I bet my iPad Pro that you might find this a bit confusing! But don’t worry, it’s time to learn the differences. Ready?
RGB – Red, Green, Blue, and light combine to make white in the additive color system. This system is used for anything with light, such as mobile screens, tablets, digital cameras, websites (Facebook, Instagram, etc.), TVs, and more. If your work is going to appear on a digital device with a backlight, you should use RGB.
CMYK – Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black (Key) combine to make black in the subtractive color system. This system is used for dyes, inks, paint pigments, or natural colorants. Use CMYK if you’re sending your files to a print shop.
If you upload a CMYK file to Facebook, the image might appear dark, heavy, and lose some details. On the other hand, if you try to print an RGB file, you’ll end up with a washed-out image with distorted colors. That’s why it’s essential to know which color system to use for the task at hand. But what if you’re designing a business card on your laptop, which uses light—how do you ensure the colors print correctly? We have two tips: use Pantone colors or do a test print before sending everything to the printer.
Pantone is a standardized color matching system created by Pantone Inc. with specific numbering to identify exact color tones, ensuring consistent color in print. For example, if your brand uses a specific shade of blue, and you want that exact tone in any print, you can refer to the Pantone color table and choose “Lapis Blue 19-4045.” This way, you’ll have 100% color accuracy in any print or object.
Need an amazing CMYK magazine ad to print? Or a cute RGB brand to display on Amazon? Let’s talk! 🙂
