Why do my mockup preview colors look different from edit mode?

Written by

Simona Parker

In the Product Creator, your design colors may look slightly different in mockup preview mode than they do in edit mode. This happens because mockup previews can simulate how colors may appear once printed.

You can preview mockups in two color modes:

RGB (Red, Green, Blue)
RGB is the standard color mode used for screens and digital images. Colors in RGB appear brighter and more vibrant. This is the default preview mode in the Product Creator.
CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black)
CMYK is the color mode used in printing. Colors in this mode may appear slightly less vibrant, but they provide a more realistic preview of how the final printed product may look.

You can switch between these options in the Mockup color mode section of the Product Creator.

Product Creator mockup preview showing a notebook design while switching between CMYK and RGB color modes.

Which preview mode should I use?

Choose CMYK if you want a preview that’s closer to the final printed result.
Choose RGB if you prefer brighter mockups for your storefront or product listings.

In most cases, the difference between the two modes is subtle. However, differences become more noticeable with very bright or neon-like colors, since some colors visible on screens cannot be reproduced exactly in print.

What should I know before choosing a mockup color mode?

The selected mockup color mode affects:

the mockup preview in the Product Creator,
and the mockups uploaded to your sales channel.

Your original design file is not changed. The same uploaded design file will still be sent to the Print Provider for production.

We recommend uploading your design files in RGB color mode whenever possible, since it provides the widest range of colors for Print Providers to work with.

To learn more about preparing design files, read our article on which color profile to use for your files.