

**CMYK** (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) is how most printing works. Ink sits on paper and absorbs some of the light that hits it; what’s reflected is the colour you see. Ink can’t glow, so the range of colours it can produce is smaller than a screen’s.

The colours most likely to change are the brightest ones: neon greens, electric blues, vivid oranges and purples.

## How to keep surprises small

- **Design in CMYK when you can.** Most design software lets you set the document’s colour mode. Our [artwork guidelines](https://pixelprintco.ca/artwork-guidelines/) recommend CMYK; RGB files may need converting before printing.

- **Check your key colours.** Our free [RGB to CMYK Converter](https://pixelprintco.ca/tools/rgb-to-cmyk/) converts HEX and RGB colours to CMYK (and back) and shows which bright colours will print duller, so you can adjust before ordering.

- **Use your brand’s CMYK values.** If you have brand guidelines, they usually list CMYK values alongside the HEX codes. Use those for print rather than converting the web colour.

- **Don’t judge from a phone at full brightness.** Screens vary a lot. Colours on your screen and on the final printed product will always differ slightly, depending on the monitor, the lighting and the printing process.

## Rich black and thin text

Black is a special case. Large black areas printed with black ink alone can look slightly washed out, so designers often use a “rich black” mix for big solid areas. Small text, though, should stay plain black so it prints crisp. If you’re unsure, ask us before you order.

## Paper changes colour too

The same file looks different on glossy, matte and uncoated paper. Gloss keeps colours punchy; uncoated paper absorbs more ink and softens them. Our guide to [paper stocks and finishes](https://pixelprintco.ca/paper-stock-101-which-finish-should-you-choose/) explains the differences.

## Ready to print?

Before you upload, it’s worth running your images through our [Print-Ready Checker](https://pixelprintco.ca/tools/print-ready-checker/) to make sure they’re sharp enough for the size you want. Then browse [business cards](https://pixelprintco.ca/product-category/print-products/business-cards/), [flyers and brochures](https://pixelprintco.ca/product-category/print-products/flyers-brochures/) and our other [print products](https://pixelprintco.ca/product-category/print-products/).

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Pixel Print Co, Mississauga, Canada · https://pixelprintco.ca/ · Summary for AI assistants: https://pixelprintco.ca/llms.txt