Color can make or break your sticker design. Whether you’re creating product labels, personal art stickers, or promo merch for your brand, getting the colors just right matters. Especially if you are trying to represent a brand with a sticker and remain cohesive with your brand colors. But printing color isn’t always as simple as it looks on screen.
Understanding how color works in sticker printing will help you avoid surprises, set the right expectations, and design with confidence. This guide is perfect for first-time creators and seasoned pros alike—so let’s dive in.
RGB vs. CMYK: What’s the Difference?
It's important to note that color is created with math which can be very difficult and unnerving. Color Spaces are mathematical models that use geometry to assign colors as a fixed point that we can reference which ensures that we see colors the same. In order to try to standardize and clarify the differences in color reproduction we use what is called a color gamut: "a range of colors which a particular device can produce or record" according to BenQ Color Technology Lab. There are a lot of color gamuts and understanding the complexities of color can be tricky.
“The good news is that computing software will do all these complicated calculations for us, allowing us to rely on our eyeballs to pick whatever colors look best. The bad news is that there’s an equally daunting number of color spaces to choose from, and they’re all optimized for different tasks across web design, photography, video editing, physical printing, and more. And if you select the wrong one at any point between creating, editing, and viewing something, it can really mess with what colors are supposed to look like.” — Jess Weatherbed
We are going to focus on the two color models that matter most for sticker printing. Let’s dive in to these must-know color concepts:
- RGB (Red, Green, Blue) is used for screens—like phones, computers, and tablets. This is an “additive color mixing” model. Instead of subtracting light from a white background, it adds light in differing frequencies to a black display (like your computer screen). The RGB color gamut is broad - broader than CMYK.
- CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) is used for printing. It is known as a “subtractive color mixing” method. It combines these 4 colors in different quantities to achieve colors close to the range that can be seen by the average human eye compared to mixed primaries: red, yellow and blue. The color gamut is smaller than RGB so colors may appear duller or darker than they do on screen.
Why does this matter? Because designs created in RGB may look amazing on screen but can shift dramatically when printed in CMYK. The biggest difference is the brightness. Your screen will always appear brighter than your custom sticker for example. And then some colors (especially bright neons and pure blues) don’t translate well between the two.
Photo by Onur Binay on Unsplash
Color Profiles
Every use case has a different profile you might want to use. If you are working in Adobe Photoshop for example and you are going to edit a professional photograph to be displayed on the internet then you might want to choose the sRGB profile when setting up your file. Once again, print vs. digital is going to be a big deal when it comes to setting up your document. Adobe did create a profile to try to alleviate some of these issues and discrepancies called Adobe RGB. Adobe RGB was created as a way for photographers and designers to maintain an RGB color profile on screen but still create prints.
Before submitting your sticker file or custom print project it is typically recommended that you convert your file to CMYK. If you are working in Adobe programs this can be done a few different ways:
- In Photoshop: File > Convert to Profile or Image > Mode > CMYK.
- In Illustrator: File > Document Color Mode > CMYK.
PNG files can only be saved with an RGB profile. In order to print a png at the highest quality you want to make sure it has the highest resolution possible - anything 300dpi or above. Because of this issue we recommend saving your files as PDFs or Adobe Illustrator files as much as possible to maintain a CMYK profile.
Pro Tip: Always convert your artwork to CMYK before submitting it for print. It’s the best way to get a realistic preview of how your sticker will actually look.
The Limits and Benefits of Digital Printing
Even with high-end printers, digital printing has its limits. Standard eco-solvent and inkjet printers can’t reproduce every color the human eye sees—especially:
- Ultra-bright neons
- Fluorescents
- Metallic shades
CMYK can print a wide range of colors, but some hues—particularly those with intense brightness or shimmer—are tricky to replicate. When in doubt, simplify your palette and avoid colors that rely on glow or shimmer effects—unless you’re using a material like holographic or glitter.
While digital printing has a few limitations, it also comes with major advantages. Compared to older methods like flexographic, screen, or offset printing, digital printing offers significant improvements in image resolution and color accuracy.
Digital printing encompasses several methods used in the industry today, such as UV printing, inkjet, and dye sublimation. These all rely on CMYK color profiles and can produce a remarkably wide spectrum of colors—more than ever before.
Some key benefits of digital printing include:
- Improved print quality and more consistent color matching
- The ability to reproduce fine details, even at high volumes
- More sustainable—less material waste and fewer chemicals
- Compatibility with a wide range of materials
Here at Car Stickers, we use a range of digital printing techniques for our custom products. That includes CMYK printing with eco-solvent inks—offering vibrant, long-lasting color on a variety of sticker materials.
How Material Affects Color
The type of sticker material you choose can change how your colors look. Here’s a quick breakdown:
- White Vinyl: Offers the truest color accuracy—your design will appear most vibrant and closest to what you see on screen.
- Clear Vinyl: Colors become more translucent. To keep them bold, you may need to add a white ink base behind them.
- Holographic & Glitter: Colors shift depending on how light hits the sticker. Adds shine but changes color perception.
- Matte Finishes: Mute the color slightly compared to gloss finishes.
Design Tip: If color precision is crucial, call our customer service team to inquire about a custom sample or order a material sample directly before placing a large order.
Designer Tips for Better Color Results
- Design in CMYK from the beginning to set accurate expectations.
- Use high-resolution files (300 dpi or higher).
- Avoid ultra-light colors or low-contrast designs on clear or holographic backgrounds.
- Consider how glossy vs. matte lamination may affect the look of your color.
- For detailed projects, order a sample before committing to a large run.
Common Color Mistakes to Avoid
- Designing in RGB and expecting it to print exactly the same.
- Using low-contrast text that gets lost in the background.
- Judging colors based only on screen appearance (screens are backlit!).
- Forgetting how lamination can change color vibrancy or reflectiveness.
Need Help? We’ve Got You.
If you’re unsure about how your colors will turn out—or need help prepping your files—our team is here to help. Give us a call or mention it in the special instructions and receive a free digital proof!
Our design team double checks color profiles and processes orders with a keen eye before sending orders to the production floor.
You can order single material samples to see how colors look or you can call our customer service team to inquire about a preview of your artwork in real life.
Need expert advice? Just ask! We’re happy to walk you through how to get your colors just right.
Want colors that pop on your next sticker project? Start designing with confidence—order your custom stickers today, or grab a sample to test colors and materials before your big print run!
