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Why do certain colors look different after print?

← Document Design and Printing
Most home and small business printers are either inexpensive inkjet printers or color laser printers. It is impossible to calibrate any of these systems as they have a wide and varied range of methods of printing. Even though some printers use CMYK inks, many other factors have to be considered, and it is impossible to expect to consistently print perfect color. Additionally, files in RGB mode will print differently than files in CMYK.

Staples Print & Marketing Services owns a high-end, multimillion dollar printing facility, with consistent quality control and color-correction standards. While Staples Print & Marketing Services maintains as high standards as possible, it is still almost impossible to print and expect to see exactly the same color every day.

There are so many possible factors that can affect the color on your printed materials. The weather outside can play a part in affecting how the ink dries on the paper and can change the color slightly. The paper delivered from the paper mill may be slightly brighter. The ink density and constant on-press fluctuations in color, printing press running temperature or blanket wear, could also affect color slightly. It is impossible to expect that any professional printer can produce exactly the same printed blue on two separate days. However, Staples Print & Marketing Services does have high quality controls to ensure as little variation as possible, especially within a single product order

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