CMYK Vs RGB

Sometimes clients are unsure what format they should be supplying images to us in, CMYK or RGB so we've put together a guide to explain the differences.

CMYK

As a basic rule, CMYK colours are used when producing any printed materials. This is because traditionally, printers use four colour plates to create the colours needed, cyan, magenta, yellow and black. CYMK colours are subtractive and are made up by a combination of these colours.

By using CMYK colours when designing a product, it will ensure the colours are the same on the printed outcome and there is little difference in colours.

RGB

RGB colours are typically used when producing design work for screen use or for the web. This is due to monitors giving off coloured light made up of the primary colours red, green and blue. These are additive colours and when all colours are subtracted the outcome will be black as the colours absorb the light. When all three colours are combined fully, the outcome will be white.

Using RGB colours will produce the colours that the screen will show, meaning there will be no difference in colour for the final outcome and the design. RGB colour modes offer a wider range of colours than CMYK.