WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RGB AND CMYK?

When creating and submitting designs for digital use or print, knowing the difference between RGB and CMYK is critically important as your choice of format will directly affect the outcome of the finished graphic.

WHAT IS RGB?

RGB stands for RED, GREEN, and BLUE. It is the colour system that is used to display colours on digital screens.

RGB is mixed together on screen to create colours that you see digitally.

Within a pixel is a set of RGB ‘dots’, varying light is then passed through each dot to accurately display an image on screen. When no light is passed through a dot, this creates black and when maximum light is pushed through a ‘dot’ white is achieved.

RGB should only be used for digital images that are being displayed on computer screens, TVs, and mobile phones. RGB is not suitable for images that are to be printed.

WHAT IS CMYK?

CMYK stands for CYAN, MAGENTA, YELLOW and KEY (Black). It is the colour system that is used for printing.

These colours are printed in a dot pattern, but they are then blended together visually to form the image. In the printing industry, a variety of dot structures are employed, and their sizes can also differ. The size can range from 300dpi for high-resolution prints, down to 15dpi for billboard prints.

When submitting designs for print, CMYK should always be used for accurate colour representations. If RGB is translated to CMYK in the printing process, colours will be inaccurate and appear duller than expected.

When choosing between RGB and CMYK, it’s important to remember that there are advantages and disadvantages to each one.

Both RGB and CMYK have their place and understanding the difference between these two-colour models can help you know where to use which one to achieve the greatest outcome.

For all your label, tag and signage print requirements; contact our team today and we will be more than happy to talk you through the options available!