The difference between RGB and CMYK color methods

Ultimately, it makes sense to use the two color management methods in specific situations, RGB for the web and CMYK for paper printing

By Gloria
Pronto Pricelist staff

Have you ever created an image on your computer but, once printed, you realize that the printed colors were not as vivid and bright as you would have liked?

“Why are the colors were more beautiful on my monitor than the printed ones?” you may ask: To answer this question, a very common one among those with a passion for graphics or digital photography, it is necessary to clarify the distinction between two color methods: RGB and CMYK and how the colors are processed in a monitor and a printer.

RGB

RGB is an acronym for Red, Green and Blue, the colors used to form the colors on the screen. It is a 3-channel color method, in fact we speak of trichomy.

Using the additive method the color is obtained by adding the luminosity of each base color until the desired color is achieved. In this way, the sum of 100% red, 100% green and 100% blue results in white. The additive method is applied when, starting from a black background, the colors are generated by rays of light or by bright pixels, as in the case of monitors and TVs.

It is mainly used for creating web-based images.

CMYK

This is an acronym for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and blacK (cyan, magenta, yellow and black). Black is indicated with the letter K, instead of the initial B letter, in the English translation, it was made to avoid confusion with the initial of the Blue color and is due to the fact that, in printing, a color separation process is used to produce as many different images as there are inks used.

It is a 4-channel color method, called four-color.

Unlike the RGB method, it is a subtractive color technique: the color is obtained from the difference in the brightness of each color. The sum of 100% cyan, magenta and yellow does not give rise to black, but to a shade of brown. This is why black was added: to achieve solid black in printing processes, to add more contrast and depth perception, and finally to eliminate some defects in the color pigments.

CMYK is the color model used by common printers and it is mainly used for typography.

The difference between CMYK and RGB is that they use different color calculation methods intended for two different purposes, the web and printing. The CMYK color spectrum is smaller than that of RGB, especially in bright, fluo and metallic shades. RGB manages many colors that do not exist in CMYK: a conversion of an image from RGB to CMYK, in the presence of certain colors normally gives a duller print result, the color tones on the monitor change considerably compared to the final result in the press. When working for printing you should use the CMYK color method, where possible at 300 dpi resolution. In the reverse process, the differences are almost undetectable.

To define areas with specific colors, to print particular and irreproducible shades with CMYK or to indicate subsequent processing of the print, such as dies and paints, it is possible to resort to spot colors, pantones, which are solid colors.

Ultimately, it makes sense to use the two color management methods in specific situations, RGB for the web and CMYK for paper printing.


With Pronto Pricelist, especially Pronto Pricelist Hub, in the generation of lists or catalogs you can choose the one that best meets your needs, RGB or CMYK, or why not, create both versions.


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