Color Issues

Common Color Problems

Color issues are the most frequent challenges in print design. Understanding why colors look different and how to fix them is essential.

Critical: Screen colors (RGB) and print colors (CMYK) use fundamentally different systems. Some screen colors cannot be reproduced in print. This is normal, not a bug.

Problem 1: Colors Look Wrong/Different

Symptoms:

Printed colors don’t match screen
Colors appear duller than expected
Specific colors shifted (blues, oranges, bright greens)

Root cause: RGB vs CMYK gamut difference

Understanding the Issue

RGB vs CMYK Gamut
Which Colors Lose Most
What You Can Control

Two different color systems:RGB (Screen):

Light-based (additive)
Wider color range
Vibrant colors possible
16.7 million colors

CMYK (Print):

Ink-based (subtractive)
Narrower color range
Physical ink limitations
~1 million reproducible colors

The gap: RGB can show colors CMYK can’t printExample:

Bright electric blue (RGB: 0, 100, 255)
↓ Converts to ↓
Duller navy blue (CMYK: 100, 60, 0, 0)

This is physics, not a software limitation

Solutions

Solution 1: Use Soft Proofing

Preview CMYK before printing:In Figma:

Install color profile viewer plugin
Preview CMYK simulation
Adjust colors accordingly

In Acrobat/Preview:

Open exported PDF
Enable “Overprint Preview” (Acrobat)
View → Proof Colors (Photoshop)

What to look for:

Which colors shifted most
Overall color balance
Acceptable vs unacceptable changes

Adjust in Figma:

Increase saturation slightly to compensate
Choose alternate colors for severely affected areas
Re-export and check again

Limitation: Soft proofing is approximate (screen limitations)

Solution 2: Design in CMYK-Safe Colors

Prevention is best:Use CMYK color picker:

Convert RGB to CMYK early
Choose colors that convert well
Test before finalizing design

CMYK-safe color guidelines:

Blues: C100 M60 Y0 K0 (instead of electric blue)
Greens: C60 M0 Y100 K0 (instead of neon green)
Reds: C0 M100 Y100 K0 (achievable vibrant red)
Oranges: C0 M60 Y100 K0 (good orange)
Purples: C60 M100 Y0 K0 (solid purple)

Resources:

CMYK color charts
Print color guides
Pantone coated/uncoated books

Result: What you design is what you get

Solution 3: Use Pantone/Spot Colors

For critical brand colors:When to use:

Logo colors must be exact
Brand guidelines specify Pantone
Budget allows spot color printing

Process:

Ask printer if they support spot colors
Define colors as Pantone (e.g., PMS 286 C)
Enable spot color preservation in Printery
Export with spot colors intact

Advantages:

Exact color match
Consistent across print runs
Wider gamut than CMYK

Disadvantages:

More expensive (extra ink plate)
Limited to specific colors
Not all printers support

Best for: Business cards, branding materials, packaging

Solution 4: Order Test Print

Physical proof is ultimate truth:Process:

Export final PDF
Order small quantity (1-5 copies)
Review physical print
Adjust if needed
Order full run

Cost:

Sample prints: $5-20
Saves reprinting costs if colors wrong

What to check:

Overall color accuracy
Specific brand colors
Photos/images quality
Dark areas (blacks, shadows)

Adjust:

Increase saturation if too dull
Adjust specific problematic colors
Re-export and test again

Professional approach: Always proof critical projects

Solution 5: Communicate Expectations

For clients/stakeholders:Set expectations early: “Print colors will look different from screen. This is normal due to RGB vs CMYK limitations.”Show comparisons:

Side-by-side soft proof
Previous print samples
Color gamut diagrams

Explain limitations:

Some colors can’t be printed
Physics, not software issue
Solutions: spot colors, accept difference, adjust design

Get approval:

Share PDF soft proof
Order physical proof if critical
Get written approval before full run

Avoid surprises: Educated clients = happy clients

Problem 2: Colors Too Dull/Muted

Symptoms:

