What are RGB, CMYK & PMS colours?
At Printlogik, we ask that you always submit your artwork in CMYK colours. This may have you asking the question why? What's the difference between RGB, CMYK and PMS colours?
The difference between RGB and CMYK colours is the colour range. RGB applies only to digital displays; therefore, it can reach a more comprehensive colour range and brighter colours. Printing light is impossible, so printing must use the CMYK colour space. The physical product absorbs light, so it may look darker than what we see on our screens. If your design contains a bright acidic green, the chances of this colour appearing much paler are high. What you see on your screen differs from what your printed product will look like.
I only have RGB colour files available.
When you only have RGB colour files available, here are the two options you have when it comes to print:
- You can convert the file to CMYK colours yourself. You can do this by using a program such as Adobe Illustrator or Adobe Photoshop. Use the menu, and navigate to: Image > Mode > CMYK.
- You can upload the RGB file anyway. If your artwork is submitted as RGB, it will automatically be converted to CMYK in preparation for your print. Please note that you may see a deviation in the colours on your print.
RGB
RGB colours are red, green and blue. With this combination, you can create very bright colours because the starting point is always light (white). Take television, for example. A screen turned off has a black screen (or no colour). Light is added to create colours. RGB colours are not the same as print colours. If your file is made up of RGB colours, you must convert this to CMYK.
CMYK
CYMK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key. This colour model is used for full-colour printed materials, which you can create in nearly every colour. The higher the percentage of a particular colour, the darker the result. CMYK is the colour system used for full-colour print work. We always ask you to deliver your artwork in this colour profile.
PMS
The Pantone company has defined more than 2,100 colours, each with a unique number. These numbers guarantee that all colours worldwide are precisely the same. Pantone colours are difficult to copy with CMYK. Pantone colours are derived from 15 basic pigments. They are formed by mixing a certain amount of one pigment with a certain amount of another.
How does a CMYK printer work?
A CMYK printer uses light-absorbing cyan, magenta, and yellow ink, mixing the colours through optical techniques. CMYK print places the colours onto the print; this removes the reflecting light, so to speak. The downside is that the colours will differ from how they are shown on a computer monitor. We do not accept RGB colours and ask you to deliver your files in CMYK because of this reason. This decreases the chances of you being disappointed with the end result.