RGB / CMYK conversion

This article explains the fundamental difference between how colors appear on digital screens versus how they print on paper. Screens use RGB (red, green, blue) while printers use CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black), and these two color modes don't always produce matching results.

Why Conversion Matters

RGB scheme has a greater range of colors than CMYK and can produce colors that are more vivid and vibrant. Colors visible on monitors may appear darker and duller when printed because RGB's color range exceeds what CMYK can reproduce. To avoid print disappointment, designs should be converted from RGB to CMYK during the layout phase using software like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator.

RGB Color Mode

RGB is used by electronic displays including monitors, digital cameras, and scanners. It's an additive process combining red, green, and blue in varying amounts. When all three are at maximum intensity, the result is white; at minimum, it produces black. Photo editing software defaults to RGB because it offers the widest color range.

CMYK Color Mode

Printers exclusively use CMYK, a subtractive four-color process using cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. Unlike RGB, combining the first three colors produces dark brown rather than black—the K (black) layer is necessary to achieve true black and remove light from the printed image.