Color on Colored Paper

See how CMYK colors appear differently on colored stock vs. white-backed areas

Back to Red Planet

Color Shift Comparison

Click a color to see how it appears on different substrates

Select a Color

White Paper

True color reference

Red Paper

No white underprint

White Backed

HP White 1 underprint

Why Colors Shift

Ink Transparency

CMYK inks are transparent. On white paper, light bounces back cleanly. On red paper, the paper color shows through and tints your printed colors.

Color Contamination

Blues become purple-ish. Yellows become orange. Greens shift toward brown. The deeper the paper color, the stronger the tinting effect.

Design Tip

Use white ink (HP White 1) under areas where color accuracy matters. Leave areas without white to let the paper color become part of your design.