RGB vs CYMK
We live in a world that still values both print and digital in our everyday lives.
You may not have put much thought into it, but every newspaper, magazine, and book you have picked up, is inked using CYMK color mode. Every movie you have seen, computer, and phone, you have used is displayed using light RGB color mode.
So how important is it to know the difference between RGB and CYMK?
If you’re someone who works with design, color matching and printing in your everyday life, I would pay close attention to the infographic below. Don’t settle for a print that is 3 shades off!
Why is Black represented by the letter “K”?
During the time when printing press were highly used, black represented the letter K, which means “key plate.” The key plate is an important color contribution when it comes to copy, shade and contrast, making it key in printing. When it comes down to it, choosing between RGB and CMYK really depends on the stage. Choose RGB for anything displayed on screen and in digital form. Choose CMYK for anything printed. If the project requires both, always design in CMYK first so when it’s time to design in RGB it’s easier to match the color since RGB has a wider color range. But if you have already designed in RGB color mode, always convert your RGB files to CMYK before sending it out for printing. This way, you’ll know what to expect and can always adjust the color that is closest to your desired outcome!
Here are the few ways you can cross reference your color mode:
Converting color mode
Adobe Photoshop
Go to Menu > Image > Mode > CMYK > Select 300 dpi resolutionCross reference which color looks off from the original and adjust as needed.
rgb2cmyk.org 🡥
An online tool to convert image files from RGB to CMYK format. Just upload your image (up to 12MB), choose your CMYK conversion profile, then download it as a JPEG or TIFF format.
Rapidtables.com 🡥
An online tool to convert a single color from RGB to CMYK format and vis-versa. Enter the color code and click “convert.” It’ll calculate the closest color available on the CMYK spectrum. A great tool to use to choose the color that would work great for both digital and print.