CMYK vs RGB Branding

A lot of terms get tossed around in the promotional items industry, and frankly, there’s so many they can get a little confusing sometimes. So we decided to clarify some of the tougher terms, starting with the difference between CMYK and RGB colours in promotional printing.

What do these terms mean and how do they differ? Today we’re going to check out these key differences and how they can impact your decoration choices.

What Makes CMYK Colours Different From RGB Colours?

CMYK (Cyan-Magenta-Yellow-Key) is a subtractive model of colouring which means every time you add a layer of colour; it removes itself from the previously printed colour. Once all colours are removed, you end up with black (also referred to as “key” in this model). CMYK  is the ideal method for printing on paper products like business cards because these items tend to have a white base and require various levels of print.

RGB (Red-Green-Blue) is essentially the opposite of CMYK; it is a model that uses additive colour. So every time you print a layer, that colour adds itself to the previous colours. Once all these colours are added together, they become white. RGB is a natural colour model based on how human eyes perceive colour, and it is the model for colour that we see on our digital devices like TVs and computers.

What Does This Mean For Custom Branding?

First and foremost it means how colours look on our screens (RGB) may not match up with the physically printed object if a CMYK or “process colour” is used without a colour code to base it on. This is because the models display colour differently on a fundamental level, and it is easy to see colours incorrectly on a screen (remember The Dress from 2015?

Was it black and blue or gold and white?) So when printing with CMYK we always will try to confirm the exact colour code for the shade you would like to use, that way there can be no confusion about the anticipated results.

What About PMS Colours?

PMS Colours (or Pantone Colours) are our preferred colour model for promotional printing as they are not restricted to use on certain surfaces (like CMYK). PMS colours are each assigned a particular colour code (like “PMS 149”) and you can be certain that if selected, this colour will print to look a certain way on most surfaces.

Does this sound simialr to CMYK? Well, kind of. CMYK colours are always “mixed” as they’re printed to achieve the colours you want, but PMS colours come pre-mixed so as the minimise the variables in play. The goal of Pantone colours is to make colour matching as simple and as accurate as possible on as many surfaces as can be achieved.

Cubic Promote tends to opt for the Pantone Matching System in all cases that don’t involve printing on paper products (which require CMYK colours). So if we ask you for your colour code, or offer to match it for you, then know that we are striving to give you the best quality print on your promotional products possible. One which can be consistent, clear, and above all, colourful!