How CMYK relates to RGB

CMYK is basically a reversal of the RGB color system.

RGB is useful for graphics that are designed to be shown online because most displaying devices (CRT, LCD, projectors) work in RGB mode. Any graphic that will be printed should use CMYK because printing devices use pigments such as inks or paints to display color. The two systems overlap, but there are some shades of color that can be created using CMYK that can't be reproduced using RGB and vice versa.

The RGB and CMYK systems are closely related in regards to color values. There is another system, the HSB Color System, that contains principles that can be applied to color to create variation.





Navigate this article:
Intro | 1 | 2