RGB v CMYK - My Neon Green isn't showing up!

[BrandonSi]

I'm designing my own business cards in CS2 (using a correct template with room for bleed, etc..) and I like how they look on the screen, but when I print them out on a local color printer (or even a nice color laser at work) the bright solid neon-green area I have on the card turns out looking more like a dark spinach green. I thought it might have been a monitor/printer issue so I took the neon green to the brightest color I could get it (#00FF0C) and it still printed out the same exact spinach green color. I played around converting it to CMYK and all of a sudden I lost my neon green and got the crappy spinach color on my screen. Is any of this related? Any ideas why my nice neon green isn't being printed?

[UncleDoug]

I'm designing my own business cards in CS2 (using a correct template with room for bleed, etc..) and I like how they look on the screen, but when I print them out on a local color printer (or even a nice color laser at work) the bright solid neon-green area I have on the card turns out looking more like a dark spinach green. I thought it might have been a monitor/printer issue so I took the neon green to the brightest color I could get it (#00FF0C) and it still printed out the same exact spinach green color. I played around converting it to CMYK and all of a sudden I lost my neon green and got the crappy spinach color on my screen. Is any of this related? Any ideas why my nice neon green isn't being printed?

The green you are looking at on screen IS somewhat close to a neon sign.
Monitors are RGB devices that transmit light.
4-color prints are CMYK based and reflect light.
By definition you can not achieve that neon green you see on the screen with 4-color printing.
Unless your printer is using a RGB based printer(LightJet, etc..) you'll need to find a printer that is Hexachrome(CMYKOG) compliant or will run a 5th bump plate to get the green you are looking for.

[BrandonSi]

The green you are looking at on screen IS somewhat close to a neon sign.
Monitors are RGB devices that transmit light.
4-color prints are CMYK based and reflect light.
By definition you can not achieve that neon green you see on the screen with 4-color printing.
Unless your printer is using a RGB based printer(LightJet, etc..) you'll need to find a printer that is Hexachrome(CMYKOG) compliant or will run a 5th bump plate to get the green you are looking for.

Wow, good to know. I guess I'll check my business card printer.. they advertise "full color" printing, but i'm not sure what that means exactly.

UPDATE -

Now that I look at it, the printer requires the file in CMYK, so I guess it'd be easier to design the whole card in the CMYK color space, that way I know what can be printed out.. Damn, I really liked that neon green too :)

[PhotosGuy]

I've read that color laser printers suck, so that might be part of your problem. If you open the color dialog box there's an option to use Pantone inks which are very accurate, but you'll need to see a swatch book to pick out the colors you want the commercial printer to use.

[UncleDoug]

If you open the color dialog box there's an option to use Pantone inks which are very accurate, but you'll need to see a swatch book to pick out the colors you want the commercial printer to use.

A swatch book may be necessary, if the bump plate in a 4c scenario will be a spot color.
If the printer is Hexachrome compliant all you need to do is sent them an RGB file.

[Mernya]

Neon colors are generally out of gamut for print devices. Like what was recommended, you generally need a spot color or hexachrome. You could also try something more on the lines of a C50-M0-Y100-K0 and see if that reproduces to your needs.