Short answer: colour on a screen differs from colour in print, so ask in writing which colour space and profile the printer wants, and approve a printed piece before a bulk run.
| Term | Meaning | Where it matters |
|---|---|---|
| sRGB | A working colour space; the ICC publishes sRGB profiles. | File colour space |
| CMYK | Cyan, magenta, yellow and black ink; values made for one printer, ink and paper will not necessarily look the same on another. | Print conversion |
| ICC profile | Describes the relationship between the digital values a device handles and a standard colour space. | Colour management |
| Source profile | Says what the image data means. | Embedded in artwork |
| Destination profile | Says how to convert that colour for an output such as a printer. | Printer conversion |
| Profile connection space | The common space through which a source profile and a destination profile connect. | How conversion works |
| Embedded profile | How a file indicates its colour space; embedding keeps the source profile with the file. | Sending artwork |
| Soft proof | A monitor simulation of the print; it needs an ICC printer profile and is a prediction, not a certain result. | Early colour check |
| Hard proof | In offset printing, a pre-print made on paper; the guide also uses it for a physical sample on the run material. | Approval before bulk |
| Dye ink | An ink type; pigment inks are generally more fade-resistant, though some recent dye inks carry ratings of 100 years or more. | Fading on a wall |
| Pigment ink | An ink type generally more fade-resistant than dye ink; behind glass the difference in appearance largely disappears. | Fading on a wall |
| Lightfastness rating | A result from accelerated tests under set conditions; results from different test methods may not be comparable. | Reading a rating |
Back to the main private label glossary.
Sources: sRGB or CMYK [S20]; what an ICC profile is [S21]; soft proof vs hard proof [S22]; dye ink vs pigment ink [S23]. As of 2026-11-12. Terms are typical and are confirmed in your written quote.