CMYK vs RGB

RGB color mode combines three colors, Red, Green, and Blue. Your computer monitor, scanner, and digital camera all use a combination of these three colors to produce the final colors. Presses, however, require four different colors, CMYK, to produce the final printed material. Thus, RGB must be converted to CMYK for print.

 

  • You can convert a file from RGB to CMYK, but cannot convert a file from CMYK to RGB. If you attempt to do so, some of the image data in that file may be lost and become unrecoverable.
  • Keep in mind that your image may be created in RGB, but it will print in CMYK.
  • RGB color mode may look sharp on your computer screen, however, it will not print as it appears.
  • Convert RGB files into CMYK in Photoshop by simply clicking on Image > Mode > CMYK.