Color Matching

What Does Color Matching Mean?

Color matching is the process of transferring a particular color across different technologies or platforms. This may be difficult when the two different technologies use different color modeling tools. Color matching is important in things like desktop publishing and in printing out digital displays accurately.

Techopedia Explains Color Matching

One reason that color matching is so often complicated is that many display technologies use an RGB color system that mixes red, green and blue to create a particular color. By contrast, many printers use a CMYK or cyan, magenta, yellow system where various colored inks absorb light.

Technologies and technicians may use standardized color spaces, spot colors or other methodologies to perform color matching, to make sure that the print matches the display. In some cases, various factors can inhibit the accuracy of printed results.

Other instances of color matching also demonstrate why a universal color model would be advantageous for many types of users. Color matching can be a complicated and labor-intensive process and sometimes may produce less than a 100 percent accurate result.