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Matching colors
The process of matching printer output color to your computer screen is quite complex
because printers and computer monitors use different methods of producing color. Monitors
display colors by light pixels using an RGB (red, green, blue) color process, but printers print
colors using a CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) process.
Several factors can influence your ability to match printed colors to those on your monitor.
These factors include:
● print media
● printer colorants (inks or toners for example)
● printing process (inkjet, press, or laser technology for example)
● overhead lighting
● personal differences in perception of color
● software applications
● printer drivers
● computer operating system
● monitors
● video cards and drivers
● operating environment (humidity for example)
Keep the above factors in mind when colors on your screen do not perfectly match your
printed colors.
For most users, the best method for matching colors on your screen to your printer is to print
sRGB colors.
PANTONE® color matching
PANTONE® has multiple color matching systems. PANTONE® Matching System is very
popular and uses solid inks to generate a wide range of color hues and tints. See
http://www.hp.com/support/clj4610 for details on how to use PANTONE® Matching System
with this printer.
Sample book color matching
The process for matching printer output to preprinted sample books and standard color
references is complex. In general, you can obtain a reasonably good match to a sample
book if the inks used to create the sample book are cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. These
are usually referred to as process color sample books.
Some sample books are created from spot colors. Spot colors are specially created
colorants. Many of these spot colors are outside of the range of the printer. Most spot color
sample books have companion process sample books that provide CMYK approximations to
the spot color.
Most process sample books will state which process standards were used to print the
sample book. In most cases they will be SWOP, EURO, or DIC. To get optimal color
matching to the process sample book, select the corresponding ink emulation from the
printer menu. If you cannot identify the process standard, use SWOP ink emulation.
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