Have you ever designed a vibrant graphic on your computer, only to find that it looks dull and muted once printed? This frustrating issue happens because your screen and your printer speak two completely different colour languages.
So, what is RGB?
Optimised for Screen
RGB is an additive colour model used exclusively for digital displays. It creates colours by mixing light against a dark screen.
- The Acronym: Red, Green, Blue.
- How it Works: Your screen starts as pure darkness. It projects tiny pixels of red, green, and blue light at varying intensities to create millions of vibrant shades.
- The White Effect: Combining all three lights at maximum intensity (255, 255, 255) produces pure white light.
- Best Used For: Websites, social media graphics, digital ads, videos, and mobile apps.
- Common File Formats: JPEG, PNG, GIF, and WebP
What is CMYK?
Optimised for Print
CMYK is a subtractive colour model used for physical printing. It creates colours by layering ink pigments that mask the natural brightness of a white background.
- The Acronym: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (Black).
- Why ‘Key’?: Black is called the “Key” colour because printing presses use a black key plate to add detail, depth, and contrast.
- How it Works: A printer deposits tiny dots of ink onto paper. These inks absorb (subtract) certain wavelengths of light, reflecting only the specific colours you are meant to see.
- The Black Effect: Combining cyan, magenta, and yellow ink creates a muddy brown. Pure black ink (K) must be added to achieve deep, sharp shadows.
- Best Used For: Business cards, brochures, flyers, t-shirts, packaging, and posters.
Why Does this Difference Matter?
The main issue stems from the colour gamut, which is the spectrum of colours a system can realistically produce.
Managing the shift from digital screens to physical paper shouldn’t take up your valuable business time. While understanding RGB and CMYK helps you prepare your files, you don’t have to be a print expert to get professional results.
At Print Art, we specialise in helping small and medium businesses look their best in print. Our team automatically checks your files before production to ensure your designs transition into sharp, beautiful, and accurate printed materials every single time.
Have a project ready for the presses, or not sure if your files are in the right format? Get in touch with our team today and we will be happy to handle the rest.