Image by Mourizal Zativa
The difference in colors between a screen and printed materials arises from the underlying mechanisms and technologies used to produce them.
Screens, such as computer monitors, televisions, and mobile devices, use additive color mixing to generate the full range of colors. They emit light directly, typically using a combination of red, green, and blue (RGB) pixels. By varying the intensity of these pixels, different colors are produced. Screens emit light that directly enters our eyes, creating a self-illuminated and vibrant color display.
On the other hand, printed materials, like photographs, documents or your Pockitudes journals utilize subtractive color mixing. They rely on pigments or dyes applied to the surface, such as ink on paper. The pigments selectively absorb certain wavelengths of light, subtracting them from the incident white light. The remaining wavelengths are reflected back to our eyes, resulting in the perceived color. This subtractive process doesn't emit light but rather relies on the interaction between the light source and the printed surface.
Several factors contribute to the differences between screen and printed colors:
Color Gamut: This color gamut is known as the RGB (red, green, blue) color space. The range of printable colors, known as the CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow and black) color space, is usually narrower. Therefore, some vibrant and highly saturated colors displayed on a screen will not be accurately reproduced in print.
Light Source: Screens emit light, and their colors are viewed in a backlit environment. This illumination affects the perceived brightness and color saturation. In contrast, printed materials rely on external light sources, such as ambient lighting. The interaction between the printed surface and the surrounding light can impact color perception.
Color Calibration: Screens can be calibrated to ensure color accuracy, but there can be dramatic variances from one screen to the other. Proper calibration adjusts the display settings to match a known standard, resulting in consistent and accurate colors. However, the calibration process for printers is more complex and involves factors such as ink density, paper type, and print settings. Even with calibration, there can still be variations between different printers and printing processes.
Medium Differences: Screens and printed materials have distinct characteristics. Screens offer a dynamic and interactive experience, capable of displaying moving images and videos. Printed materials, on the other hand, have a fixed and static representation. The texture and reflectivity of the printing surface can also affect color perception.
Due to these inherent differences, it is challenging to achieve an exact color match between a screen and printed materials. Designers and photographers often employ color management techniques and use color profiles to mitigate the differences and ensure consistent results across various devices and print outputs.
The difference between RGB (screens) and CMYK (print)
RGB and CMYK are two different color models used for representing and reproducing colors in digital and print media, respectively.
RGB (Red, Green, Blue) is an additive color model primarily used for electronic displays such as computer monitors, televisions, and mobile devices. In RGB, colors are created by combining varying intensities of red, green, and blue light. By mixing these three primary colors at different levels of intensity, a wide range of colors can be generated. In the RGB model, combining all three colors at full intensity produces white, while the absence of all colors results in black. RGB is often used for digital content creation, web design, and multimedia applications.
CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) is a subtractive color model used for printing and reproduction purposes. CMYK is based on the principle that colored inks or dyes subtract or absorb certain wavelengths of light, resulting in the perception of color. In CMYK, colors are created by subtracting or reducing the intensity of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks from a white background. The combination of these four colors is used to reproduce a broad range of colors in print. Unlike RGB, where combining all colors produces white, in CMYK, combining all colors at full intensity produces a neutral or dark gray color. The black component (K) is added to improve shadow details and provide a deeper black tone, as well as to save on the cost of using excessive amounts of the other three colors.
One key difference between RGB and CMYK is the color gamut. RGB has a wider color gamut and can produce more vibrant and saturated colors, especially in the bright and light regions. CMYK has a narrower color gamut and is more suitable for representing colors in the print medium, which relies on pigments or dyes. Therefore, it is common for colors displayed on a screen in RGB to appear more vibrant than the same colors reproduced in CMYK print.
When designing for print, it is important to consider the color limitations of CMYK and convert RGB files to CMYK color space, often using color management software or tools, to ensure the colors appear as intended when printed. Additionally, it is worth noting that due to the inherent differences between additive and subtractive color models, an exact color match between RGB on a screen and CMYK in print is not always possible.