Color impacts printing because what you see on a screen is created with light (RGB), while printers use ink (CMYK). StickerGiant always prints in CMYK. Certain bright or neon tones can’t be reproduced in CMYK, and different materials will affect how color appears. Lamination can also deepen, dull, or soften colors. Understanding these factors is key to achieving accurate, consistent color results. 

Calibrating Expectations with Color

The amount of printable color options is limited when compared to RGB or what's visible to the naked eye. While CMYK can print most colors, there are still some colors that will always be difficult to attain. 

Monitors and printers don’t always see eye to eye (literally), so let’s talk about the differences between the screen and a printed version:

• RGB vs. CMYK: All screens show color in RGB - a combination of Red, Green, and Blue colors. Viewing them on a screen means you're looking at RGB. CMYK is the color mode printers print from, which will appear different in hand than on screen.  

• What about Pantone: Pantone (PMS) colors are a standardized color-matching system used across various industries. They ensure that colors appear consistent regardless of what product is being printed or produced. While Pantone colors are great for achieving ultra-specific shades, at StickerGiant, we specialize in CMYK printing. If your design includes a Pantone or PMS color code, we'll need to convert it to CMYK to match our printing process. 

• Adjust Brightness and Contrast: If your brightness and contrast settings are out of the normal range, your stickers and labels will always look off compared to the screen. Calibration tools like colorimeters can fine-tune your monitor to display colors more accurately. 

Impact of Material on Color Perception

The material you choose changes how your colors appear. Here’s what you need to know: 

• Paper vs. Polypropylene: Our Paper label products are finished with a varnish, while our polypropylene products are finished with an overlaminate layer. This can create slightly different outcomes of color. 

• Transparent Materials: Printing on clear materials? Keep in mind that lighter colors might lose their punch without a white backing. 

• Holographic or Glitter Materials: Shiny materials add a dynamic twist, but they can also shift the way colors look. 

• Lamination: Matte lamination can pastel-ify your colors, while glossy lamination deepens and darkens them.  

Pro tip: Order a sample pack before you finalize your design. We even include color swatches of our specialty materials so you get an idea of how different colors will display.  

Addressing Lighting Conditions

• Natural Light: Colors look truest under natural daylight, but even then, morning light and evening light can shift the vibe.
• Artificial Light: Warm bulbs make colors cozier and yellower; cool bulbs add a bluish tint.
• Mixed Lighting: Sometimes, you just can’t win with lighting—but knowing how your stickers will be viewed helps!

When in doubt, check your prints in the lighting they’ll live in.

Troubleshooting Common Color Issues

Sometimes, colors don’t behave as expected. Here are some quick fixes:

• Blacks Look Gray: For rich, velvety black, go with 60%C, 40%M, 40%Y, 100%K. 
• Reds Look Dull: Too much cyan can ruin the party. Stick with 0%C, 100%M, 100%Y, 0%K.
• Blues Look Purple: Too much magenta (over 80%M) will turn your blues into purples. 
• Colors Are Washed Out: Check that your file is 300 DPI and in CMYK. It’s the foundation for vibrant prints.

Not sure what’s going on? We’re here to help troubleshoot.

Order a Test Print

StickerGiant has multiple options for how to order a test print:

• Order 10 Die Cut Stickers: Our minimum quantity on Die cut stickers is 10. With this low-impact quantity, you can get an idea of what your stickers or labels will look like without breaking the bank! 
• Order 50 of our Specialty Stickers: If you're looking to try out any of our specialty materials, you'll need to order at least 50 for a test print. This is still a great option if your actual quantity needs are much higher! 
• Order 125 of our Paper Labels: If you're looking at any of our paper label options, our minimum quantity is 125. Because the finishing of our paper labels is a varnish rather than a laminate, you'll want to order your intended material type for an accurate color representation.

***Ordering the sticker version of your desired material will allow you to order a smaller quantity; however, the final product will differ between the sticker and label. While it should give you an accurate idea of how the colors will appear on your labels, the material, weight, and finishing will be different. Check out this resource for the differences between our stickers and labels!