Many customers are surprised and disappointed to discover that the color printed on their document doesn't match the color they saw on their computer screen. The biggest reason for this occurance is that almost all printers use the CMYK color format while all computer monitors use the RGB color format. These are two very different systems for defining colors and they will never be an exact match for each other. So do not put too much stock into what your monitor shows you on screen -- it will often mislead you. Instead use one of the following tools:

Pantone® Solid to Process (process simulation) Guide: If you choose a Pantone color for your document keep in mind that many digital printing processes will simulate the Pantone color using the four-color process system. This guidebook will show you what your Pantone color will look like when simulated. That is how you can expect it to print.

Pantone® Process Guide (coated or uncoated): This indispensable guide will save you many headaches and unnecessary expense. It provides swatches of over 3,000 CMYK process color combinations and can show you what your colors will look like when printed. Check the color values you see on screen with the swatch in the Process Guide to avoid any unpleasant surprises.

Another common problem we see is blacks that don't match. On your computer screen a greyscale black looks like an RGB black looks like a CMYK black, but they will all print differently. Make sure that all of your black colors use the same definitions.
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