All colors less vibrant than expected
Overall “washed out” appearance
Lacking punch/contrast

Common causes: Wrong ICC profile, incorrect settings, paper type

Diagnosis

Check ICC Profile

Verify correct profile selected:Common mistake: Generic CMYK instead of specific profileIn Printery:

Color tab → ICC Profile
Should match printer’s specification

Correct profiles (most common):

ISO Coated v2 300%: Europe, coated paper (most common)
GRACoL 2006: USA, coated paper
SWOP 2006: USA, newsprint/uncoated
PSO Uncoated v3: Uncoated paper

Wrong profile = wrong colorsFix: Select matching profile, re-export

Check Rendering Intent

Affects color conversion:In Printery:

Color tab → Rendering Intent
Should be: Relative Colorimetric (default)

Other intents:

Perceptual: Compresses all colors (can make dull)
Saturation: For graphics (can oversaturate)
Absolute: Rare use

Fix: Change to Relative Colorimetric if different

Check Paper Type

Paper affects final appearance:Coated paper (glossy/matte):

Brighter colors
Better ink absorption
Sharper images

Uncoated paper:

Duller colors (natural appearance)
Ink spreads/absorbs more
Softer look

Your profile must match paper:

Coated profile + coated paper = Good
Coated profile + uncoated paper = Too dark
Uncoated profile + coated paper = Too bright

Fix: Verify paper type with printer, use matching profile

Check Black Handling

Can affect overall contrast:In Printery:

Color tab → Black Handling
Try: Preserve black for better contrast

If set to convert all:

Pure blacks become CMYK mix
Can reduce contrast
Shadows less deep

Fix: Enable black preservation

Solutions

Increase Saturation in Design

Compensate in advance:Before export, increase color saturation by 10-20%In Figma: Adjust HSB saturation sliderWhy: Compensates for CMYK conversion dullingTest: Export, check soft proof, adjust if needed

Use Rich Black

For dark areas:Instead of pure black (K100), use:

C60 M40 Y40 K100 (rich black)

Result: Deeper, richer blacks and dark areasApply: Dark backgrounds, shadows, text over 24pt

Verify Paper Stock

Ask printer:“What paper stock are you using?”Match profile to paper:

Glossy coated → ISO Coated v2 300%
Matte coated → ISO Coated v2 300%
Uncoated → PSO Uncoated v3

Consider upgrading paper if budget allows

Order Color Proof

Physical proof essential:See actual ink on actual paperAdjust if needed: Based on proof resultsSaves: Costly reprints

Problem 3: Specific Colors Wrong

Symptoms:

One or two specific colors off
Logo color doesn’t match brand
Skin tones look wrong

Brand Colors / Logo Colors

Problem: Logo Color Off
Solution: Pantone Spot Color
Solution: Adjust CMYK Values

Logo blue prints purple, logo red prints brown, etc.Why:

Logo designed in RGB
CMYK can’t match exactly
Conversion shifted color

Solutions:Option A: Accept CMYK version

Some shift inevitable
Adjust to closest CMYK match
Document in brand guidelines

Option B: Use Pantone spot color

Exact match possible
Requires spot color printing
More expensive but accurate

Option C: Find CMYK equivalent

Work with brand manager
Define “official CMYK version”
Use consistently

Best practice: Brands should have both RGB and CMYK versions defined

Fine-tune specific colors:Process:

Export PDF with current colors
Note which colors wrong
In Figma, manually adjust CMYK values
Re-export and test

Example adjustment:

Original: C70 M20 Y0 K0 (too purple)
Adjusted: C80 M10 Y0 K0 (more blue)

Tools:

CMYK color picker
Pantone to CMYK conversion charts
Physical proof prints

Iteration: May require 2-3 tests to perfectDocument: Once found, save exact CMYK values for future

Skin Tones

Problem: Skin Tones Too Red/Orange

Common issue: People look sunburnedCause: Excessive magenta in CMYK conversionSolution:Check cyan levels:

