Expert: Kevin Stohlmeyer - 10/22/2010

Question
Hi!

I am using Illustrator to design custom invitations.  I sell the invitations to customers who then print the invitations from home or through a printing company.  I just started using Illustrator to design the invitations and they look wonderful until I print them out.  The printed colors do not match what I see on the screen.  For example, an aqua blue prints out dark blue and navy blue prints out black.  I understand the difference with RGB vs CMYK and realize the prints will never match the screen exactly but how to do I get it to be more accurate?  I have tried designing them in both RGB and CMYK and both give me very off colors.  How should my settings be when I save the files as PDF?  Should I tell it to convert to destination, don't convert or what?  I just don't understand why the colors are SO off.  I would understand a slight variation but aqua to dark blue seems extreme.  Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated!!  Thank you !!

Answer
Hi Denise,

First off, just going off of monitor colors is never a good idea. Your monitor may not be calibrated properly.

To maximize your color accuracy, always design in CMYK if going to print, never RGB. Second, when choosing colors, make sure you are choosing CMYK colors, not an RGB "aqua" or cyan as it will never reproduce in CMYK.

From what you are describing with the colors printing darker overall, this sounds like either your monitor/software or printer needs to be calibrated. Saving to PDF will not help with this.

When you print from other applications, does your color seem off as well? If so, it is a printer issue communicating with your computer. You should then go through and check your printer and monitor settings.

If it is ok in other applications, it is an Illustrator issue. You can calibrate Illustrator under the Edit>Color Settings. Choose "General Purpose 2" for the setting. Also make sure that your printer is compatible with Illustrator and that you can access the printer using the print window and are not printing to a generic printer setting. This will help as well.

Thanks

Kevin