Graphic designers work with many different kinds of color palettes. Two of the most used color systems are simply known as RBG and CMYK. You may have seen or heard these acronyms used in relation to design before, but never really understood the meaning. Let’s look at the differences and the particular situations that call for the use of each.

When to Use RBG and CMYK

RBG and CMYK are acronyms for colors as shown below:

· RGB: Red, Green, Blue

· CMYK: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black

Designers use RBG when for digital projects such as web design, social media graphics, and other online visual content. A computer can produce any color using RBG. It can also account for saturation, vibrancy, and shading by modifying any of the three source colors. So, designers can control all aspects of the final product by adding more red, blue or green, as well as adding and removing light for the perfect pigment.

CMYK is used for physically printed materials. Printing machines combine the CMYK colors to create ink in a process called subtractive mixing. Therefore, CMYK is used for printed products like business cards, stationery, billboards, and merchandise.

Designers know when to use these tools, based on type of project being designed. While an amateur may not understand the difference between RBG and CMYK, an experienced designer knows that using the wrong type of color can create an imperfect design.

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