You have a design ready, everything looks perfect on your screen... and yet the print sometimes looks just a little different than expected. Frustrating? Sometimes. But usually there's a very logical explanation for it. When it comes to print and printed matter, you'll encounter different color systems. And depending on whether something appears on a screen or is printed on paper, textile, or other material, colors are built up in a completely different way.
The three terms you'll encounter most often are:
- RGB
- CMYK
- PMS (Pantone)
Sounds technical, but once you understand the basics, it becomes much easier to achieve better print results and avoid surprises.
What is the difference between RGB, CMYK, and PMS?
For designs on a monitor, the RGB system is used to display colors. Think of computer screens, televisions, cameras, and smartphones. When it comes to print and printed matter? Then CMYK and PMS colors are the standard. Which of the two color systems you use depends on your design and the substrate (paper, plastic, textile) but also the available printing techniques. Generally, you use CMYK colors for full-color printing. You use PMS colors for logos and branding. But color is not such a black-and-white story. Therefore, in the rest of this article, I will delve deeper into how these color systems work and the specific applications for each color system.
RGB for screens
The RGB system is a color model where light from the primary colors red, green, and blue (hence RGB) are mixed to create a color spectrum. We start without light, which is black. The more light from the three colors we add, the further we shift across the spectrum towards white. By emitting light from two of the three colors, thousands of colors and shades can already be formed.
The RGB model is an additive color system. Light is added to create colors. On a screen, each of the three light sources is formed by one light point, a pixel. But to the eye, these pixels merge. We use the RGB color system for sources that emit light, such as computers, television, and smartphones. RGB is not suitable for printed matter, because paper absorbs light.
RGB color coding
For coding RGB colors in web design and HTML, a hexadecimal system (HEX) is usually used. In this system, each color is represented by a combination of six characters, consisting of numbers and letters. For example, #FF0048 is the hex code for the color 'passionate pink'. In addition to HEX, you can also use LAB and HSB to code RGB colors.
Good to know
When you want to print a design, the result is never what you see on your RGB color monitor. The color spectrum of RGB is larger than that of, for example, CMYK. For print and printed matter, we always use CMYK colors and to a lesser extent PMS colors. As a designer, keep in mind what the actual print color will be.
Color systems for print and printed matter: CMYK and PMS
For print and printed matter, we use two other color systems: CMYK and PMS. Which color system you choose depends on your design, the type of product (the substrate) and the available printing methods. For example, for photos we often use the full color CMYK color system. For corporate stationery such as business cards with logos, we sometimes use CMYK colors and other times the PMS system. What exactly are the differences between CMYK and PMS and what should you pay close attention to?
CMYK for full color printing
Do you use photos in your design, or images with many different shades and colors? CMYK is the way to go. With the four basic colors of the CMYK system, infinitely many color combinations can be made. The CMYK color system is a subtractive model where colors are subtracted from white light. A certain percentage of white light falls on a surface (such as paper) and is absorbed by different dyes (such as in ink and paint). The subtractive colors in the CMYK model are cyan (blue), magenta (red), and yellow.
Do you apply one of the subtractive colors cyan, magenta, or yellow to a surface such as paper? Then the complementary color (which is the visible color) is absorbed. Cyan absorbs red, magenta absorbs green, and yellow absorbs blue. If you layer cyan and yellow, red and blue are absorbed and you are left with green as the visible color. The more colors you add, the closer you shift across the color spectrum towards black. In the practice of printing, however, a dark brown color often comes out. That is why K has been added: black ink that you use, for example, for easily readable body texts.
CMYK color coding
In CMYK, we code different colors using a percentage system. The percentage values indicate the ratio per CMYK color that we use in the printing process. For example, C: 30%, M: 60%, Y: 0%, K: 0% represents a light shade of blue.
Good to know
The CMYK color spectrum is somewhat limited. Certain intense colors, such as orange and deep blue tones, are difficult to print using CMYK. Theoretically, orange consists of yellow and magenta, but in practice, the resulting color is often brownish. Colors can also deviate (minimally) with different print jobs. The composition of the ink, the type of printing press, the substrate, the temperature, and the humidity all play a role in this.
