Ever wonder why colors on screens sometimes look different than when they’re printed? That's because screens and printers use different color models. This results in a different range of colors per model.
To help match the screen and printed colors, you can use CMYK colors while designing. You can also download a CMYK file after.
RGB vs CMYK
RGB and CMYK are color models used to build colors. RGB builds colors using red, green, and blue, and is used for on-screen color displays. CMYK uses cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, and is used for printing.
While both RGB and CMYK have similar ranges of colors, some colors might look different on each model. An example of this is neon or fluorescent colors (in RGB) looking dull when printed (in CMYK).
If you’re planning to print your design, we recommend designing with CMYK colors. Designing with the output in mind helps align the colors of your design when printed.
For Canva Print orders, we may not be able to check your design for quality control before it goes to print, so make sure you use CMYK colors and proof your designs for print before placing your order.
Using CMYK colors in Canva
Since Canva is a digital app, we use RGB by default. By using online color pickers and our color palette feature, you can use CMYK colors while designing.
1) Get CMYK colors using online color pickers. Make sure to take note of their HEX codes.
2) Input the CMYK color hex codes from the editor or in a color palette.
3) Use CMYK colors in the elements of your design.
Downloading a CMYK PDF
To make sure that your file is indeed print-ready, we recommend you download a CMYK Print PDF. For Canva Print orders, you can skip this since we convert all orders to CMYK files.
1) On the menu bar, select the Share icon.
2) Select Download.
3) On the File type dropdown, choose PDF Print.
4) If your design has multiple pages, choose the pages you want to download from the dropdown, and select Done.
5) On the Color Profile dropdown, select CMYK.
6) Select Download.
You can find your design in your device’s assigned download folder or photo gallery.