RGB and CMYK are 2 of the near common color modes or spaces used in graphic design. While they both have their ain advantages, each 1 is better suited for dissimilar types of projects. It's important to understand the differences betwixt RGB vs. CMYK so y'all can cull the one that'due south best for your pattern project. This article will break downwardly what these colour modes are, how they piece of work, the differences between RGB and CMYK, why the colour style matters, and when you should use each.

RGB vs. CMYK Overview and Why It Matters for Design

RGB and CYMK are the two near pop color modes used by graphic designers. The master divergence between RGB vs. CMYK is that RGB is best for digital images that will be displayed on a screen (reckoner, Television set, tablet, smartphone, or whatever other screen), while CMYK is ideal for designs that will be printed (brochures, flyers, concern cards, etc.).

Choosing the correct color mode for your design projects is critical because information technology directly impacts how your final design appears. If you're designing an image to be printed, using CMYK is best considering information technology allows the printer to accurately reproduce the colors in your design, resulting in correct coloring. On the other paw, if you lot decide to use RGB for a pattern that will be printed, there's no guarantee the printed piece will wait like what yous meet on the screen. The colors might end upwards looking duller than expected or completely different than what you intended.

There are many cases where even slight inaccuracies in color will create significant problems. For example, if you're a graphic designer working for a client and their brand colors are off when the blueprint is printed, that'due south probable to cause significant issues.

The reverse state of affairs applies when you're designing for a screen. The RGB color space is intended for designs that will exist displayed on a screen, and if you were to use CMYK instead, the colors could wait off when displayed on a screen.

In brusque, using the correct color space ensures the colors in your design will look their all-time.

What is RGB?

RGB stands for Red-Dark-green-Blue. It uses unlike combinations of these 3 colors to form whatsoever other color possible on your calculator or Television receiver screen using additive light. As a result, RGB is considered an condiment colour model.

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This image illustrates how RGB works.

RGB Diagram - RGB vs. CMYK

There are millions of shades in the range of colors in the visible spectrum because you lot tin combine red, green, and blue in an almost infinite number of ways.

When Should I Use the RGB Color Style?

If yous're designing annihilation that will be viewed on a screen (estimator, Television set, tablet, mobile phone, or any other blazon of screen), RGB is the proper color fashion to apply. This includes:

  • Icons
  • Logos (for use in website and app design)
  • Buttons
  • UI elements
  • Banner ads
  • Blog and social media images
  • Profile images and covers
  • Infographics
  • Digital photos
  • Video content

RGB Values for Mutual Colors

Each RGB color has three different numbers from 0-255 (i number for R, one number for K, and another number for B). These numbers signal how much cherry, green, and blueish are used to create the color.

Color "R" Value "G" Value "B" Value
RGB White 255 255 255
RGB Black 0 0 0
RGB Red 255 0 0
RGB Green 0 255 0
RGB Blue 0 0 255

Those values can exist adjusted to create other shades. For example, the image below shows a darker cherry-red. You can meet the values for this shade in the table below.

Colour "R" Value "Thousand" Value "B" Value
RGB Darker Red 196 8 8

And of course, colors like orange, purple, and pinkish are created with a mixture of red, green, and blue.

What is CMYK?

CMYK stands for Cyan-Magenta-Yellowish-Black ("K" is used to stand for blackness to avert confusion with the "B" in RGB, which stands for blue). It uses different combinations of these four colors of ink to create any color in the color gamut using subtractive light. As a outcome, CMYK is considered a subtractive color model.

This image illustrates how CMYK works.

CMYK Diagram - Difference between RGB and CMYK

Colors are taken away or subtracted to create lighter shades, which is the difference betwixt RGB and CMYK and how they process colors. CMYK values are measured in percentages (you'll see this in action beneath).

When Should I Use the CMYK Colour Manner?

