CMYK vs RGB Colour Guide

What this tool does

A plain-English comparison of CMYK and RGB colour: what each is for, why colours look different on screen versus paper, and how to prepare files so prints match expectations.

	RGB (screen)	CMYK (print)
Stands for	Red, Green, Blue	Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key (black)
Made from	Light (additive)	Ink on paper (subtractive)
Starts at	Black, adds light to white	White paper, adds ink to black
Used for	Screens, web, video, cameras	Printing presses, pro print shops
Colour range	Wider — vivid greens & blues	Narrower — some colours muted
Best for	Anything viewed on a display	Anything printed professionally

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CMYK and RGB, made simple

Screens and printers create colour in opposite ways, and that's why a vivid image on your monitor can look duller on paper. This guide explains the two colour modes — RGB for screens, CMYK for printing — when to use each, and how to prepare files so your prints don't surprise you. A side-by-side comparison summarises the key differences.

RGB — light, for screens

RGB mixes Red, Green, and Blue light. Start with black (no light) and add colour to reach white. Screens, cameras, and the web all use RGB. It produces a huge, bright range of colours — including vivid greens and blues that ink can't fully reproduce.

CMYK — ink, for print

CMYK mixes Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (black) inks on white paper. Start with white paper and add ink to darken toward black. Printing presses and most professional print shops expect CMYK files. Its colour range is smaller than RGB, which is why some bright screen colours look muted in print.

Why colours shift from screen to paper

The bright RGB colours outside CMYK's range get mapped to the nearest printable colour — usually a little darker or less saturated. Converting to CMYK before printing lets you see and adjust those shifts yourself, rather than leaving it to the printer's automatic conversion.

Design for screen / web → keep files in RGB.
Design for professional print → convert to CMYK and proof.
Home/office inkjet → RGB is usually fine; the driver converts.

How to prepare files

Decide the destination: screen or press.
For a print shop, convert to CMYK in your design app and check for big colour shifts.
Use a CMYK profile your printer recommends (e.g. a coated or uncoated stock profile).
Order a proof for colour-critical jobs before printing the full run.

Notes and limitations

Home inkjets accept RGB and convert internally — you rarely need to convert manually for them.
Pure RGB blacks can print muddy; use a rich black (a CMYK mix) for large solid areas in print.
Monitor calibration affects how closely your screen predicts the print — calibrate for colour-critical work.

FAQs

Quick answers

Should I use CMYK or RGB?

Use RGB for anything viewed on a screen (web, social, video). Use CMYK for professional press printing. Home and office inkjets accept RGB and convert automatically.

Why do my prints look duller than my screen?

Screens emit bright RGB light, but ink (CMYK) has a smaller colour range. Vivid screen colours get mapped to the nearest printable colour, which can look slightly darker or less saturated.

Do I need to convert to CMYK for my home printer?

Usually no. Inkjet and laser drivers accept RGB and convert internally. Manual CMYK conversion mainly matters for professional press printing.

What is rich black?

A black made from a mix of CMYK inks rather than black alone. It prints deeper and more even than pure black ink for large solid areas.

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