Skin tones need cyan balance
Too little cyan = too red/orange

Good skin tone CMYK ranges:

Light skin: C5 M20 Y20 K0
Medium skin: C20 M35 Y40 K5
Dark skin: C40 M50 Y50 K30

Adjust: Increase cyan slightly, reduce magenta slightlyTest: Print proof of faces before full run

Problem: Skin Tones Too Yellow/Green

Cause: Too much yellow, not enough magentaSolution:Increase magenta: Add warmth Reduce yellow: Remove green cast Add slight cyan: For natural toneUse reference: Professional portrait prints for comparisonCritical for: Portraits, family photos, beauty products

Problem 4: Colors Not Converting (Still RGB)

Symptoms:

PDF still in RGB
Printer rejects file
Colors wildly wrong when printed

Cause: CMYK conversion not enabled or failed

Check and Fix

Verify Conversion Enabled

In Printery:Color tab → Convert to CMYK: ✓ EnabledIf disabled: Colors stay RGB (wrong for print)Enable it: Re-export

Verify in PDF

Check PDF color space:Adobe Acrobat:

File → Properties → Fonts tab
Should show CMYK color space

Preflight check:

Tools → Print Production → Preflight
Check “Color spaces”
Should be CMYK only (or CMYK + spot colors)

If shows RGB: Conversion failed

Check for RGB-Only Objects

Some objects might not convert:

Certain blend modes (Screen, Multiply)
Some effects (rare)
Placed RGB PDFs (won’t auto-convert)

Solution: Flatten or rasterize those objects in Figma first

Re-export with Correct Settings

Ensure:

Convert to CMYK: Enabled ✓
ICC Profile: Selected (e.g., ISO Coated v2)
Rendering intent: Relative Colorimetric

Export: Generate new PDFVerify: Check PDF color space again

Problem 5: Colors Inconsistent Across Prints

Symptoms:

Business card batch 1 different from batch 2
Colors vary within same print run
Inconsistent results from same printer

Causes: Multiple factors

Printer Calibration
Paper Variation
Your Files Changed

Most common cause:Digital printers drift over time:

Ink levels
Print head alignment
Temperature/humidity

Offset printers variation:

Ink mixing
Pressure settings
Operator differences

Solution:

Ask printer: “How do you ensure color consistency?”
Request: Press check or color matching
Professional printers: Regular calibration (better consistency)
Budget printers: More variation (accept or upgrade)

Ensuring Consistency

Use Printery Presets

Save exact settings:

Configure all settings perfectly
Export tab → Save as preset
Name it (e.g., “Business Card - PrintShop ABC”)
Always use same preset for reorders

Result: Identical PDFs every time

Keep Reference Prints

From first successful batch:

Keep 5-10 copies as reference
Mark “REFERENCE - Match this”
Give to printer for color matching
Store in dark, cool place (colors fade)

Specify in Print Order

Include in order:“Please match colors to previous job #12345” or “Please match attached reference sample”Professional printers: Can match with good accuracy

G7 Certified Printer

For critical projects:G7 certification = industry standard for color consistencyFind G7 printer: Better consistency, higher costWorth it: Corporate branding, high-volume projects

Problem 6: Dark Colors Muddy/Flat

Symptoms:

Dark areas lack detail
Shadows all look same
Rich blacks look flat

Cause: TAC (Total Area Coverage) limiting or GCR too aggressive

Understanding TAC and GCR

What is TAC?
GCR Too Aggressive
Solutions

TAC = Total Area Coverage:Sum of all ink percentages: C + M + Y + KExample:

Color: C80 M60 Y60 K40
TAC: 80 + 60 + 60 + 40 = 240%

Limits by profile:

ISO Coated v2: 330% max
SWOP: 300% max
Newsprint: 240% max

Exceeding TAC:

Too much ink
Paper can’t absorb
Smearing, offset issues

GCR (Gray Component Replacement):

Removes CMY, adds K
Reduces TAC
But can flatten colors

Symptoms:

