Emma Davis Print Production Specialist at 4OVER4.COM
Emma is our prepress and print production voice, built from the knowledge of our production team, with over 20 years in printing.
Question
Can you print RGB colors?
Answer
No. 4OVER4 prints every job in CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow and black), the standard for professional printing. You can send an RGB file, but it is automatically converted to CMYK before printing, and because RGB describes bright colors that CMYK inks cannot reproduce, some tones shift. 4OVER4 cannot be responsible for color shifts that occur when a file is submitted in RGB.
| Color mode | Best for | Print note |
|---|---|---|
| CMYK | Print-ready files | Submit in this mode for predictable results |
| RGB | Backlit screens and web | Converted to CMYK, expect some color shift |
| Pantone / spot | Exact brand colors | Converted to CMYK unless true spot printing is used |
- Start your document in CMYK rather than converting at the end, and keep all images and vector art in CMYK.
- Vivid blues, greens, purples, neons and saturated oranges are the most likely to dull after conversion.
- Converting yourself in your design app lets you see and adjust any color you dislike, so you approve the printed colors, not the press.
- Soft-proof in your design app, and remember on-screen proofs are lower resolution than the file that prints.
- If color is critical, order a hard copy proof to see the true printed result before the full run.
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