Colors on a screen and physical paper look different because of how colors are created. Color on a screen is created through light. The colors of red, green, and blue are mixed together with different amounts to create different colors. Because of these colors being from light, the colors look brighter and more vibrant. Printed color is created through ink and a mixture of the colors magenta, yellow, cyan and, black (CM. Ink absorbs the light, making the colors duller and darker. This is why a printed image may look different than it did on the screen prior to printing it.