Affinity Designer PDF or Export Colors Look Wrong

How to fix it

Try these in order — the most common fix is first.

1. 1. Match the color format

   Copy steps
   1. For screen: set the export color format to RGB
   2. For print: keep CMYK and ask the printer for their profile
   3. Users in the Affinity subreddit fixed shifts by keeping the document CMYK and exporting as RGB
   Did this fix it? Yes No

2. 2. Check the color profile

   Copy steps
   1. Open Document Setup and check the color profile
   2. Use sRGB for web exports
   Did this fix it? Yes No

3. 3. Check gamut warnings

   1. Some saturated blues cannot be printed in CMYK: pick an in-gamut value
   Did this fix it? Yes No

4. 4. Preview with a proof

   1. Use a soft proof adjustment to preview print color before exporting
   Did this fix it? Yes No

Symptoms

Exported PDF, JPEG or PNG looks duller or shifted compared with the artboard, or a blue looks purple in print.

Why it happens

• CMYK to RGB conversion differs between apps
• Export default uses document settings and outputs CMYK that viewers display inconsistently
• Different working color profile than the viewer
• Saturated colors outside the CMYK gamut

This guide also covers

• affinity pdf colors wrong
• affinity cmyk to rgb different
• affinity export colors different

The same problem in other apps

All export, render & quality loss guides →

• Illustrator Export Not Working or Export Fails (Adobe Illustrator)
• Inkscape PNG Export Blurry or Low Resolution (Inkscape)
• Figma Export Not Working: Blank, Stuck or Wrong PDF/PNG (Figma)
• Sketch Export Blank, Blurry or Wrong Size (Sketch)

Other Affinity Designer errors

• Affinity Won't Open or Crashes on Launch
• Affinity Can't Sign In With Canva Account
• Affinity V2 License or Product Key Not Recognized
• Affinity Designer Exported PNG Is Blurry
• Affinity Fonts Missing or Not Showing
• Affinity Designer Slow or Laggy With Large Files
• How to Cancel Canva Pro or Get an Affinity Refund