What do rgb and cmyk stand for

All colors start as blank white, and each layer of ink reduces the initial brightness to create the preferred color. When all colors are mixed together, they create pure black.

Use CMYK for any project design that will be physically printed, not viewed on a screen. If you need to recreate your design with ink or paint, the CMYK color mode will give you more accurate results.

EPS can be a great source file alternative to AI because it is compatible with other vector programs. When you create a new document in Photoshop, the Color Mode option will be included with other parameters in the New Document window. When you create a new document in Illustrator, the Color Mode option will be hidden under the Advanced Options collapsable menu.

Click on the arrow to expand this menu. Because InDesign allows you to mix color spaces, you can change the color mode of individual swatches whenever you create one, but in general it is best to keep colors consistent. One easy way to check the color mode in InDesign is to use the Color panel.

Be prepared for the colors to look different darker or lighter due to additive or subtractive mixing. If you are a designer, you will have to explain this to your client. This will bring up a dialogue box. What you want to pay attention to is the Destination Space field. Use the dropdown to select your desired color mode. For general purposes, the first two options are fine, but you may want to check with your printer beforehand to be sure of what they need.

To change the color mode of your Illustrator file, select all objects in your document. You can change the color mode of your InDesign document in the export process. In the Export Adobe PDF popup box, select Output on the left side and use the Destination dropdown menu in the Color section to choose your desired color mode.

Knowing how the colors interact to define a pigment can give you greater control over how the final color looks, and therefore greater control over your final design. This article was originally written by Peter Vukovic and published in It has been updated with new examples and information. Our newsletter is for everyone who loves design! Avoid this potentially costly issue by either converting your color model or designing in CMYK from the start if your software permits.

A color space is a specific way of using a color model. This color space is ideal for images your company will display on the web, since most screens your audience will use can translate this color space.

Adobe RGB, on the other hand, offers a wider color spectrum — but not all monitors will be able to display them. Thus, it is only appropriate to design in Adobe RGB if you know the materials are for print. Find out before sending over your files.

Neither will work perfectly across both mediums. However, both models work well enough to trick the human eye into seeing the colors as realistic. As a graphic designer , you do not necessarily need to know the technical side of how either model works to be an effective visual communicator.

You do, however, at least need to know which one to use for each type of media. This is basic information that will ensure the quality and accuracy of your visual marketing materials. If you plan on designing something that will only exist through digital mediums, such as mobile devices, computers, and television, designing in RGB is enough. If, however, you need to print any marketing materials, you must convert your designs into CMYK before sending them to the printer.

Topics: Boingo Graphics. A Really Cool Blog. RGB Model vs. Color in Process Printing Topics. RGB lights combine to make white. CMYK inks combine to create black. RGB Colors what you see on screen. CMYK colors printed with ink. How well will my job match what I see on my monitor? How well will my printing match what I see on my monitor? Most people are surprised at how well their print job matches what they see. But because of wide differences in monitor calibration and the different technologies used, some printed colors may not exactly match the colors on your specific monitor.

Our Design Hints page has additional information and illustrations. Will the colors match a sample I print out on my own printer, or a previously printed sample? At PFL we calibrate our equipment to a very rigorous industry standard for ink density and color.