Why Your Printed Colours May Look Different from Your Screen

One of the most common questions we receive is:
“Why don’t my printed colours look exactly like they do on my screen?”

The answer lies in the difference between RGB and CMYK colour systems. Understanding this will help you achieve better, more consistent results with your DTF transfers

What Is RGB?

RGB stands for Red, Green, and Blue. It is a light-based colour system used by:

• Computer monitors
• Mobile phones
• Tablets
• TVs

RGB creates colour using light, which allows screens to display very bright and vibrant tones.

This is why designs often look more vivid on your screen than when printed.

What Is CMYK?

CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black. It is an ink-based colour system used by all professional printers, including DTF machines.

DTF printing uses physical inks, not light. Because of this, CMYK cannot reproduce every bright RGB colour exactly.

Some neon, fluorescent, or very bright shades simply do not exist in CMYK ink, but it can be achieved using different inks and systems.

Why Colours Change from Screen to Print

When an RGB design is converted to CMYK for printing:

• Bright colours may appear darker
  
• Some shades may shift slightly
  
• Vibrancy may be reduced
  
• Tones may become more muted

This is normal and unavoidable in professional printing.

It is not a fault with the printer or transfer.

The Importance of a Physical CMYK Colour Chart

A physical CMYK colour chart shows how colours look when printed on real material using real ink. 

This is the only reliable way to:

• Choose accurate colours
  
• Approve branding shades
  
• Avoid surprises
  
• Reduce reprints
  
• Maintain consistency

If colour accuracy is important to your business, using a CMYK chart is essential.

How to Get the Best Colour Results

To achieve the best possible outcome with your DTF transfers, we recommend:

✔ Designing in CMYK where possible
✔ Using a physical CMYK colour chart as referance
✔ Avoiding very bright RGB-only colours
✔ Supplying high-quality artwork, 300DPI or vector file preferably
✔ Requesting samples for critical jobs

These steps help ensure your final product meets expectations.

Our Quality Promise

We regularly calibrate our printers and use professional-grade inks and materials to ensure consistent, high-quality results.

While exact screen-to-print matching is not technically possible without physical references, we always aim to deliver the closest and most accurate reproduction.

If you need help preparing your files or choosing colours, our team is happy to assist.