If you’re a designer, you’ve likely been faced with RGB vs CMYK color modes every time you start a new project. Understanding the differences between the two is vital to help you plan and optimize your designs, regardless of where they’re displayed. However, the in-depth knowledge of these modes includes more than just what the letters stand for.
In this blog, we’ll explain everything about RGB vs CMYK, what they are, and how each color mode works to help you ace your design project! So, let’s begin.
RGB vs. CMYK: The Basics
Essentially, RGB and CMYK are ways to mix colors in graphic design. Simply put, RGB is the technique used for digital projects, while CMYK works best for anything you plan to print. The knowledge of RGB vs CMYK can make or break your design. So, to achieve the best results, you need to know how each one works. Let’s break it down.
What is RGB?
RGB color space has Red, Green, and Blue as its primary colors. This technique works best for designs that are displayed on screens like smartphones, computers, smartwatches, or jumbotrons. Digital screens use red, green, and blue bulbs with different intensities to show colors on LED screens. These bulbs mimic the red, green, and blue cones (receptors) in our eyes to shine.
This process is called additive mixing. It starts with a black background, and then red, green, and blue lights are added to create desired colors. When all three colors are mixed together at equal intensity, they produce pure white. Since it’s all digital, you can tweak the light that appears on the screen to create your desired colors.
Typically, RGB values lie between 0-255, giving 256 levels for each red, green, and blue color. Once you combine these levels, you can create a color spectrum from black to white. This gives rise to over 16 million possible colors in the RGB color scheme!
Basic RGB Applications
Now, one thing’s pretty obvious – turning to RGB vs CMYK for print is the best idea. You may be wondering when exactly you should use the RGB mode when working on digital designs. Here’s a list of on-screen projects that go best with the RGB color mode:
- Website or App logos
- Digital icons, buttons, and graphics
- Online advertisements
- Digital infographics
- Branding
- Social media images
- Profile photos
- Social media backgrounds
- Videos
- GIFs
What is CMYK?
Designs intended for print turn to CMYK color space, with four colors making up the model: cyan, magenta, yellow, and key (black). Black is separately added to the model because no combination of the existing lighter colors creates a fully opaque black color. Essentially, CMYK color space works best for commercial printing and other printing processes.
In the printing process, images are formed by mixing CMYK colors using physical ink. This is known as subtractive mixing since it uses subtractive colors. Unlike RGB, where adding colors brightens the end result, CMYK darkens the outcome every time more color is added. This is because the colors in this space absorb light, so more ink reduces the amount of light reflected.
In the CMYK color model, all colors initially begin as white, with each layer of ink reducing brightness. This means that when all colors are mixed with 0% intensity, a white color is created. Conversely, when all four colors are combined at full intensity, they produce black color.
Basic CMYK Applications
Unlike RGB color mode, CMYK works best on projects that are physically printed rather than being viewed digitally. Here’s a list of projects where CMYK serves as the ideal option:
- Printing with ink
- Posters and Business cards
- Billboard advertisements
- Brochures
- Merchandise printing
- Restaurant Menus
- Promotional Swag
- Vehicle Wraps
How to Convert Between RGB and CMYK Color Schemes?
In case you’ve mistakenly started your project in the wrong color mode, don’t worry – there’s still a way out. Thanks to recent technological advancements, most modern design software lets you change color mode without any hassle.
However, when you switch color modes, chances are you might notice slight changes in your colors. For instance, the colors may appear too vibrant or entirely washed away. You may need to adjust them slightly to make sure they appear the same as before. If you’re confused about how to do this, a simple Google search for color converters can provide useful tools to assist you in the process.
For instance, if you’re aiming to convert between color schemes in Photoshop, the process is pretty straightforward. Simply head over to the “Edit” menu and select “Convert to Profile.” In the “Destination Space” dropdown menu, choose your desired color mode. For a similar image appearance, click “flatten image” and proceed to print your image with the newly selected color mode.
FAQs
Instead of using the red, green, and blue (RGB) colors common on digital screens, high-end commercial digital printers use a CMYK color model made up of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (key). Oftentimes, both RGB and CMYK processes mix colors to create dark tones that can look like black ink.
Sending a document with RGB colors to print does more harm than good. For instance, it leads to several issues such as unexpected color changes, slower printing times, or even print failures. However, when using CMYK for print design, you can ensure better print quality and reduce problems by a huge margin.
RGB is brighter than CMYK primarily because it has a wider color range, whereas CMYK can’t replicate the brighter colors. The vibrant hues remain outside the CMYK spectrum and appear darker and duller when printed compared to how they look on your display screen.
Final Words
When you’re a designer, the last thing you want is your project not turning out the way you wanted just because the colors refuse to sit well. So, cracking the RGB vs CMYK color wheel beforehand is just as important as taking care of fonts, element sizes, and spacing within your work!
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