07/20/2026
💡 Draftech Printing: Tip of the Week!
Ever wonder why the colors on your screen sometimes look different when printed?
The secret lies in color modes! In this first installment of our Tip of the Week, we are breaking down the difference between RGB and CMYK—and telling you exactly which one you need for your next print project.
🖥️ RGB (Red, Green, Blue)
RGB is a color model based on light. It is used exclusively for digital screens like your computer monitor, smartphone, and television. Because it creates colors by adding light together, combining all three colors at full intensity gives you pure white. If your design is meant to stay on a screen, RGB is the way to go!
🖨️ CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black)
CMYK is a color model based on ink. It is the standard for commercial printing. Unlike screens, printers create colors by subtracting light. When you mix Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow inks together, you get a dark, muddy brown—which is why the "Key" (Black) ink is added to create true, crisp blacks and add depth to images.
🏆 Which should you use for printing?
Always use CMYK for print! If you design a file in RGB and send it to a printer, the software has to convert it to CMYK automatically. Because RGB has a much wider color gamut (range of colors) than CMYK,
those bright, neon, or highly saturated screen colors can look dull, washed out, or unexpectedly shift when printed.
Pro Tip: To ensure your final printed product looks exactly as you intended, always set your design software (like Illustrator, InDesign, or Photoshop) to CMYK color mode before you start creating!
Need help setting up your files or ready to bring your project to life? The team at Draftech Printing has you covered! Stop by or send us a message today.
