CMYK Color Model

(C)yan, (M)agenta, (Y)ellow and (K)ey (Black) is abbreviated as CMYK. These four colours can be mixed together in varying amounts and produce thousands of different shades and hues on paper.

Subtractive colours

Begin with a light-reflective surface, often white paper. With white paper, all of the colours of light are present. Cyan, Magenta and yellow are added in varying proportions to subtract protions fo the white, reflected light.

RGB Color Model

RGB colour is model for mixing (R)ed, (G)reen and (B)lue light in different ways to produce any imaginable colour.

Additive colours

Begin with a black (absence of colour) screen and add these colours together to create other colours.

Application

CMYK

CMYK is suitable for traditional print media, like posters, billboards, business cards and brochures etc.

RGB

RGB is more suitable for digital applicaitons. You are most likely to use RGB when desiging for emails, internet/websites and other digital projects.

Advantages

CMYK

Offset printing processors & Crisper colour on white printing paper

RGB

Best for onscreen or digital viewing

Weaknesses

CMYK

The system uses coloured inks and pay for printing process

RGB

Weakness is that design will lose quality when RGB is converted to CMYK