13,548 Reviews
Free Shipping for Orders Over $100. Learn More
/custom-signs/
  • Shop Products
    BannersBanners Only5Banner with Stands5Backdrops2Car SignsMagnetic & Alike2Car Decals6Indoor SignsBig Checks1Gator & PVC4Office Wall Décor6Lightboxes & More3Outdoor SignsYard Signs & Tents3Metal Signs2A Frame Signs5Window DecalsLow-Cost Decals & Stickers3Clear & Backlit3Easy Install3Lettering & Die-Cut3Privacy2
    More Products
    Business Cards & FlyersStands & Frames2Business Cards & FlyersStakes, Frames, & PostsRetail Displays
    Starting at $28.21 ea.
    Vinyl Banners
    Starting at $47.89 ea.
    Mesh Banners
    Starting at $35.77 ea.
    Pole Banners
    Starting at $95.93 ea.
    Fabric Banners
    Starting at $114.47 ea.
    Breakaway Banners
    Starting at $253.62 ea.
    Fabric Banner Stand
    Starting at $137.64 ea.
    Retractable Banners
    Starting at $95.13 ea.
    X Banner Stands
    Starting at $305.18 ea.
    A-Frame Banners
    Starting at $341.64 ea.
    In Ground Banner Frames
    Starting at $975.43 ea.
    Fabric Backdrop
    Starting at $496.79 ea.
    Backdrops
    Starting at $26.94 ea.
    Car Magnets
    Starting at $46.82 ea.
    Reusable Car Decal
    Starting at $31.00 ea.
    Car Decals
    Starting at $34.07 ea.
    Clear Car Decals
    Starting at $46.82 ea.
    Reusable Car Decal
    Starting at $31.99 ea.
    Car and Truck Lettering
    Starting at $31.00 ea.
    Trailer Decals
    Starting at $108.86 ea.
    Car Window Decals
    Starting at $84.27 ea.
    Big Checks
    Starting at $44.98 ea.
    Foam Board Signs
    Starting at $41.79 ea.
    Gator Board Signs
    Starting at $60.65 ea.
    PVC Signs
    Starting at $41.03 ea.
    Styrene Signs
    Starting at $162.56 ea.
    SEG Wall Art
    Starting at $314.41 ea.
    Acrylic Signs
    Starting at $107.89 ea.
    Menu Boards
    Starting at $38.40 ea.
    Wall Lettering
    Starting at $131.26 ea.
    Wall Decals
    Starting at $85.93 ea.
    Canvas Prints
    Starting at $358.14 ea.
    SEG Lightbox
    Starting at $92.65 ea.
    Floor Decals
    Starting at $299.65 ea.
    Table Covers
    Starting at $9.52 ea.
    Yard Signs
    Starting at $17.96 ea.
    Real Estate Riders
    Starting at $1,599.62 ea.
    Logo Canopy Tent
    Starting at $58.98 ea.
    Aluminum Metal Signs
    Starting at $206.87 ea.
    Brushed Metal Signs
    Starting at $187.28 ea.
    A Frame Signs
    Starting at $224.00 ea.
    Premium Slide-in A Frame Signs
    Starting at $150.56 ea.
    Metal A Frame Signs
    Starting at $315.68 ea.
    Flex Signs
    Starting at $297.85 ea.
    Wind Signs
    Starting at $28.91 ea.
    Vinyl Decals
    Starting at $2.12 ea.
    Vinyl Stickers
    Starting at $2.50 ea.
    Clear Stickers
    Starting at $52.50 ea.
    Clear Window Decals
    Starting at $59.48 ea.
    Clear Static Cling
    Starting at $55.12 ea.
    Backlit Signs
    Starting at $47.91 ea.
    Removable Decals
    Starting at $39.04 ea.
    Static Window Clings
    Starting at $28.29 ea.
    Large Posters
    Starting at $36.86 ea.
    Store Window Lettering
    Starting at $81.53 ea.
    Die-Cut Decals
    Starting at $102.69 ea.
    Etched Glass Decals
    Starting at $85.76 ea.
    Perforated Window Decals
    Starting at $29.66 ea.
    Blockout Vinyl Decals
    Stakes, Frames, & Posts
    Retail Displays
  • Shop Designs
    IndustryAutomotive39Church44Construction58Home & Business Services57Political55Real Estate29Professional Office2Retail Stores78Spa & Salon53School & Sports38Graduation51Wall ArtEvent105Holiday33ArtShow All
  • File Review
    • Products
    • Designs
REFINE SEARCH
  • Products
  • Designs
  1. Home
  2. Color Models Explained: CMYK, RGB and Pantone
Help Center 4 min Read

Color Models Explained: CMYK, RGB and Pantone

If you’ve ever asked why your printed product looks different from what you saw on the screen, you most likely received an answer made up of acronyms. That’s because these acronyms represent the color standards used in the printing and design industries. Each color model produces color in a unique way. Learning more about the particulars of each model will help you master the screen-to-print color conversion.

