Why don't the colours in my printed documents match what I see on my screen?

Color matching from a monitor’s point of view involves understanding how colors are displayed on screen and why they often differ from printed output. Here's a breakdown of the basics:

RGB Color Mode

- Monitors use the RGB (Red, Green, Blue) color model.

- Every color you see on screen is a combination of these three light-based colors.

- RGB is additive: combining all three at full intensity gives white.

Device-Dependent Color

- Monitors are device-dependent, meaning color output varies by:

  - Brand and model

  - Calibration settings

  - Display technology (LCD, OLED, etc.)

- Even two identical monitors can show slightly different colors.

Color Profiles

- Monitors use ICC profiles to define how colors should appear.

- Common profiles include **sRGB**, **Adobe RGB**, and **Display P3**.

- These profiles help standardize color appearance across devices—but only if all devices support and use them correctly.

Calibration

- Professional color matching requires monitor calibration using tools like a colorimeter.

- Calibration ensures the monitor displays colors as accurately as possible based on a known standard.

Gamut Limitations

- A monitor’s color gamut defines the range of colors it can display.

- Some colors (especially Pantone or CMYK tones) may be outside the monitor’s gamut, meaning they can’t be accurately shown.

Why Colors Don’t Match Printers

- Monitors use RGB light, while printers use CMYK ink.

- RGB and CMYK are fundamentally different color models (additive vs. subtractive).

- Pantone colors are standardized for print, not screen.

- Without proper color management, what you see on screen won’t match what’s printed.

Short of it - If you want to match your screen to the colours of the printer, you will need to invest in either Special Monitors, Hardware calibration tools and Calibration software that supports the calibration tools.