wk8 talking point

Colour Spaces: CMYK vs RGB

The CMYK colour model is comprised of four printing colour inks; Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black (K). It is a ‘subtractive’ colour model as it reduces the amount of light that reaches the paper as each colour is printed. When the offset printer is used there are actually 4 printing plates set up, one for each colour, which are often printed in the order they appear; C-M-Y-then K, although this can vary.

RGB is the colour space used for electronic devices such as computer screens and TVs. As an ‘additive’ colour model, RGB functions in the opposite way to CMYK – it generates varying combinations of red, green and blue light to create colour.

When it comes to printing, it’s important to check with your printer which colour space they would prefer you to have the document set up in - CMYK, or RGB with ICC profiles attached for them to be able to control the colour conversion to CMYK. Likewise, it is important to note that RGB is capable of generating a much larger range of colours than CMYK and thus if you have your document set to RGB, to check that the colours are not outside the CMYK range.

- Katherine (z3235050)

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Colour Space Fundamentals, DigitalExpert by the Sheridan Group , accessed 21 September 2010, http://dx.sheridan.com/advisor/cmyk_color.html.

CMYK Color Model, Wikipedia, accessed 21 September 2010, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CMYK_color_model.

RGB Color Model, Wikipedia, accessed 21 September 2010, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RGB.