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Image Magic Artwork Preparation Guide
RGB and CMYK create colour in different ways. Preparing artwork with the correct colour settings helps reduce unexpected shifts, but no screen can guarantee an exact match to ink, toner or printed material.
Follow the selected product template and any colour-profile instructions supplied by Image Magic. Different printers and materials can reproduce different colour ranges.
RGB stands for Red, Green and Blue. Screens, smartphones, televisions, cameras and projectors display colour by combining light.
RGB is described as an additive colour model. Adding red, green and blue light at full strength produces white light, while the absence of light appears black.
CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key Black. These process colours are combined to reproduce printed images, illustrations and backgrounds.
CMYK is described as a subtractive colour model because the inks absorb parts of the light reflected by the paper or printed material.
| Comparison | RGB | CMYK |
|---|---|---|
| Colour source | Emitted light | Ink, toner or process colour on a material |
| Common use | Monitors, websites, phones, cameras and video | Commercial printing and print-production workflows |
| White | Red, green and blue light combined | Usually the paper or material showing through |
| Main concern | Bright screen colours may fall outside the print gamut | Output depends on printer, ink, material and colour profile |
A colour gamut is the range of colours that a device, colour space or printing process can reproduce. A monitor and a printer do not reproduce exactly the same range.
Many bright RGB colours, including vivid blues, greens, oranges and fluorescent-looking colours, may fall outside the gamut of a particular printing condition. During conversion, these colours must be changed to printable alternatives.
RGB screen appearance
Possible CMYK appearanceImportant: Neon, fluorescent, metallic and highly saturated screen colours normally cannot be reproduced exactly using standard CMYK process printing. A special ink, special material or an approved alternative colour may be required.
For many standard printed products, a print-ready PDF using CMYK process colours provides a more predictable starting point. It allows you to review the converted appearance before submitting the file.
However, RGB files are not automatically unusable. Some digital and large-format production workflows can process correctly tagged RGB images through colour-managed RIP software. Converting a photograph to an unsuitable or random CMYK profile may reduce its available colour range.
Recommended approach: Follow the product instructions. For standard documents and marketing print, prepare CMYK artwork where practical. For colour-critical photography, large-format displays or an unfamiliar output profile, contact Image Magic before converting the original file.
Keep an editable master copy of the original artwork before conversion. Avoid repeatedly changing a file from RGB to CMYK and back again.
Colour values alone do not fully describe how a colour should appear. An ICC profile describes the colour behaviour of a device or printing condition, helping colour-management software translate colours between the source and output.
Assigning a profile tells the software how the existing colour values should be interpreted. Assigning the wrong profile can change the appearance without changing the numerical colour values.
Converting changes the colour values so that the appearance is preserved as closely as possible within the destination colour space.
Where supported, retain the correct profile or output intent when exporting the print-ready PDF so the file is not treated as untagged colour.
The suitable profile depends on the printing method, machine, ink, toner, paper and material. Do not select a profile only because its name contains “CMYK”.
Use 100% K black for most small black text and fine black lines unless the product template states otherwise. Using all four CMYK colours can create coloured edges if registration varies.
Large solid black areas may use a rich-black mixture for greater visual depth. The correct mixture and total ink limit depend on the printing process and material, so ask our team before setting it.
Do not automatically use maximum values in all four CMYK channels. Excessive total ink or toner can cause production and drying problems, especially on certain papers and materials.
CMYK process values are useful for standard printing, but they do not guarantee that a brand colour will match identically on every printer, paper or material.
Spot colours may be printed using a dedicated premixed ink in processes that support it. Digital printers often simulate a spot colour using their available process inks or toner, so an exact Pantone match is not automatically guaranteed.
Brightness, contrast, display type, viewing angle and calibration affect how artwork appears on screen.
Coated, uncoated, coloured, transparent, textured and synthetic materials reflect and absorb colour differently.
Digital toner, inkjet, latex, UV and offset processes can reproduce the same file differently.
Matt lamination, gloss lamination, varnish and other finishes can change perceived saturation, contrast and depth.
| Proof type | Useful for | Colour limitation |
|---|---|---|
| PDF or digital proof | Checking wording, layout, page order, size and obvious artwork issues | Does not provide an exact physical colour reference |
| Soft proof on screen | Previewing the effect of an output profile on a calibrated display | Depends on the monitor, calibration, profile and viewing environment |
| Printed proof | Approving a physical colour direction before the main production run | May still differ if the final material or production process changes |
A printed proof may involve additional charges and production time. Confirm availability before placing a colour-critical order.
Not necessarily. Many standard print products benefit from CMYK preparation, while some colour-managed digital and large-format workflows can process tagged RGB images. Follow the product instructions or ask our team before converting colour-critical files.
Monitors produce colour with light, while printing uses ink or toner on a physical material. Their colour gamuts, brightness and viewing conditions are different.
Exact matching depends on the selected print process, ink, material and whether a dedicated spot-colour process is available. Discuss the requirement and approve a printed proof before production.
A PDF proof is primarily for checking content and layout. It cannot guarantee exact printed colour because every screen displays colour differently.
It can change the perceived contrast, saturation and surface appearance. Gloss lamination may appear richer, while matt lamination may appear softer or less reflective.
Send us the product, material, artwork file and any Pantone, CMYK or physical colour reference. Tell us before production when colour matching is critical so we can advise on proofing and suitable printing options.
