AV Works

Colour on metal

Why RGB Is Not Printed Colour

A colour displayed on a monitor and a colour printed on a beverage can are produced by fundamentally different physical systems.

A screen preview is not a colour standard

A monitor creates colour using emitted light through red, green and blue channels.

A printed can creates colour through production ink, reflected light and the physical metal substrate.

PDFs, JPGs, 3D mockups and other digital previews are useful for evaluating composition, hierarchy and visual direction, but they are not suitable for final physical colour approval.

Target and result are different stages

A colour reference provides a shared target between the client, designer and production team.

The final physical appearance is determined by the production system, including ink, substrate, opacity, surface treatment and finish.

  1. 01

    RGB screen

    Visual orientation

  2. 02

    Colour target

    Requested colour

  3. 03

    Ink + substrate + opacity

    Physical production conditions

  4. 04

    Finish

    Gloss / Satin / Matte

  5. 05

    Physical approval

    Production reference

  6. 06

    Final printed colour

    Manufactured result

Metal is part of the colour system

Aluminium and steel are not neutral white printing surfaces. Their reflectance, tone and surface characteristics influence the visible result.

Basecoat and ink opacity can further change the relationship between the colour and the metal beneath it.

Related technical references

AV WORKS Tool

Can Colour & Finish Configurator

Open Can Colour & Finish Configurator

Digital guidance only. Final colour behaviour must be verified under the intended production conditions.