How do I make sure my brand colors print accurately?

Consistent brand color starts in your design files and ends with a proof. Screens glow with light while print reflects it, so a file set up for the screen will shift when it is printed unless you plan for it.

• Design in CMYK from the start so what you see is closer to what prints. RGB files shift during printing, and converting late always moves your colors.
• Use high-resolution files at 300 DPI minimum so colors render cleanly.
• Avoid neon or electric colors that fall outside the CMYK gamut, they will print duller than they look on screen.
• Use Pantone spot colors when an exact brand color is non-negotiable, especially on larger runs.
• Request a hard-copy proof on your first order with a new provider to confirm the match, and before a large run consider a physical sample of the stock so you can judge color on that paper in person.
• Approve and keep that proof as your reference so future orders match the same standard.

A calibrated monitor helps, but a physical proof is the only way to truly confirm how a color lands on paper, and locking in an approved proof once means your brand colors stay consistent across every reorder.