CSS Function

print-color-adjust

The print-color-adjust property controls whether the browser may adjust colors for optimal print output or screen readability.

Syntax

print-color-adjust: economy | exact

Parameters

NameTypeRequiredDescription
economykeywordNoBrowser may adjust colors to save ink/toner (default)
exactkeywordNoBrowser should preserve colors as authored

Examples

Force background printing

Ensures background colors are printed.

css
.print-card {
  print-color-adjust: exact;
  -webkit-print-color-adjust: exact;
  background: #3b82f6;
  color: white;
}

Color swatch printing

Essential for printing color palettes accurately.

css
.swatch {
  print-color-adjust: exact;
}

Browser Support

Chrome

v17+ (-webkit-)+

Firefox

v97++

Safari

v15.4+ (-webkit-)+

Edge

v79+ (-webkit-)+

Opera

v15+ (-webkit-)+

Tailwind Equivalent

You can achieve similar results in Tailwind CSS using the following utility classes:

No direct utility. Apply via arbitrary properties: [print-color-adjust:exact]

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do backgrounds not print by default?
Browsers default to economy mode to save ink/toner. Users must enable 'print backgrounds' in print settings, or authors can use print-color-adjust: exact.
Do I still need the -webkit- prefix?
Yes. Chrome and Safari require -webkit-print-color-adjust. Use both the prefixed and standard properties for compatibility.

Explore CSS Color Tools

Try our free tools to work with print-color-adjust and other CSS color functions.

Open Tools