The Color Spaces
When I first started learning about graphic design, I was required to take a class on Color Theory. I remember wondering how in the world they were going to spend an entire year teaching us about colors when I'd learned all that back in preschool. What could they possibly have to teach us about color that I didn't learn playing with ABC blocks back at age five? It turns out, color is a lot more complicated than you'd ever imagine -- especially when it comes to the differences between what you see on your screen and what comes out of the printer!
A screen (the monitor on your computer, a mobile device, or a TV, for example) creates color using light. This is the RGB color space, which is called "additive color". Additive color means that we begin with a black screen and - using lights that are Red, Blue, and Green - we create color. Added together, the three lights create white. Each pixel in your computer screen is set to display a mixture of the three colors to create every color that your screen can possibly display.
Because when we print, the paper is already white, we're working on a reverse color space from the way a screen works. Using inks, we mix and match to create the colors that print design can display. This is the CMYK color space, "subtractive color". Every color is created using one of four inks - Cyan (blue), Magenta (pink), Yellow and Key (black). The ink is laid down in a series of dots on the page that, blended together, create the illusion of solid color when you look at the page.
What's the Difference?
The difference between the two color spaces - between light based and ink based - is why you'll notice that colors will seem darker or less vibrant when they are printed compared to when you are looking at your screen. Because the colors aren't created using light, it is harder to capture some of the really bright, bright colors without the use of specially mixed inks. It's good to keep the differences in mind when designing pieces so that you don't end up with something much darker than you wanted!
So how do you know what something will look like printed until it's actually produced?
Most high end design software - like Adobe and Quark - will enable you to change settings in your file to display the colors in a way that attempts to replicate the CMYK color space on your screen. This will give you a better idea of how something will look when it is printed. Changing that setting is really simple. In Adobe programs, it's as simple as going to Edit > Color Settings. In the settings, you can change the color space from RGB to CMYK.
Another tip that we use is to set our monitors brightness low. This makes the colors display closer to how they look when they are printed out. Keeping your monitor about 50% of it's full brightness while designing will help to give you a better idea of what the final output of color will look. It's sad losing all those bright, vibrant colors on your monitor but it makes for no surprises later on in the printing process!
We can always advise you about whether a piece is too dark or light. Checking for the brightness is something that we do as part of our preflight checks. If you're ever questioning whether something will be too dark, let us know you're concerned about the brightness. We'll be happy to help you out with getting the artwork just the way you want it!