Drop your image
Any photo or graphic.
CMYK print color check
Drop your image and see it next to an approximation of how it looks converted to CMYK, the four-ink color space printers use — a quick way to spot colors that are likely to look duller or shifted once printed, before you find out from a physical proof.
- Free
- No sign-up
- Runs in your browser
How it works
Compare the two versions
On-screen RGB next to the approximate print look.
Check the shift percentage
How much of the image changes noticeably.
Why printed colors don't always match the screen
Screens mix red, green and blue light to make color (RGB), while printers mix cyan, magenta, yellow and black ink (CMYK) — two different ways of producing color with different limits. Some colors that are easy to display on screen, especially bright, saturated blues, greens and oranges, simply can't be reproduced with ink the same way, and come out duller or shifted once printed.
What this tool shows
Your image is converted from RGB to CMYK and back again using the standard generic formula, and the result is shown next to the original. Colors that survive the round trip mostly unchanged are safely within printable range; colors that shift noticeably are the ones likely to look different in a real, physical print.
An honest limit: not a real color proof
This uses a generic, unprofiled conversion, not the specific ICC profile of any actual printer, paper or ink set — different presses and papers all shift color differently. Treat this as an early warning for the most obviously problematic colors, not a substitute for a real proof from your print shop before an important job.
Which colors tend to shift most
Very bright, highly saturated colors — neon greens, vivid blues, glowing oranges — are usually the first to shift, since ink simply has a narrower range than light. Muted, earthy or pastel tones tend to survive the conversion much more closely, which is part of why printed material often leans toward calmer color choices.
Privacy
Your image is converted and compared entirely in your browser. Nothing is ever uploaded.
Frequently asked questions
Why do my printed colors look different from the screen?
Screens use RGB light and printers use CMYK ink, two different systems with different limits — some bright, saturated colors simply can't be reproduced the same way in ink.
Is this an accurate preview of my specific printer's output?
No, it's a generic, unprofiled approximation meant to flag likely trouble spots, not a color-managed proof for any specific printer, paper or ink.
What does the shift percentage mean?
The share of pixels whose color changes noticeably when approximated in CMYK — a higher number means more of the image is at risk of looking different once printed.
Does this produce a real CMYK file I can send to a printer?
No, the download is still an RGB image showing the approximate look; production printing needs a real color-managed CMYK file, usually prepared by the print shop or in dedicated design software.
What should I do about colors that shift a lot?
Consider using less saturated versions of those colors if the printed result matters, and ask your print shop for a real proof before a large or important run.
Is my image uploaded anywhere?
No. Everything happens entirely in your browser.
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