There are three main
systems of color in the design and printing industry: RGB, CMYK and PMS (Pantone
Matching System).
 RGB is the color system used by your monitor: R=red, G=green
and B=blue. The color spectrum is approximated by blending these three colors of
light on your screen. The RGB system produces a fairly wide range of colors, or
color gamut, and consequently produces fairly bright and vibrant colors.
RGB is used mainly by Web Designers.
 The
CMYK system is used by most printing presses to reproduce full color images on
paper. This system uses four different colors of ink: C=cyan (sky blue),
M=magenta (light red), Y=yellow, and K=black, (black is the Keyline color). The
CMYK color gamut is limited and the colors may appear dull or muddy when
compared to your monitor.
 The
Pantone Matching System (PMS) was developed in 1963 as a method of identifying
and matching specific colors. Pantone colors are not usually mixed together.
Instead, each color you see is a result of a specially pigmented ink. This
system is used primarily in one and two color printing.
Which Color System should you use?
We accept artwork in any of the above formats, but you should try to use the
CMYK system whenever possible. When you work in CMYK, your images will not
exhibit as great a color shift as when you work in RGB or Pantone.
That being said, most people still choose to create their
artwork using the RGB format. Most commercial printers will not accept work
created in RGB, but our digital presses covert your artwork to CMYK
automatically so we are able to print artwork made in many different color
systems. You are more than welcome to send RGB artwork, but please be aware that
your colors may change dramatically.
Here is an example of RGB to CMYK color
conversion:
RGB Color System
CMYK Color System
Here is an example of CMYK colors making an image.
Monitor and Inkjet Printer Differences
We're confident that you will be happy with your final product, but
keep in mind that there are tremendous differences in monitor calibration. Just
walk into your local electronics store and look at the rows of televisions. They
ALL look different. If you have a color printer at home or work, try printing a
copy of your file. When you compare this to your screen, it will have variances
in color. As such, your final product will look slightly different than what you
see on your screen.
Small inkjet "home" printers are great for photo reproduction
and general use, but they will always produce different results than full color
printing presses. Home inkjet and laser printers were not created to match
million dollar printing presses, and in fact, they weren't even built to match
each other! The inks are different, the paper is different and the process of
putting the ink on the paper is different.
Color Shift
Printing is an inexact science, and exact color is almost impossible
to achieve. Some customers spend thousands to create a custom color jobs. Please
remember that we are offering great prices and fast turnaround. As such, your
colors may shift slightly.
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