The CMYK color way should be designed when you lot're creating something that will exist printed, like:

  • Brochures
  • Business cards
  • Flyers
  • Billboards
  • Signs and posters
  • Magazines
  • Book covers
  • Stationary
  • Promotional items
  • Product packaging
  • Invitations
  • Menus

When digital files in CMYK color style are printed, the colors of the finished production volition match the intended colors as closely equally possible.

Notation: Exist certain to refer to the instructions provided by your printer or lab for preparing digital files for printing. The exact details may vary from one printer to the next because of their specific setup. If their instruction for the commercial printing process differ from the information presented in this commodity, follow the instructions of the printer because they know their setup best.

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How to View CMYK Colors Correctly on Your Screen

We know that CMYK is the correct colour mode when designing for the print procedure and that RGB is the color space used by screens. But, you may be wondering how yous can design in CMYK using a screen or monitor that'due south actually displaying colors in RGB.

Your monitor can't show truthful CMYK colors. This is considering the CMYK color mode uses reflective light or subtractive color. Your reckoner monitor uses projected light or additive colour.

The design software you're using (for case, Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator) volition do its best to emulate the colors as they volition be seen in CMYK. However, although these programs are very expert, they are not perfect and at that place may exist a slight variation when printed. Whenever possible, information technology'due south ideal to go a sample hard proof printed to verify that the colors are authentic before press a large run. Soft proofs are more mutual, simply these are digital files, so you're not actually able to see the printed slice with a soft proof.

CMYK Values for Common Colors

Each CMYK colour has four different numbers that are presented in percentages (one value for C, one value for M, one value for Y, and another value for K). These numbers indicate how much cyan, magenta, yellow, and black ink is used past the printer to create the colour.

For example, white is:

  • C: 0%
  • M: 0%
  • Y: 0%
  • K: 0%

With that in mind, you would assume that using 100% for Yard (black) and 0% for the others would create the darkest black color possible. Even so, that's not the instance. Those values will actually create a dark grey. If you want a rich black, you'll need to introduce some cyan, magenta, and yellow. Here are the settings that volition produce true black in CMYK:

  • C: 75%
  • 1000: 68%
  • Y: 67%
  • K: 90%
Color "C" Value "M" Value "Y" Value "Grand" Value
CMYK White 0% 0% 0% 0%
CMYK Cyan 100% 0% 0% 0%
CMYK Magenta 0% 100% 0% 0%
CMYK Yellow 0% 0% 100% 0%
CMYK Black 75% 68% 67% 90%

How to Set Colour Modes

The specifics of how you will prepare the color mode depend on the software or app you're using. Here you'll detect instructions for setting the colour style in the most pop programs.

Please note that some popular open up-source programs, including Inkscape and GIMP, do not provide full back up for the CMYK color space. As a result, these programs are far more ideal for designs that volition exist viewed on screens, rather than designs to exist printed. 1 workaround is to use Scribus, gratuitous and open-source desktop publishing software, and import an RGB file created in Inkscape or GIMP, and and so convert information technology to CMYK. Nonetheless, this process is a bit clunky and certainly non as ideal equally using the programs listed below.

How to Set the Color Style in Illustrator

Yous tin set the color manner when you're creating a new certificate in Illustrator (File > New). The color manner setting is under the Advanced Options, so y'all'll need to open up the collapsible card to set the color way. With the Avant-garde Options open up, you can select the color space from a dropdown menu.

Setting the Color Mode in Illustrator

Related: Inkscape vs. Illustrator

How to Ready the Color Fashion in Photoshop

The procedure is very similar in Photoshop, just you won't have to open up the Advanced Options. When you lot're creating a new document in Photoshop (File > New), the colour way is one of the options you'll come across. Yous tin select the color mode you want from the dropdown.

Setting the Color Mode in Photoshop

How to Set the Color Mode in InDesign

When you create a new certificate in InDesign, you'll choose Impress, Web, or Mobile, based on what you lot're creating. InDesign will automatically set the colour mode based on your choice. If you lot're creating something for print, InDesign will set the color mode to CMYK. If you're creating something for web or mobile, InDesign volition set the color mode to RGB.

