Print Explained - Complete Guide to RGB & CMYKPosted by Fivestar on August 8th, 2022 From our mood to our brand image, colours spearhead a lot many things in our everyday lives. You might be surprised that even our buying choices are affected by colours in more ways that you would ever know. So, coming up with the right colour scheme is an unavoidable part of the process of designing artwork, and delivering your message loud and clear. And for that, you would have to decide which would be the best-suited colour system for your designs and prints. The two most common and widely-used colour systems in both print design and digital industries are RGB (Red, Green, Blue) and CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key). Let’s start by highlighting the major differences between the two, so that you can play with them like a pro on mediums like InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator. What is RGB and When is it Used?We already know that RGB stands for red, green and blue. The primary colours in this vivid colour system are produced by blending red, green and blue coloured light beams, which are then mixed together in different proportions to produce a broader spectrum of colours. This colour palette is mostly used in digital designs; so, the next time you see these colours on the screen of your TV, smartphone or computer, you shall know where do they come from. Colours in RGB need the right intensity to form the right colour. This implies that the balance between the most and least intensive colour has to be perfect for achieving the ideal colour saturation of the resultant colour. It’s noteworthy that lack of intensity will make RGB colours appear black, whereas full intensity will make them appear white. Hence, this colour system is predominantly used for digital designs like social media graphics and website designing. However, if you need to print these designs, they will have to be converted to CMYK. What is CMYK and When it is Used?The key colour in CMYK refers to black because it’s the main component in its key plate that plays the lead role in providing the needed contrast and detailing in the final image. Black is also called the ‘key colour’ because no possible combination of the other three colours in CMYK can create a completely saturated black colour. Widely-known as the four-colour process, this colour system uses four basic colours to form various colours. In CMYK, printed ink cuts the typically-reflecting light; because of which, it is also called a subtractive colour model that is ideal for any printed material including business collateral like brochures, business cards and letterheads. So, if coloured photography is a part of your print project, you can go ahead with CMYK for highest accuracy. While at it, there’s also a point you should be careful about! As the mixing of basic colours starts with the printing process, there are slight chances of minor inconsistencies. To avoid this blunder, you can ask your printing service provider to show you the exact printed sample before sending it in for bulk prints. RGB vs CMYK – Which One Shall I Choose?Although many business owners have started trusting easily-available colour templates for creating their print designs, they fail to offer the professional freshness and creativity needed to leave a lasting impression on their potential customers. Thus, it’s always a safe bet to walk forth with the word of an expert team. Fivestar is here to offer the goodness of its years of expertise and artistry to give you a competitive edge in the market. Are you ready for a transformative journey? Like it? Share it!More by this author |