Color mode and color profile

Farbmodus und Farbprofil - Werbecenter-Berlin - Großformatdruck & Werbedisplays

Colors in printing – what you should consider

Colors play a crucial role in the impact of your printed product. It's important to know that color representation can vary depending on the screen, software, or printing material.

To ensure your printed result is as close as possible to your design, you should pay attention to some basic color settings.

Why can colors vary in print?

Colors can be displayed differently on different devices. For example, a screen displays colors differently than a printed result. The properties of the material used can also influence the color appearance in print.

Typical factors include:

  • different screen displays

  • various printing processes or printing systems

  • Material properties such as whiteness or transparency

  • Color profiles of the data used

These influences can cause a color tone to appear slightly different in print than on the monitor.

However, if your file is prepared correctly, such deviations can usually be kept to a minimum.

What color mode should your file have?

In principle, print data can be stored both in the RGB as well as in CMYK format be created.

  • Photos and image data: RGB often delivers the best results.

  • Graphics, logos and layouts: CMYK is usually the safer choice, as our printers also work with CMYK colors.

By choosing the correct color mode, potential color deviations can be significantly reduced.

Set CMYK color mode

When working with vector graphics or layout programs, the CMYK color mode is often recommended.

Here's how to set it up in Adobe Illustrator:

  1. Open or create your document.

  2. Go to File → Document Color Mode.

  3. Choose CMYK color.

  4. Open Edit → Assign profile.

  5. Select the color profile ISO Coated v2 (ECI)

  6. Confirm the settings.

  7. Save your file as Adobe PDF.

  8. In the PDF settings under Output → Color Set up:

    • Color conversion: No conversion

    • Profile: Include all profiles

Instructions for using CMYK

When working with CMYK, please note the following important points:

  • If you PANTONE® colors If used, these can remain as solid colors.

  • Very intense PANTONE® colors may vary slightly in CMYK printing.

  • Make sure that normal color swatches are used as Process Color are laid out.

  • Special colors should only be used if they are technically necessary, for example for

    • PANTONE® colors

    • Intersection lines

    • Drill holes

    • White print

  • For correct color processing, your print file should be as PDF to be exported.

Use RGB color mode

RGB can be useful for photos or image-heavy designs.

Here's how to set RGB in Adobe Photoshop, for example:

  1. Open your file.

  2. Go to Image → Mode.

  3. Choose RGB color.

  4. Open Edit → Assign profile.

  5. Select the profile sRGB IEC61966-2.1.

  6. Then save the file as PDF.

  7. In the PDF settings under Output → Color Set up:

    • Color conversion: No conversion

    • Profile: Include all profiles

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