--- type: hub title: "Color & Ink Guides" description: "Get color right in print: CMYK vs RGB, Pantone and spot-color matching, formatting artwork for press, and why colors shift from screen to paper." resource: https://www.4over4.com/guides/color-guides tags: ["hub"] generated: by: "process:4over4-mapp-build" at: 2026-10-20T21:15:07.578Z timestamp: 2026-10-20T21:15:07.578Z sources: - resource: https://www.4over4.com/guides/color-guides title: "Color & Ink Guides" status: stable --- # Color & Ink Guides Get color right in print: CMYK vs RGB, Pantone and spot-color matching, formatting artwork for press, and why colors shift from screen to paper. - [Apparel Merch Guides](https://www.4over4.com/guides/apparel-merch-guides) - [Banner Sign Guides](https://www.4over4.com/guides/banner-sign-guides) - [Brochure Guides](https://www.4over4.com/guides/brochure-guides) - [Business Applications](https://www.4over4.com/guides/business-applications) - [Calendar Notebook Guides](https://www.4over4.com/guides/calendar-notebook-guides) - [Color Guides](https://www.4over4.com/guides/color-guides) - [Comparisons Reviews](https://www.4over4.com/guides/comparisons-reviews) - [Design Process Guides](https://www.4over4.com/guides/design-process-guides) - [Design Software Guides](https://www.4over4.com/guides/design-software-guides) - [Dimensions Templates](https://www.4over4.com/guides/dimensions-templates) - [File Prep Guides](https://www.4over4.com/guides/file-prep-guides) - [Finishes Guides](https://www.4over4.com/guides/finishes-guides) - [Finishes Techniques](https://www.4over4.com/guides/finishes-techniques) - [Flyer Guides](https://www.4over4.com/guides/flyer-guides) - [Invitation Card Guides](https://www.4over4.com/guides/invitation-card-guides) - [Layout File Setup](https://www.4over4.com/guides/layout-file-setup) - [Logo Branding Guides](https://www.4over4.com/guides/logo-branding-guides) - [Marketing Strategy Guides](https://www.4over4.com/guides/marketing-strategy-guides) - [Packaging Guides](https://www.4over4.com/guides/packaging-guides) - [Paper Stock Guides](https://www.4over4.com/guides/paper-stock-guides) - [Postcard Mailer Guides](https://www.4over4.com/guides/postcard-mailer-guides) - [Pricing Cost](https://www.4over4.com/guides/pricing-cost) - [Printing Basics Guides](https://www.4over4.com/guides/printing-basics-guides) - [Product Explainers](https://www.4over4.com/guides/product-explainers) - [Rules Regulations](https://www.4over4.com/guides/rules-regulations) - [Shipping Postage](https://www.4over4.com/guides/shipping-postage) - [Step By Step Creation](https://www.4over4.com/guides/step-by-step-creation) - [Sticker Label Guides](https://www.4over4.com/guides/sticker-label-guides) - [Stock Substrate Selection](https://www.4over4.com/guides/stock-substrate-selection) - [Wording Messaging](https://www.4over4.com/guides/wording-messaging) ## Latest Color Guides ### [2-Color Printing Using Pantone or Spot Color Inks](https://www.4over4.com/guide/2-color-printing-using-pantone-or-spot-color-inks) Two-color printing runs two Pantone spot inks for exact, repeatable brand color on logos and type, so learn when it beats CMYK and how to set up your file. ### [How to Match Pantone to CMYK Color](https://www.4over4.com/guide/how-to-match-pantone-to-cmyk-color) How to match Pantone to CMYK for print with the Color Bridge, a chart of coated process builds, and how to hold one brand color across every job. ### [Understanding OSHA Safety Colors and ANSI Color Codes for Workplace Safety](https://www.4over4.com/guide/understanding-osha-safety-colors-and-ansi-color-codes-for-workplace-safety) OSHA and ANSI safety colors and their meanings, from danger red and warning orange to safety green and blue, plus hard hat colors and how to print them. ### [Pantone Spot Color Printing for Brand Accurate Business Cards](https://www.4over4.com/guide/pantone-spot-color-printing-explained-for-brand-accurate-cards) Why CMYK drifts and Pantone spot ink stays exact, which brand colors fall outside the process gamut, and how to supply PMS values for brand accurate cards. ### [What CMYK Stands For and Why Print Files Use It](https://www.4over4.com/guide/what-does-cmyk-stand-for-explained) CMYK stands for cyan, magenta, yellow and key, the four press inks, so learn why K means key, how CMYK and RGB differ and how to set up a print file. ### [What the Pantone Color of the Year Is and How to Print It](https://www.4over4.com/guide/what-is-the-pantone-color-of-the-year) The Pantone Color of the Year is one shade named each December by the Pantone Color Institute, with how it is chosen and how to print 2026 Cloud Dancer. Color is where screens and presses disagree most, the vivid RGB glowing on your monitor rarely matches CMYK ink on paper. These guides explain how to convert without surprises, when to reach for Pantone or spot color, and how to keep your brand's exact shade consistent from file to final print. ## How Color Gets From Your File to Our Press Send artwork in CMYK. Our standard products print 4/0 (full color front, blank back), 4/1 (full color front, black back) or 4/4 (full color on both sides), so any RGB element gets converted before it reaches the press, and that conversion is where blues can print purple. Convert in your design app first and judge the result there. Spot inks come into play on stationery: [Printed Envelopes](https://www.4over4.com/product/printed-envelopes) offer one PMS ink, black plus one PMS ink or two PMS inks as well as full color, from 250 for $142.99. 4OVER4.COM calibrates its presses with G7 color profiling and multi-day color accuracy tests, and the [Pantone to CMYK guide](https://www.4over4.com/guide/how-to-match-pantone-to-cmyk-color) shows how close a brand shade lands in four color.