Understanding Colour - CMYK vs RGB
Feeling like your designer is talking a secret language? Confused about CMRB-what-the?! We get that it’s confusing, but as a designer, getting colour correct is crucial!
If it’s not right, it can affect how your brand will be displayed, printed or even embroidered. Having a basic understanding of how colour works, will help you navigate your way to clever colour creation (even if it still sounds like a foreign language!).
There are two main colour options:
RGB = Red, Green, Blue
CMYK = Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key (Black)
WHAT IS RBG?
RGB is used exclusively in the digital design industry because it represents the same colours used in computer screens, TV screens and mobile device screens. It’s an additive colour system which means that the primary colours are added together in various combinations to produce a much wider spectrum of colours.
WHEN SHOULD YOU USE RGB?
As a general rule of thumb, the RGB colour system should be used only in digital designs, most commonly when designing for the web. This includes designing websites and imagery and graphics for use on websites and social media.
WHAT IS CMYK?
CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (Black). Black, in this case, is referred to as key because it is used in the key plate, which is responsible for adding the contrast and the detail for the final image.
The CMYK colour system is also referred to as the four-colour process, because it uses four different colours to produce different hues. The black colour here is used because the other three colours combined cannot produce a fully saturated black.
Unlike the RGB colour system, CMYK is a subtractive colour model, because the printed ink reduces the light that would normally be reflected. The inks used, subtract the brightness of the four colours from a white background.
The CMYK colours are mixed during the printing process which can sometimes cause minor inconsistencies. For that reason, you should always print out a proof copy or ask your printer for a printed proof, to double check before giving the go ahead! Remember - a proof from your designer will look different on your computer/iPhone/iPad, so print it out first to double check!
WHEN SHOULD YOU USE CMYK?
CMYK is the recommended colour system for anything that will be printed. This includes business cards, brochures, letterheads, and any other business collateral (including hats, bags and other fabric options).
PANTONE COLOURS
Wait, not another colour option?!
Hear me out! Pantone colours are associated with a colour matching system called the Pantone Matching System (PMS). This is where inks are created into distinct shades. These colours are then printed out in a colour-matching swatch book. Quite a few processed hues are gruelling to produce via process printing, particularly some shades of orange and green, so using a Pantone colour guarantees a consistent colour match. Projects can be printed on five or six colour-presses, applying the four process colours in addition to one or two Pantone colours (spot) to make a decisive colour match.
Hopefully that gives you a little understanding of the colour options…! As a designer, I design in CMYK as the core colour system. I select your Pantone colours first, then create the CMYK version of the colour and finally the RBG version. Making sure the colour is consistent across the codes (as much as it possibly can be). These colour breakdowns are then added into your brand guidelines, to ensure that when you’re using your brand (whether it’s on screen or in print), it is consistent. Read more about branding guidelines here.
