CMYK Vs RGB, What Is Better For Prints?

March 13, 2024 Box Printing

You must have observed that most printers ask for the designs in the CMYK model for printing purposes. Have you ever thought why? In CMYK Vs RGB why CMYK is the preferred choice when we need physical printed models of our product?

The answer is quite simple, which is that RGB and CMYK both are color models suitable for different platforms. So if you need physically printed articles like custom boxes then you have to use CMYK to get your desired colors on the boxes.

On the other hand, between CMYK Vs RGB printing, you have to go with RGB when using digital devices. Although the advancement in the printing processes has eliminated the need for conversion of RGB into CMYK still to see the actual results on screen before printing, this conversion is better.

Why Color Model Is Important?

The importance of colors in marketing is not something hidden. The more your colors are good in quality the more you can get a hyper-realistic design that will help you in effectively promoting your product. While designing your packaging, you have to know how your selected colors will look in the printed format. This can be learned with the help of color models.

Most of the new bees in the packaging or printing industry remain confused when it comes to CMYK Vs RGB Vs Pantone. To get rid of this confusion, let’s discuss all these three models in detail.

What Is RGB?

In digital marketing, RGB is the most widely used color model. It is an additive process that uses three primary colors and mixes them to give a huge spectrum of hues. Almost all digital images such as on your computers, smartphones, and digital cameras are produced using these three primary colors.

So if you mix an equal amount of all three primary colors then you will get white colour. On the other hand, a combination of different amounts will give a different shade depending upon the concentration of individual colors. To enable RGB colors for printing, the files must be converted to CMYK.

The more light rays emitted by your device means you will get a lighter color and if no light is emitted by the device then you can see a black color on the screen. In CMYK Vs RGB for digital printing, the latter is used when you need images for digital media platforms.

What Is CMYK?

CMYK is a subtractive model in which four colors namely cyan, magenta, yellow, and black colors are used to remove reflective colors. It is almost the reverse of RGB as here white is used as a background and black is in combination with inks. In this four-color printing method, black colored is keyed or aligned with the other colors to get the desired shades.

CMYK is the preferred model when physical printed mockups are required. This model is preferred for print material as in print medium colored inks are used. Colors are subtracted from natural white color which are then converted into pigment. In tiny cyan, magenta, yellow, and black dots pigments are spread on the sheets to get the desired colors. The rule of thumb here is that the more the ink, the closer the dots are, the more your resulting color will fall into a black spectrum.

What Is PMS?

The Panton matching system is a standard that is used to get the same colors. A specific set of Pantone colors is produced using CMYK. Almost thirteen colors are used to create a variety of colors for Pantone printing. Pantone helps in creating consistent colors in both prints and digital media.

It is important to know the difference between CMYK Vs RGB Vs Pantone methods as colors not only differ in print and digital media, but they also look different on different screens. That is why graphic designers prefer the Pantone model as a reference point and convert them into either RGB or CMYK depending on the required media.

When To Use CMYK Vs RGB?

cmyk vs rgb. 2

In CMYK Vs RGB, we have to select the appropriate model by keeping in mind the media that we are going to use. In digital communication, electronic devices are used and content is uploaded on websites, social media platforms, etc. That is why here we can use RGB.

On the other hand, if we need printed mockups such as custom printed boxes, pamphlets, or business cards, the best model for color selection is CMYK. the conversion of RGB into CMYK is device-dependent and different software, such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Microsoft Publisher are used for the conversion of different color-mixing models.

Benefits Of RGB For Designers

When a physically printed media is required then only CMYK is the preferred choice. Nonetheless, most graphic designers use RGB for mixing colors as the RGB format is smaller in size so it is easy to handle. Apart from this, in digital applications and marketing colored models are required for which RGB is suitable.

Preferred Method For Prints

When it comes to finalizing the best model then there is no distinction between the efficacy of RGB and CMYK. Nonetheless, the choice of media decides which color mixing model should be preferred. So if you are using screens then without any doubt RGB is a good option.

On the other hand, if you need prints on physical medium such as in the form of brochures, business cards, or posters the CMYK should be selected. Failure to comprehend the difference between these two methods will cost you undesirable colors on your printed media. The fundamental differences between these two models are as follows:

RGB is an additive method and CMYK is a subtractive method
In RGB primary colors are mixed with light to get bright colors, while in CMYK cyan, magenta, yellow, and black colors are subtracted from white to get desired colors.
RGB is LED depended so different devices may show different colors. Conversely, CMYK is dependent on the advancement of printing equipment

Sum Up!

In CMYK Vs RGB, the selection of color mixing models depends upon the types of selected media. In digital marketing or for digital applications and platforms RGB is a workable option. However, if you are concerned with paper prints then CMYK is a standard to get ideal and required shades of colors. Aside from these two models Pantone matching system is a gold standard that makes the conversion into respective, CMYK and RBG, models easy