RGB vs. CMYK colour
Exploring RGB vs. CMYK: Understanding colour modes in digital design and printing
In the world of digital design and printing, understanding colour modes is crucial for achieving accurate and vibrant results. Two primary color models dominate this landscape: RGB and CMYK. While they both serve the purpose of defining colours, they operate on fundamentally different principles, each suited for specific applications.
RGB (Red, Green, Blue)
RGB is an additive color model primarily used in electronic displays such as computer monitors, television screens, and digital cameras. The acronym stands for Red, Green, and Blue – the primary colours of light. Here’s how RGB works:
Additive Color Mixing: In RGB, colors are created by adding various intensities of red, green, and blue light. When these colours are combined at full intensity, they produce white light.
Digital Display: RGB is ideal for digital displays because electronic screens emit light. Each pixel on a screen is composed of red, green, and blue subpixels, which emit light at different intensities to produce a wide range of colours.
Applications: RGB is the go-to colour mode for anything displayed on screens, including websites, digital artwork, and multimedia presentations.
CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black)
CMYK is a subtractive color model used in color printing, also known as four-colour process printing. The acronym stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black (Key). Here’s how CMYK works:
Subtractive Color Mixing: In CMYK, colours are created by subtracting varying percentages of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks from white paper. When all colours are combined at full intensity, they theoretically produce black (though in practice, a separate black ink is used for quality and efficiency).
Printing Process: CMYK is the standard colour mode for printing because it represents the colors achievable through the mixing of pigments or dyes on paper. Each colour in an image is separated into four different printing plates, one for each ink color, and combined during the printing process.
Applications: CMYK is essential for any printed material, including magazines, brochures, posters, and packaging.
Key differences and considerations
Color Gamut: RGB has a wider colour gamut compared to CMYK, meaning it can produce more vibrant and saturated colors. This is because RGB colors are additive and produced by emitted light, while CMYK colours are subtractive and limited by the range of inks and printing processes.
Color Accuracy: Designs created in RGB may look different when printed in CMYK due to differences in color reproduction between digital displays and printing processes. It’s crucial to preview designs in CMYK mode before sending them for printing to ensure colour accuracy.
Conversion: Converting between RGB and CMYK can result in colour shifts and loss of vibrancy. It’s best to work in the appropriate colour mode from the beginning of a project to minimize potential issues during conversion.
Workflow: Designers working on projects intended for both digital and print formats may need to manage colour modes effectively throughout the design process to ensure consistency across different mediums.
RGB (Red, Green, Blue) is additive
CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) is subtractive
Conclusion
RGB and CMYK are two essential colour modes in the world of digital design and printing, each serving distinct purposes and applications.
When we develop an identity and style guide, we define colours in RGB and CMYK, trying to make both as closely as possible. But some RGB colours just aren’t achievable in CMYK.
Understanding their differences and knowing when to use each is crucial for achieving accurate and high-quality results in both digital and print projects. By leveraging the strengths of RGB for digital displays and CMYK for printing, we can create visually stunning and impactful designs across various mediums.
Contact us if you have any colour questions!
The example above compares colours in RGB, and their automatic CMYK equivalent. RGB can be much more vibrant than CMYK.
If you’ve ever printed a photo that looks beautiful and vibrant onscreen, but looks muddy and dull when printed, this is because your image is RGB and your printer has to convert it to CMYK.