How to Change the Color Mode

Ideally, yous'll know the correct color mode and fix information technology before you lot beginning designing. Merely if you already accept a design created or in-process and you realize it's not in the platonic color manner, a modify tin exist made. You'll find the details of how to make that change below, but be aware that the conversion may not be perfect. Always check the colors after converting to RGB or CMYK and adjust the colors if needed.

How to Alter the Color Mode in Illustrator

To change the color mode in Illustrator, go to Edit > Edit Colors and select the color mode you want to employ.

Changing Color Mode in Illustrator

How to Modify the Color Mode in Photoshop

In Photoshop, become to Edit > Convert to Contour and yous'll run into the dialogue box shown below. Use the dropdown in the Destination Infinite to select the color way you lot want.

Convert Color Mode in Photoshop

How to Change the Color Manner in InDesign

Changing the color mode in InDesign requires that you edit the export settings. Go to File > Adobe PDF Presets > [Printing Quality] and select a Destination. In the Export Adobe PDF dropdown, select Output. In the Color settings, use the Destination dropdown to select the color style you desire to use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Hither, we'll provide answers to some common questions about colour modes and RGB vs CMYK.

Why is CMYK Better Than RGB?

While RGB is the meliorate colour fashion for screens and digital uses, CMYK is preferred when you're designing something that will be printed. CMYK is intended for print-based design because the color values determine how much cyan, magenta, yellow, and black ink is used by the printer for each colour. There is no definitive answer in the RGB vs. CMYK debate. It merely depends on what you lot're designing.

Should I Work in RGB or CMYK?

The appropriate color mode will depend on how your design will exist used. If you're designing something that volition exist viewed on a screen, use RGB as it will produce brighter colors. If you're designing something that volition be printed, utilize CMYK.

What Happens if You Print RGB?

It'south possible to print the from RGB colour manner, just information technology will not produce accurate colors and there volition be colour differences. The colors in an RGB image can be converted and printed as CMYK, only the conversion may non create the desired result. If yous're creating something that must be printed, designing in CMYK from the start will requite you the all-time results.

Do I Demand to Convert RGB to CMYK for Color Printing?

Most printers and labs will adopt to receive files in CMYK color fashion instead of RGB. Exist certain to bank check with your printer or lab for instructions, but in most cases, if your digital file is in RGB, it should exist converted to CMYK before printing.

Does Adobe Illustrator Employ RGB?

Yes, Adobe Illustrator uses RGB as its color mode by default for digital graphics. However, you tin can alter information technology to CMYK if yous're designing something that volition be printed.

Why Do Monitors Utilise RGB?

Computer monitors utilize the RGB color mode because they project brilliant light. Monitors use low-cal, not paint. The RGB color fashion uses light to determine colors, while CMYK uses paint.

Can JPGs be CMYK?

Technically, yes, JPG files can be saved in CMYK. Yet, back up for CMYK JPGs is express, so they may not be viewed properly. PDF would be a meliorate file format choice, or you could utilize one of the popular vector file formats like AI or EPS.

Can PNGs exist CMYK?

The PNG file format is intended for files that volition exist viewed on a screen, so it does non support CMYK.

Concluding Thoughts on RGB vs. CMYK

Choosing the right colour mode is an of import part of the design process. Thankfully, the RGB vs. CMYK decision is an easy one since it comes down to whether y'all're designing for the screen or for print.

The divergence between RGB and CMYK is how the colors are created. RGB (ruby green blue) is appropriate if yous're designing something to exist viewed on a screen or monitor, and CMYK (cyan magenta yellowish black) is the correct choice if you're designing for impress. Follow that basic rule and you should have your files in the right colour mode to achieve maximum colour accuracy.

Lead image by Yuda Rizwan Simatupang