colors digital and actual print outs

[ANIllustrations]

I recently started to design printables. But when I print them out, they look a little different than on my screen.

How do you make sure that the colors displayed on the display will have the highest ressemblance to the printed output?

Thank you!
- Annika

[PurpleBerryInk]

You need to calibrate your monitor and make sure that you are designing in the same color space that you are printing in.

I'm not an expert on all of this, but I use the Spyder Pro4 to calibrate my monitor, it is very easy to use.

Most printers print in CMYK so if you design in this color space the colors should print out pretty close. But don't forget that paper type can also strongly influence the colors (matte - dull colors ......glossy - vibrate colors).

Hope this helps!

[DoodleGraphics]

The thing is....you don't have any control over what your customer's monitor, ipad or phone screen is displaying. Nor do you have control over their printer or paper used. I use two different printers in my office (both ink jet but different brands, different inks) and they give me different results. You can calibrate your monitor to look correct with your printer but that's it. Unfortunately, you don't really know what the file will look like when your customer prints it. Be sure to put a disclaimer in your description about colors displaying differently on monitors and maybe a suggestion on what type of paper to use for best results.

[Former_Member]

If your customers are printing them at home or at Staples, Office max, etc. and cutting them out set the color guides to CMYK and save the files as .PDF. If you know that they are going to print them at a photo center like wallmart, shutterfly, vistaprint, etc. then set the designs as RGB and save them as a .JPG file. But, just like PurpleBerryInk stated, other things can alter the colors such as paper types and the ink quality of printers and also- everything looks brighter on screen then it does in print. If customers are viewing your items on a smart phone of tablet the colors will really look different.

I actually state this right in my proof agreement form and at the bottom of each listing! You may want to try this also:

"*Please note that the colors you see on our samples vary from screen to screen, as well as when you print. Colors may vary slightly and can sometimes print darker or lighter than what appears on the screen, nothing too drastic though!"

It just helps to make your customers aware of this so that they know upfront and won't come back at you! :)

[Former_Member]

I just had this issue with a custom wedding invitation set that I'm designing in burgundy to be printed by my customer on ivory cardstock. Instead of trying to guess what burgundy my customer's printer will print best I made up a "color swatch" sample. I created a JPEG (since that is how the final file will be delivered) with about 2 inch boxes of different burgundy shades with their corresponding Pantone (CMYK Uncoated) number beneath. My customer printed the color swatches on her home printer and on the cardstock she'll be using for her invites and e-mailed me back with the Pantone number she liked best.

It was my first time doing it this way but I offer custom colors on almost all of my designs so this worked well for me on handling a tricky color like burgundy.

[Former_Member]

That's a really good idea Alyssa! It can be very tricky printing color on cream/ivory papers!

[Former_Member]

I've had some trouble with this problem so this has been an awesome thread to read! Thanks, guys! :)