CMYK instead of RGB: why your logo looks different on the can
A glowing cyan on screen is not the same as printed cyan. Knowing the difference lets you plan colours realistically.
Published: 2026-08-11 · Reading time: 4 min
Two colour systems, two logics
RGB mixes light: more means brighter. CMYK mixes ink: more means darker. That is why print can never reach certain screen colours, regardless of print quality.
Straight to the product: Custom energy drink – 250 ml slim or 500 ml, full 360° print, from 504 cans.
These colours are critical
In our experience these shades deviate most:
- Neon green and neon orange – always more muted in print
- Deep royal blue – tends towards violet
- Light turquoise – loses luminosity
- Very dark grey – quickly reads as black
How to secure colour accuracy
Define the brand colour with CMYK values in your brand manual and pass them on with the artwork. If a house colour is business-critical, check it on a sample before the main run.
Aluminium is not white paper
The can body has a metallic shimmer. Without an opaque white base, light areas read cooler. That effect can be used deliberately: metallic areas look premium when they are planned rather than accidental.
Frequently asked questions
- Why does my house colour print differently?
- Screen colours (RGB) include shades that four-colour print (CMYK) cannot reach – especially neon and highly saturated tones.
- Can I specify Pantone colours?
- You can supply reference values; production runs in CMYK as close to the target as possible.
- Do I get a sample for colour control?
- Yes, samples are free and advisable when the brand colour is business-critical.
Related pages
More on this topic – guides, product pages and the configurator.
Printing cans: 250 ml slim or 500 ml – and what belongs in your print data
Printing 250 ml slim or 500 ml cans: format comparison, full-surface printing, artwork preparation and layout templates for your promotional drink.
ViewCustom energy drink
250 ml slim or 500 ml, full 360° print, from 504 cans.
ViewCan configurator
Upload your logo and design the can online – see the result instantly.
ViewPrint beverage cans
Have cans printed with your own logo – 250 ml and 500 ml, from 504 units.
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