Whether you’re a business owner, CIO, CMO, or marketing manager, understanding the difference between color printing models is essential for creating beautiful visuals that reach your customers. CMYK and RGB are two of the most widely used color models in print and digital media. But what are they? And how do their differences affect the way colors appear onscreen and in print? Let’s take a look.
What Is CMYK?
CMYK stands for Cyan-Magenta-Yellow-Key (black). This four-color model is used primarily for printing purposes and is based on the subtractive color principle, which means that colors are created by subtracting portions of light from white. The colors combine to create secondary hues such as green, purple, brown, etc. When all four colors are combined at full strength it creates black. Otherwise known as process color printing, this model is used in offset printing where each individual ink—cyan, magenta, yellow and black—is applied directly to paper using specialized printing plates. As each layer of ink builds up it creates a range of colors that can be precisely replicated from one batch to another.
What Is RGB?
RGB stands for Red-Green-Blue and is based on an additive color principle where colors are added together rather than subtracted from white light. This model is primarily used for digital applications such as computer screens where red, green and blue phosphors combine to create a wide range of secondary hues when illuminated by a backlight or display panel. The result is a wider range of possible colors compared to CMYK but with more variation due to different displays having different capabilities when it comes to producing certain shades of color accurately.
While both models offer their own unique advantages when it comes to creating beautiful visuals for print or digital media, understanding the differences between them can help ensure that you get the most out of your marketing materials. By taking the time to understand how each model works you will have the knowledge needed to make sure your images look great across all platforms—from screen to page!