Printing is an essential part of our everyday life. From printing out your business cards to brochures, printing is everywhere. But have you ever wondered why the colors on your screen don't always look the same when they're printed out? That's because there are two different color modes used for printing: CMYK and RGB.
RGB stands for Red, Green, Blue. It's the color mode used for electronic displays, such as computer monitors, TVs, and smartphones. In RGB, colors are created by combining different intensities of red, green, and blue light. When all three colors are combined at their highest intensities, it creates white light. When all three colors are at their lowest intensities, it creates black.
CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (black). This is the color mode used for printing. In CMYK, colors are created by combining different percentages of these four colors. When all four colors are combined at their highest percentages, it creates black. However, since it's difficult to get a true black by just combining the three colors, black is added as a separate ink. This is why it's called the "Key" color.
So why can't you just use RGB for printing? The answer is simple: RGB has a wider range of colors than CMYK. Since RGB is created by light, it can produce brighter and more vivid colors that can't always be replicated in print. Plus, electronic displays can produce colors that are outside of the range of CMYK.
To put it in simpler terms, imagine that you have a pack of markers that come in 12 different colors. However, when you go to print out a picture, you only have 4 markers available: cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. You have to use those four colors to try and recreate the 12 colors you see on your screen. It's not always going to be an exact match, but with the right combinations, you can get pretty close.
So, the next time you're creating something for print, remember to use CMYK colors. If you're creating something for electronic display, use RGB colors. And don't worry if the colors don't look exactly the same on your screen and in print. It's just a part of the printing process, and with the right knowledge and tools, you can create something that looks great both on your screen and on paper.