Why does my logo look different on screen versus on paper?

Your logo looks different because a screen and a printer create color in opposite ways. Monitors emit red, green, and blue light (RGB), while printers layer cyan, magenta, yellow, and black ink (CMYK). The two systems do not overlap perfectly, so some colors simply cannot be matched exactly.

• Bright colors shift most: vivid greens, purples, and neon tones lose intensity when converted to ink
• Design in CMYK: work in CMYK from the start so you are choosing colors a press can actually reproduce
• Lock brand colors with Pantone: define spot colors for a logo that has to stay consistent
• Remember the paper: the same ink looks brighter on coated gloss stock than on uncoated or matte, so the surface changes the result

A proof is the safest check. Reviewing color before the full run lets you correct any surprises while it is still easy to fix.