RGB vs CMYK: Which Color Mode for Web and Print?

RGB vs CMYK: Web vs Print Color

Summary / 核心摘要:Why screens use RGB, print uses CMYK, and how to pick the right one.

RGB (Red, Green, Blue) mixes light and is what every screen uses. CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) mixes ink and is what printers use.

Why it matters

RGB can show brighter, more saturated colors than CMYK ink can reproduce, so a vivid on-screen image often looks duller once printed. Designing in the right mode avoids surprises.

Which to use

Web / social / anything on a screen → RGB (specifically sRGB).
Physical printing (flyers, packaging) → CMYK, usually set in the print file.

Every image you process on this site stays in RGB, which is correct for the web. For more on color, read color bit depth. Need to convert a print PNG for web use? Try convert to JPG.

Published by ImageHow Education Specialists