What is the correct color system for printing? RGB or CMYK?

Use the right color system for your print files

The CMYK color model

What is the right color system for printing? CMYK! The CMYK color model is a subtractive color model and is the basis for modern four-color digital printing. The CMYK color system consists of the color components cyan, magenta and yellow, and the black component “key. Because no deep black can be made with the three basic colors C-M-Y, the color model was supplemented with the print color black (key). By mixing these colors with each other, (almost) all colors can be made. Each specific CMYK color can be expressed as the percentage of each color needed to make that color. For example CMYK 50/0/100/0, or: C=50%/M=0%/Y=100%/K=0% is a bright green and CMYK 0/100/100/0 makes a bright red. It is important that you use the correct color system when creating your printing file: the CMYK color system.

The RGB color system

The RGB color system is an additive color system consisting of the three primary colors red, green and blue. The human eye need these three primary colors to perceive other colors.  The RGB color space is colloquially refered to “screen colors”. RGB colors are therefore mainly used when displaying color on screens or televisions. That is why, colors created in RGB cannot be printed. If you supply a print file with RGB colors in your order, our system automatically converts the colors to CMYK. As a result, the colors will change to a greater or lesser extent. To avoid this, we ask you to always submit your print files with CMYK colors.