CMYK in a nutshell
- For photos and designs with many shades and colors, depending on the product
- Four basic colors that allow for infinitely many color combinations
- Some colors like orange and deep blue are difficult to print with CMYK
PMS colors
PMS colors, also known as Pantone colors, spot colors, or special colors, are globally standardized colors where the ink is mixed in advance to the correct color. A green logo, therefore, does not consist of yellow and blue dots but of one layer of green ink. This ensures your logo is always the same color, no matter which printer you use. And do you want to print material in a special color, for example, fluorescent yellow or metallic purple? PMS is your rock in the storm.
Pantone is the company behind PMS colors. They publish the color codes. There are now more than 1800 PMS colors and new colors continue to be added. Curious about the published PMS colors? You can view the PMS colors online. But beware: the colors deviate from the actual printed colors because you see RGB colors on your screen. Do you want to be sure? Then go for the real deal and order a Pantone color swatch. It's like a RAL paint swatch that you get at the DIY store when you choose a paint color for the wall. But for print and printed matter in PMS colors.
PMS color coding
The Pantone Matching System uses a unique numbering system for color coding. Each color is assigned a PMS number: a standardized language for accurate color reproduction. For example, PMS 185 represents a specific shade of red. This coding ensures consistency across different materials and applications.
Good to know
The ink color of a PMS color is always the same, but some paper types and materials absorb colors more strongly. This can lead to color deviations. For example, uncoated paper (uncoated, U) absorbs more color than coated paper (coated, C) paper. That's why every PMS color has three versions: coated (C), uncoated (U), and matte (M) paper.
PMS in a nutshell
- For always recognizable logos and corporate identity
- Special colors like fluorescent and metallic possible
- Separate color codes for coated, uncoated, and matte paper types
PMS-CMYK conversion with the Pantone Bridge color guide
Do you have a logo or design made in CMYK colors, but want to print it in PMS colors? The Pantone Bridge color guide contains the color codes for PMS and CMYK colors. In the right column of the guide, you'll find the CMYK color codes, and in the left column, you'll find the Pantone colors. In Photoshop, InDesign, or Illustrator, you can adopt the color values of the PMS color.
Can you convert CMYK colors to PMS colors without the Pantone Bridge color guide? Yes, you can. But you'd rather not. With the Pantone Bridge color guide, you can be sure.
The Coca-Cola case: 50 shades of red
Completely preventing color deviation in print is a fairy tale. Even big brands like Coca-Cola experience color deviation. The brand of sweet drinks is a true branding master. And everyone immediately recognizes 'Coca-Cola red'. Coca-Cola certainly always works with the same PMS color. Right? But appearances are deceiving. Fearing counterfeiters, Coca-Cola chose not to publish the color code of the oh-so-recognizable red color. The result: 50 shades of red. Without published color codes, designers and marketers search for the color in their own way. Not always successfully, which means that marketing materials and even Coca-Cola products don't always have the same shade of red. Coca-Cola gets away with this, however, because consumers don't recognize the typical red color at all.
Showing your true colors: dealing with color deviations in print and printed matter
In the world of print and printed matter, color deviation is a fact. Even big brands like Coca-Cola cannot prevent colors on printed matter from sometimes turning out differently than desired. Brand consistency is a combination of brand proposition, a strong tone-of-voice and a recognizable corporate identity. By taking into account the differences between RGB, CMYK and PMS, you can minimize color deviation in corporate identity. But completely eliminate color deviation? No one can do that. Due to all the links in the printing process, from supplying the files to the printing itself, there are simply too many moments when color deviation can occur. But in the case of Coca-Cola and their 50 shades of red, we see that a little color difference is not so bad after all.
Interested in putting your brand colors on merchandise? Feel free to email info@louxprint.be. We will then advise on which technique best suits your request.