Design for Print vs Web
Understanding CMYK, RGB, and Why Colours Change
At Bright Idea Graphics, one of the most common questions we receive from clients and young designers is: "Why do my colours look different when printed than they do on screen?"
The answer lies in understanding the fundamental difference between designing for print versus designing for the web. Click each section below to learn more!
Traditional printing uses the CMYK colour model, which stands for:
📚 These four inks are layered together during the printing process. Magazines, brochures, business cards, packaging, and posters all use CMYK printing.
⚠️ Because CMYK uses physical ink rather than light, some colours—especially very bright greens, blues, and pinks—cannot be reproduced exactly when printed.
Digital screens use the RGB colour system, which stands for:
📱 Computers, phones, tablets, and televisions create colour using light emitted from pixels. These colours combine to create the images you see on your screen.
✨ Because RGB uses light, it can display much brighter and more vibrant colours than print can reproduce!
One of the biggest challenges in graphic design occurs when artwork created in RGB is converted to CMYK for printing.
RGB Screen
Vibrant & Bright
CMYK Print
May Appear Muted
Colours outside the CMYK range are automatically adjusted, often appearing:
💡 Pro tip: Professional designers always consider the final output before starting a project!
For extremely accurate colour reproduction, especially in branding and packaging, Pantone spot colours are used.
🏷️ Pantone colours are pre-mixed inks that ensure a very specific colour prints consistently every time. Major brands rely on Pantone for packaging, signage, and promotional materials.
📦 Example: Food packaging like cereal boxes often use Pantone to achieve vibrant hues impossible with standard CMYK!
HEX colours are primarily used in web development and digital design. A HEX code is a numerical representation of an RGB colour used in website coding.
#FF0000 Red Click to copy
#0000FF Blue Click to copy
#FFFFFF White Click to copy
💻 HEX codes allow developers to specify exact colours when designing websites or user interfaces!
A strong brand should work across both print and digital environments.
Your logo and brand colours must look good on:
Websites
Social Media
Business Cards
Packaging
Signage
Marketing
💡 Pro Tip: Professional designers often begin by choosing colours that work well within the CMYK range, ensuring the design will print correctly. Once the print version is finalized, web versions can be created!