RGB vs CMYK: What's the Difference?
Color Gamuts: RGB & CMYK
What is a Color Gamut?
A color gamut, or color spectrum, refers to all the visible colors an output device can display or produce, such as:
- Computer monitors
- Phones
- Printers
- Your eyes
The RGB spectrum (used for digital screens) has a broader range of colors than CMYK (used for print). This is why colors like neon or bright hues can appear duller when printed compared to how they look on a screen.
RGB vs. CMYK: Digital vs. Print
RGB
- Stands for Red, Green, and Blue.
- Digital screens combine red, green, and blue lights to create colors.
- RGB is ideal for digital displays but must be converted to CMYK for printing.
CMYK
- Stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (Black).
- In printing, inks are layered to achieve colors in a design.
- Mixing cyan, magenta, and yellow produces muddy colors, so black ink is added to improve contrast and detail.
- CMYK is required for all print files to ensure colors translate accurately during printing.
Key Takeaways
- RGB has a wider color gamut than CMYK.
- Colors that look vibrant on a screen in RGB may appear less bright when converted to CMYK for print.
- CMYK Mode is necessary for print files, and RGB files must be converted before printing.
See the infographic below for a detailed explanation of the differences between RGB and CMYK.
