CMYK stands for the primary colors of pigment: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (black). We use ‘K’ for black to avoid confusion with Blue in RGB. Speaking of RGB, that’s known as the primary colors of light, which are Red, Green, and Blue.

1. Different Creation Principles

1.1 RGB Mode. This is an optical color mode, where colors are created by mixing light in the three primary colors of Red, Green, and Blue. This is what’s used in electronic displays like monitors, TVs, and digital cameras. When you combine all three RGB colors at full intensity, you get white.

1.2 CMYK Mode. This mode is used in printing and uses four colors of ink: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (black) layered on top of one another to absorb light and produce colors. It’s essential for the traditional four-color printing process. When CMYK colors are mixed in certain proportions, they theoretically produce black, but in reality, you often need to add black ink to achieve a true, deep black.

2. Different Applications

2.1 RGB Mode. This mode is used where color is displayed with light, like website design, TV ads, and all things digital. RGB offers a wide color range, ensuring vividness and variety on screens.

2.2 CMYK Mode. This mode is specific to the printing industry for media like paper, plastic, or other materials that don’t emit light themselves. Color is shown by reflecting light, and printing machines use CMYK inks to replicate most colors from design drafts.

3. Different Color Performances

3.1 RGB Mode. This can produce brighter, more vibrant colors because the screen emits light, making the colors stand out. The RGB mode allows for finer gradations and is suited for displaying images with rich colors and gradients.

3.2 CMYK Mode. The colors in printing can appear more subdued compared to on-screen because it relies on the reflection of light off pigments and paper. Designers need to adjust CMYK values to achieve the desired color effect as closely as possible. Some RGB colors can’t be precisely replicated in CMYK, and designers need to anticipate and adjust for these variations during the design process.