Printer colors wrong or not matching the screen?
Screens and printers make color differently. Most mismatches come from settings, paper or one empty ink.
How are the colors wrong?
1 of 2Likely cause
Likely cause: screens use light and printers use ink, so bright screen colors cannot always be matched on paper. Paper type and color management settings also matter.
- 1Read our CMYK vs RGB guide to see why some colors are hard to print.
- 2Set the paper type to match the paper loaded.
- 3Try a coated or photo paper if your project needs richer color.
Likely cause
Likely cause: one ink is empty or nozzles for that color are blocked, or color management is applied twice.
- 1Print the color test page and compare each swatch.
- 2Check every cartridge level and run the nozzle check.
- 3Make sure color management is set to either the app or the printer, not both.
Likely cause
Likely cause: color management settings, paper type, or a slight cast from one ink.
- 1Print the photo test page and compare skin tones and gray balance.
- 2Use the matching photo paper type setting.
- 3Check each ink for gaps on the nozzle check.
Most likely causes
Screen versus print (RGB versus CMYK)
Screens mix red, green and blue light. Printers mix cyan, magenta, yellow and black ink. Some bright, saturated screen colors fall outside what ink can reproduce.
Color management applied twice or not at all
If both the app and the printer driver adjust colors, results shift. If neither does, colors may look flat or off. Pick one place to manage color.
Wrong paper type setting
The paper type tells the printer how much ink to use and how to mix it. A mismatch changes brightness, contrast and color.
One ink empty or blocked
If one color is missing or weak, the others compensate and the print takes on a tint. This is the most common cause of a sudden color shift.
What to try, in order
- 1Print the color test pageCheck the C, M, Y, K, red, green and blue swatches and the skin tone patches. Look for any swatch that is missing, pale or tinted.
- 2Check ink and nozzlesCheck every cartridge level. Print the nozzle check and run one cleaning cycle only if a color has gaps.
- 3Set color management and paper typeIn the print dialog choose one place for color management and set the paper type to match. If you are not sure, start with the printer managing colors and the correct paper type.
- 4Compare using your screen at normal brightnessCompare the print under normal room light, not against a very bright screen. Print the photo test page if photo color is what matters.
A perfect match to a screen is not possible for every color. If the test sheet looks right, the remaining difference is the screen versus ink gap, not a fault.
When to stop and replace
If the test page shows a missing or tinted ink after a new cartridge, two cleanings and a rest, the print head may be faulty. If colors on the test page look fine but your files look different, the issue is color settings or screen calibration, not the printer, and replacing hardware will not help.
Inkjet or laser?
Inkjet printers
On an inkjet, a sudden shift is usually one ink running low or blocked. Slow, steady differences from the screen are mostly color management and paper type.
Print the color test pageLaser printers
On a color laser, a shift can come from one toner cartridge running low or a drum issue. Screen versus print differences still apply.
Print the CMYK test pageWrong colors fall into two groups: colors that were never going to match, and colors that are wrong because something is faulty. Separating them saves you from replacing ink that is fine.
Why screens and prints differ
A screen creates color with light, so it can show very bright, saturated colors. A printer places cyan, magenta, yellow and black ink on paper, and some screen colors fall outside that range. This is normal, not a fault. Our guide to CMYK vs RGB explains it in plain terms.
Check the printer with a known sheet
Print the color test page. It has solid swatches for cyan, magenta, yellow, black, red, green and blue, ramps from 0 to 100 percent, and patches for skin tones, sky and foliage. If a swatch is missing or tinted, the problem is the printer. If all swatches look reasonable, the problem is the file or settings. The CMYK test page shows each ink alone, so a weak one stands out. The photo test page adds smooth gradients and gray balance, which show tints well.
Settings that shift color
Color management should happen in one place. If your app and your printer driver both adjust color, results can be off. Paper type matters too, because it controls how much ink is used. A glossy photo setting on plain paper looks different from a plain paper setting. Our Windows and Mac pages show where the print dialog keeps these options.
Ink problems
A sudden color cast usually means one ink ran low or is blocked. See missing color and run the nozzle check. If prints are pale overall, faded print covers that. Streaks in one color are in streaks or lines.
Good questions
Why do my prints look different from my screen?
Why is everything printing with a color tint?
Should color management be on in the app or the printer?
Does paper type really change colors?
Related problems
- Missing colorOne or more ink colors are not showing.
- Faded printText and images look pale or washed out.
- Streaks or linesThin marks running across your page.