Shadows all same tone
Lost detail in dark areas
Flat, muddy appearance

What happened: GCR replaced too much CMY with KExample:

Original: C70 M60 Y50 K60 (TAC 240%)
After GCR: C20 M10 Y10 K80 (TAC 120%)
Result: Lost color nuance, flat black

Trade-off: Lower TAC vs color richness

Prevention Checklist

Avoid color issues before they happen:

When to Order Physical Proofs

Always proof for:

Brand launches (logos, collateral)
Large quantities (1000+ pieces)
Expensive projects (budget > $1000)
Critical color matching (corporate colors)
Client-facing premium materials

Can skip proofs for:

Internal documents
Black and white prints
Familiar printer/process
Low-value projects
Urgent deadlines (accept risk)

Proof cost: $10-50 typically Reprint cost: $200-5000+ if colors wrong Worth it: Almost always for important projects

Realistic Expectations

Truth about print colors:

Screen ≠ Print: Will never match exactly (physics)
Variation exists: Even professional printers have 5-10% variation
Paper matters: Same ink on different paper = different result
Proofing essential: For critical color matching
Spot colors: Only way to guarantee exact match
Experience helps: More prints = better color prediction

Set expectations: Educate clients early, avoid disappointment

Learn More

RGB vs CMYK

Deep dive into color models

ICC Profiles

Choosing the right profile

Spot Colors

Using Pantone for exact matching

Color Accuracy Tutorial

Complete color workflow guide

Getting Started

Print Basics

Color Management

Features

Use Cases

In-Depth Tutorials

Troubleshooting

Reference

Licensing

Security & Support

Common Color Problems

Problem 1: Colors Look Wrong/Different

Understanding the Issue

Solutions

Problem 2: Colors Too Dull/Muted

Diagnosis

Solutions

Increase Saturation in Design

Use Rich Black

Verify Paper Stock

Order Color Proof

Problem 3: Specific Colors Wrong

Brand Colors / Logo Colors

Skin Tones

Problem 4: Colors Not Converting (Still RGB)

Check and Fix

Problem 5: Colors Inconsistent Across Prints

Ensuring Consistency

Problem 6: Dark Colors Muddy/Flat

Understanding TAC and GCR

Prevention Checklist

When to Order Physical Proofs

Realistic Expectations

Learn More

RGB vs CMYK

ICC Profiles

Spot Colors

Color Accuracy Tutorial

Getting Started

Print Basics

Color Management

Features

Use Cases

In-Depth Tutorials

Troubleshooting

Reference

Licensing

Security & Support

​Common Color Problems

​Problem 1: Colors Look Wrong/Different

​Understanding the Issue

​Solutions

​Problem 2: Colors Too Dull/Muted

​Diagnosis

​Solutions

Increase Saturation in Design

Use Rich Black

Verify Paper Stock

Order Color Proof

​Problem 3: Specific Colors Wrong

​Brand Colors / Logo Colors

​Skin Tones

​Problem 4: Colors Not Converting (Still RGB)

​Check and Fix

​Problem 5: Colors Inconsistent Across Prints

​Ensuring Consistency

​Problem 6: Dark Colors Muddy/Flat

​Understanding TAC and GCR

​Prevention Checklist

​When to Order Physical Proofs

​Realistic Expectations

​Learn More

RGB vs CMYK

ICC Profiles

Spot Colors

Color Accuracy Tutorial

Common Color Problems

Problem 1: Colors Look Wrong/Different

Understanding the Issue

Solutions

Problem 2: Colors Too Dull/Muted

Diagnosis

Solutions

Problem 3: Specific Colors Wrong

Brand Colors / Logo Colors

Skin Tones

Problem 4: Colors Not Converting (Still RGB)

Check and Fix

Problem 5: Colors Inconsistent Across Prints

Ensuring Consistency

Problem 6: Dark Colors Muddy/Flat

Understanding TAC and GCR

Prevention Checklist

When to Order Physical Proofs

Realistic Expectations

Learn More