It's a common surprise: a brand color that looks perfect on screen prints noticeably differently on paper. Understanding why prevents inconsistent brand colors across your materials.
RGB: light-based color
Screens build color by combining red, green and blue light. RGB has a wider range of vivid, saturated colors achievable than print can reproduce, which is part of why some on-screen colors look duller once printed.
CMYK: ink-based color
Printers build color by layering cyan, magenta, yellow and black ink. CMYK has a narrower color range than RGB, particularly with very bright or neon tones, which can shift noticeably when converted from a screen-based color.
Why this matters for your brand
If your designer only provides an RGB color code (a HEX value, for instance), whoever prints your materials will need to convert it to CMYK — and without guidance, that conversion can drift from your intended color. A complete brand delivery includes both RGB/HEX values (for digital) and CMYK, and ideally Pantone, values (for print) so the color stays consistent regardless of where it's used.
Pantone as an extra safeguard
Pantone (PMS) is a standardized color matching system that removes guesswork from print reproduction — specifying a Pantone number ensures a printer reproduces your exact brand color rather than approximating it from a CMYK conversion.
The short version
Ask for HEX/RGB, CMYK, and ideally Pantone values for your brand colors so they stay consistent whether they're appearing on your website or on a printed brochure.