CMYK


CMYK stands for cyan, magenta, yellow and key (black).The CMYK color is often referred to as the four-color process, because it uses four colors to create a wide range of hues with approximate print results.

CMYK colors are subtractive colors, meaning that they work by subtracting some wavelengths of light reflected off of white paper, but not others. The absorbed (subtracted) colors are not visible, while the unabsorbed colors remain visible. Each of the four colors in the CMYK model absorbs a complementary color, preventing the complementary color from being visible. Cyan controls the amount of red you see. Magenta controls green visibility, and yellow controls blue visibility. The black ink is included to enhance the sharpness of an image and to cover up registration errors.

Techniques such as dithering and halftoning can be used to create the illusion of different colors within a limited color palette. A dithered image uses a pattern of available colors to produce an overall image of another color. For example, a pattern of tiny blue and yellow dots can create the illusion of a solid green color. Halftoning refers to printing colors at varying percentages of their full saturation in order to give the illusion of a color not included in the palette. For example, magenta can appear as light pink if it’s only partially saturated.

When to Use CMYK

CMYK is the most commonly used color printing process. It provides the greatest accuracy when printing photographs, and is best for any print design that uses four or more colors.

Some tones don’t translate well to the CMYK color space, including metallic colors, neon or fluorescent colors, and orange.

RGB


RGB stands for red, green and blue. RGB colors are additive colors, meaning that they are created by adding colored light beams together. All of the RGB hues are created by using varying combinations of the primary red, green and blue. The intensity of colors is equivalent to the level of light. For example, lighter, whiter tones have a strong light intensity. The darkest colors have zero intensity. When all three colors are added at a density of 100%, they produce white.

Because your computer screen emits light instead of reflecting it, it uses this model. Therefore, the colors that you view on your computer, digital camera and television are RGB colors.

When to Use RGB

When designing for the web, you should only use RGB colors. For process color printing, RGB colors should be converted into CMYK so that the printed product matches the image on your monitor. Color differences between monitors can also make this more confusing. The monitor you use can make an image look brighter or darker than it would look on another screen. Therefore, the printed product could vary from your expectations even more. Try viewing it on another display screen before you decide to print.

Pantone Matching System


The Pantone Matching System (PMS) is a standardized, organized system that allows colors to be reproduced accurately and consistently. Designers often use PMS colors because they don’t need to be mixed. Each one already exist as a set color with an allocated number, which allows for reliable results.

A Pantone color is a “spot color.” Rather than mixing colors the way CMYK does (example: 4% cyan, 84% magenta, 100% yellow, 0% key) the Pantone color prints as the exact color you need (example: 100% PANTONE 1665 C). Most of the Pantone colors lie beyond the reach of CMYK, but Pantone can convert an image to either CMYK or RGB, depending on whether it will be applied to web or print.

When to Use Pantone

For Logos or brand coloring that must be consistent, Pantone is the best choice, because the color of the finished product will be the exact one you choose. Pantone is also the best option for black and white printing or monochromatic designs, and should only be used when working with three or less colors.

The Pantone system can produce special colors that CMYK can’t produce. Therefore, the system can be used to correct limitations of CMYK, such as the inability to produce fluorescent colors or metallic colors.

How Signazon Color Works

Signazon’s designer displays artwork in RGB, but prints in CMYK. For this reason, we design our templates in CMYK and translate those colors to RGB so that you can view them on your screen. That way, the colors you choose in the designer will be consistent with those of your printed product. We are currently getting the most of out of our CMYK printing with GRACoL/G7, a calibration method for adjusting any CMYK imaging device to better achieve a close visual match.

Get Started!
Banners
Shop Banners
Car Magnet On A Ford F-150
Shop Car Signs
Indoor Signs
Shop Indoor Signs
Outdoor Signs
Shop Outdoor Signs
Window Decals
Shop Window Decals
Company Info
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Help Center

Find Us
4000 E. Plano Pkwy
Suite A
Plano, TX 75074


Monday - Friday
9AM - 6PM CST

Knowledge Center
Get Exclusive Deals!
Unlock Exclusive Deals and Offers!
JOIN NOW

© 2025 Signazon.com - All Rights Reserved

Terms Privacy Policy Site Map