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One of the most common questions I've gotten over the years is "What's the difference between CMYK and RGB?".
The "difference" depends on the context. It's more important to know when each one is appropriate, how to use them and what's involved with converting from one to the other.
The RGB color model is an additive color model in which red, green, and blue light are added together in various ways to reproduce a broad array of colors. The name of the model comes from the initials of the three additive primary colors, red, green, and blue. In other words, RGB is used when light is involved. Things like your computer monitor, TV, scanner and digital camera all use RGB color space.
CMYK (short for cyan, magenta, yellow, and key (black), and often referred to as process color or four color) is a subtractive color model, used in color printing, also used to describe the printing process itself. Such a model is called subtractive because inks “subtract” brightness from white. In other words, CMYK is used when pigment or ink is involved. Printing presses and home printers use CMYK color space.
Neither one is universally "better" for all applications. When designing something digitally, it's most important to know which color model to use and to make sure that you're using it from the very beginning.
When designing for websites or TV, RGB is the correct model to use. RGB has a wider color gamut (colors which can be accurately represented) than CMYK so designing with RGB colors results in a brighter, more vivid end result.
When designing for print, CMYK is the correct model to use. Because of CMYK's narrower gamut, RBG images will most likely appear washed out when comparing printed pieces to on-screen art.
Switching color modes:
Photoshop: Image>Mode (mode can also be selected when creating a new document)
Illustrator: File>Document Color Mode (mode can also be selected when creating a new document)
Comments
I always found it funny that GREEN is considered a primary color in printing and computer science. As a Fine Arts student I learned otherwise. Primary color is basically the integer of of colors, indivisible and yet green is composed of blue and yellow. Only an engineer can turn a horse into a speere to make the math work.
Very good post, thanks a lot.
Excellently written article, if only all bloggers offered the same content as you, the internet would be a much better place. Please keep it up! Cheers.
Thanks for the education, I didn't realise the differences between the two.
Thanks for clearing things up. I never knew the difference before, so I just stuck with RGB.
Its very important to know how to use the colors.Primary colors are basically the integers and produce other colors
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