Designing a logo is exciting. Printing it on brand cards? Even more fun. But sometimes, the colors you see on the screen don’t look the same in print. That’s what happened when we used the Shopify Logo Maker. Turns out, mismatched color profiles were to blame. Let’s dive into how a little color confusion turned our cards from cool to cringe — and how we fixed it.
TLDR
The Shopify Logo Maker exports logos in RGB color mode, designed for screens. But printed cards use CMYK, which mixes colors differently. Without converting the color space, printed logos can look dull or totally off. The fix? Use a proofing workflow to convert RGB to CMYK before print!
What Went Wrong: A Color Comedy of Errors
We loved our logo. Bright, bold, popping. It looked perfect on the Shopify store. So we ordered printed brand cards. And then… disaster.
Our navy blue logo showed up as almost purple. The lemon yellow became a muddy mustard. Something was clearly off. The cards felt wrong. Worse — they looked unprofessional.
So what happened?
Meet RGB and CMYK: The Color Frenemies
Let’s simplify it:
- RGB is for screens. It mixes Red, Green, and Blue light.
- CMYK is for print. It uses Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (Black) inks.
RGB has vibrant colors that glow on screens. But printers can’t replicate that glow with ink. So when you send an RGB file to print, colors get converted to CMYK badly — often automatically, and without warning.
That’s what hit us. Our beautiful Shopify logo used RGB colors. The printer needed CMYK. Boom. Color chaos.
How the Shopify Logo Maker Handles Colors
The Shopify Logo Maker is super easy to use. It outputs PNG and SVG files. But those file types are usually saved in RGB.
No warning pops up about color modes. No setting says “Hey, convert this if you’re printing.” So unless you know design workflows, your vibrant screen-ready logo might look weird once it’s inked on paper.
For digital use? RGB is awesome. For print? Not so much.
How We Found Out the Hard Way
We submitted the PNG to the print service and got back a hundred cards that looked… meh. We thought they messed up. But after a few emails, the printer pointed out: “Your file is in RGB. That’s why it looks off in CMYK.”
Oops.
Time for a fix.
Fixing the Problem: RGB to CMYK Proofing Workflow
We learned from our mistake. We created a simple workflow to convert colors before printing. Here’s how you can do it too:
Step 1: Open in Design Software
Use a real design tool like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or even Affinity Designer. Open your logo file there. If it’s a PNG, turn it into a PSD or AI file.
Step 2: Convert to CMYK Mode
In Photoshop: Go to Image > Mode > CMYK Color.
In Illustrator: Go to File > Document Color Mode > CMYK.
This step is key. It simulates how the logo will actually look when printed using ink — not light.
Step 3: Tweak Colors (If Needed)
Some colors look duller in CMYK. That’s normal. You can now adjust them manually. Make them look good in the real world, not just on-screen.
We adjusted our navy blue and yellow. It took some trial and error. But once adjusted, we saved the final proof.
Step 4: Export to Print-Friendly Format
Save or export the file as:
- PDF (Press Quality)
- TIFF (for very high-res jobs)
- EPS or AI (if working with a printer who supports vectors)
These formats preserve CMYK color data and are preferred by professional printers.
Step 5: Send Proofs to Printer
Always ask for a printed proof if you’re printing in bulk. Don’t skip this.
We asked to have one test card printed. It looked perfect. Bright, balanced, and branded properly.
No more weird purples or muted yellows. Just crisp, clean branding.
Extra Tips for Better Color Matching
Besides converting colors, here are some tips we learned:
- Use Pantone colors when color accuracy really matters.
- Add bleed and crop marks when exporting print files.
- Don’t trust your monitor completely — unless it’s color calibrated.
And yes — always test print one sample before going all in.
Why This Matters
Colors are more than just looks. They say who you are. They send signals to your audience. Messed up colors make your brand look cheap or careless. But when they’re spot on? You feel pro.
If you’re using Shopify tools to launch your brand, it’s worth learning a bit about file formats and color profiles. It’ll save you time, money, and endless reprints.
Conclusion
We learned the hard way that RGB and CMYK speak different color languages. Shopify’s logo maker doesn’t warn you about it, but printers sure will. By setting up a simple RGB → CMYK proofing workflow, we got our colors back on track and our brand cards looking sharp.
So next time you hit “Download Logo”? Think twice before hitting “Send to print.”
Your colors — and your wallet — will thank you.