subject: Understanding Color: Rgb And Cmyk And The Difference They Make Online And In Print [print this page] If you are producing published materials using color, then you probably have encountered RGB and CMYK design settings. The two classifications for color display work optimally for different situations. The short explanation is that red, green and blue, or combinations of them, are what you see on a computer screen, and cyan, magenta, yellow and black are used for print production.
Electronic creation of color behaves differently than an offset, printed form. When you use or mix variations of red, blue and green, you can obtain a variety of shades and colors. Use them all together at equal intensity and your screen will display white. No color, and the result is black. This formula in this medium is an example of additive colors, when the addition is necessary to show palettes.
In print, colors respond differently than when represented electronically. Since they are being applied in this case to a solid form, they are absorbed or reflected by wavelengths for visual interpretation. No color means white, while all colors in one mix go dark. Black is created with separate ink in this medium, and is used to define the other colors.
These formulas are distinct for the way they are designed to work for their specific medium. Using a type that is formulated for a computer screen will look much different in a printout. Print blends may appear darker on a computer screen than they actually will be on paper.
Color combinations for the Web can be dramatically different on paper. To achieve the correct mix, apply the print color combination that is available in a design program. Before printing for publication, make sure you click on the colors and check to see that they are in the correct mode, or else you will be missing a black plate when it is time to put the finished work on an offset printing press. Without a black plate, the rest of the colors may not look right.
Color gamuts show you what is possible with colors, depending on what type you are using. You can find comparisons for print and electronic versions in different color spectrums that can help you understand how some colors react and look when different types of separation are applied. This level of information may help you tweak the colors you use depending on format for optimum display in the right format.
To maximize color control, particularly for print products, it can be important for you to correctly code printed materials so that you can ensure correct separation of plates for a printer to use. Some printers can do this step for you, but you may not be aware of how much the print version will look different if this is done incorrectly. Other printers may require that you make these changes yourself so that you have ultimate responsibility for the resulting work.
Knowing what RGB and CMYK combinations mean depending on the medium used can improve your skills as a designer for Web and print. You can find information to learn more about managing color through books and Internet sources. Your next project may be a rainbow of creativity with a vivid arrangement of design.
