How do I get my printer to print out the correct colors? OR...

Question

What do I need to buy?

I'm on this program where you can customize the colors for your font. I picked really bright neon colors. My printer prints the color out darker. How do I fix this? or what can i buy?

Answer 1

This issue is two fold.  First is your printer.  If you have an ink jet printer you will get darker more saturated colors over all.  A lazier printer may give you a more true representation of what you see on your screen but this leads to the other issue.  It could be your monitor.  Computer monitors are lite from behind with light and make colors more 'bright'.  As a children's book illustrator I too have issues with colors matching between my screen and the printed version.  Hopefully you have a laptop because I suggest you take it to a copy store such as Kinkos and have THEM print it out and you over see it.  They shouldn't charge you for these 'proofs' only for the prints they get right.  You have them print it until it's correct.  Especially if it's neon colors which are very difficult to get printed.  Best of luck.