Skip to content
English - United Kingdom
Contact us
  • There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

CMYK vs RGB: What’s the Difference?

When designing for print or digital platforms, understanding the differences between CMYK and RGB colour profiles is essential. These two-colour models serve distinct purposes and can impact the final appearance of your designs.

What is CMYK?

CMYK

CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (Black), which are the four ink colours used in full-colour printing. It’s called a subtractive colour model because colours are made by removing certain parts of light.

Think of starting with a white piece of paper, which reflects all light. When different amounts of cyan, magenta, and yellow inks are added, they absorb some of the light and let the rest reflect, creating the colours you see.

When all colours are mixed in equal amounts, they create a dark shade, so black ink is added separately for better depth and detail.

PRINT

What is RGB?RGB

RGB stands for Red, Green, and Blue, the primary colours of light used in digital screens like computers, TVs, and phones.

Unlike CMYK, RGB is an additive colour model. Starting with black (no light), colours are created by mixing different amounts of red, green, and blue light.

When all three colours are combined at their brightest, they create white light.

DIGITAL

 

Key Differences Between CMYK and RGB

Medium
  • CMYK is used for physical printing.
  • RGB is used for digital screens.
 Colour Creation
  • CMYK subtracts light to create colours.
  • RGB adds light to create colours.
Gamut (Colour Range)
  • RGB offers a broader colour range, making it suitable for vibrant, luminous designs.
  • CMYK has a narrower gamut, focusing on colours achievable with ink.
 Output
  • Colours in RGB may look different when converted to CMYK, often appearing less vibrant.
  • CMYK ensures the colours seen in print match closely with expectations.

 

How CMYK and RGB Work Together

When designing artwork for digital screens, it’s common to work in RGB (Red, Green, Blue) because screens use these colours to create images. RGB designs tend to appear brighter due to the way light is emitted by the screen. However, when it comes to printing, designers need to shift to CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black), which is the colour mode needed by printers.

If you start your design in RGB, it will need to be converted to CMYK before printing. This conversion adjusts the colours to fit the CMYK range, which can sometimes cause a slight shift in the final print colours.

We recommend to design your artwork in a CMYK mode for print projects. This ensures better colour accuracy and reduces the need for conversion, which can sometimes lead to alterations in colour.

CMYK DESIGN

If your print files are created in RGB, our system will automatically convert them to CMYK. We cannot guarentee that the colour shift will be accurate to the file you submit. If you would like to be confident of your file prior to printing, we recommend placing your order on a File Check and Proofing service.