Avoid repeated destructive conversions
Print preparation guide
RGB or CMYK? Prepare Color for Your Printer
Choose the right color workflow, keep a master image, check profiles and proof important colors before a print run.
Quick answer
RGB describes light-based image color; CMYK describes a four-ink printing model. Use the format and profile requested for your exact product. Keep an editable RGB master, convert a delivery copy only when required, and check the result against a proof. This website calculates geometry; it does not convert or validate color profiles.
color workflow = source profile → requested output profile → proofAsk for the exact ICC profile or export preset
Screens cannot reproduce every paper and ink condition
Decision table
Choose by the delivery requirement
| Provider asks for | Action | Check |
|---|---|---|
| sRGB image | Deliver the requested RGB profile | Profile embedded; correct dimensions |
| CMYK PDF with supplied profile | Use the supplied export workflow | Output intent, separations and proof |
| No color instructions | Ask before converting | Written requirement for this product |
Why a bright screen color may change on paper
A screen emits light, while paper reflects it. Some saturated display colors cannot be matched by the chosen ink and paper combination. A duller cyan or darker shadow is therefore not automatically a resolution fault. Diagnose color separately from the pixel-density check, and compare the same image under consistent lighting.
The name CMYK does not identify one universal output condition. A profile for one paper or press may be inappropriate for another. Do not select an arbitrary profile because the file needs four channels; obtain the destination profile or preset from the production provider.
A practical flyer handoff
Suppose the printer requests an A4 flyer, 3 mm bleed and a CMYK PDF using its supplied preset. Set the trim to 210 × 297 mm, extend backgrounds to the 216 × 303 mm bleed canvas, and export the delivery copy through that preset. Color and geometry are separate requirements: meeting one does not prove the other.
If another provider requests sRGB for a photo product, use that provider’s RGB workflow instead. Do not send the first printer’s CMYK conversion simply because it was already prepared. Keep the master so you can produce a fresh delivery copy for each destination without a chain of conversions.
Profile assignment and conversion are different
Assigning a profile changes how existing color numbers are interpreted. Converting to a profile changes the numbers to represent the image in the destination color space. Guessing at the source profile can therefore change appearance before any printing occurs. Preserve the original and check the editing application’s documentation before changing profile settings.
What to approve before the run
Check the exported file, not only the editor preview. Inspect important brand colors, neutral grays, gradients and shadow detail. A calibrated soft proof is useful for anticipating changes, but the actual stock, ink, finishing and viewing light still matter. Order a physical proof when a color mismatch would make the job unusable.
Record the accepted version and the provider’s instructions alongside the dimensions. A later change to paper or finish may require a new proof even if the artwork and PPI stay unchanged. The relevant approval is for the production combination, not for the filename alone.
Practical workflow
Use this order before you export.
- Ask for the color mode, ICC profile and export preset.
- Keep the editable master; prepare a separate delivery copy.
- Check trim, bleed, effective PPI and the exported profile.
- Approve the proof on the intended paper and finish.
Sources and method
Check the requirement behind the number.
These guides explain repeatable calculations and planning ranges. The print provider's written specification remains the final production requirement.
Put the guide into practice
Check the image geometry →The printer’s requested profile matters more than a blanket ‘convert to CMYK’ rule.
Use the linked calculator with your own dimensions, then verify the result against the provider's production requirement.