Why Screen Colours Look Different When Printing Stickers

When choosing a colour for custom stickers or signs, it is important to understand that the colour you see on your screen may not be exactly what you get on the finished product.

This is not because anything has gone wrong. It is simply because screens and printed products show colour in completely different ways. A screen uses light, while printed stickers use ink, vinyl, material and finish. Because of this, screen colour should always be treated as a guide, not a guaranteed match.

Every Screen Shows Colour Differently

One of the biggest issues is that every screen is different. A colour viewed on a new Apple monitor may look different from the same colour viewed on a laptop, phone, tablet or older desktop screen.

Even if the artwork file is exactly the same, each screen can display brightness, contrast and colour slightly differently. This means the blue, red, green or grey you see on your screen may not be the same as what someone else sees on theirs.

Screen Settings Make a Difference

Screen settings also affect colour. Brightness, contrast, night mode, colour temperature and display profiles can all change how a colour appears.

For example, a colour may look bright and bold on a screen with high brightness, but more muted on another screen with lower brightness. This is one reason why choosing sticker colours based only on what you see on screen can be risky.

Room Lighting Can Change What You See

The lighting in your room can also affect how colours appear on screen. Sunlight, fluorescent lighting, reflections, dark walls, bright walls and even the time of day can change how your eyes perceive colour.

A colour might look different during the day compared with at night, even on the same screen.

Printing Materials Affect the Final Colour

Sticker material also changes the finished result. Printing on white vinyl, clear vinyl, paper stock or coloured vinyl can all create slightly different colour outcomes.

The finish matters too. A gloss laminate can make colours look brighter and more vibrant, while a matt laminate can make colours look softer and more subtle.

CMYK and Pantone Colours

If you supply CMYK values, we can use those values when setting up your sticker artwork for print. This gives us a clear print reference to work from.

If you need a more accurate colour match, the best option is to supply a Pantone colour. Pantone colours give printers a physical colour reference, which is much more reliable than choosing from a screen.

The Best Way to Choose Sticker Colours

The simple rule is this: do not rely on your screen for exact print colour.

Your screen is fine for choosing a general colour direction, such as blue instead of green or orange instead of red. But if colour accuracy is important for your logo, brand or packaging, use CMYK values, Pantone references or a printed sample where possible.

Need help choosing colours for your stickers? Send through a quote request with your artwork or colour references and we can advise the best options for your sticker printing job.