You’ve chosen your design, picked your paper and decided what you’re printing.

Then we ask a question about colour.

“Is your artwork in CMYK or RGB?”

If you’re wondering what on earth we’re talking about, don’t worry! These are everyday terms in the printing world, but they’re not exactly common knowledge.

The good news is that once you understand what they mean, it’s much easier to see why we ask and how they can affect the finished result.

Let’s break it down.

What is CMYK?

CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key (Black).

These are the four colours commonly used in full-colour printing. They’re combined in different amounts to create the colours, photographs and designs you see on printed materials.

You might hear us ask whether your artwork is set up in CMYK, particularly if you’re supplying your own design.

What about RGB?

RGB stands for Red, Green and Blue.

These are the colours used to create images on screens, including your computer, phone and tablet.

RGB works by combining light to produce colours. Printing works differently, using ink on paper.

Screens can display some very bright, vivid colours that standard CMYK printing can’t reproduce exactly. Bright greens, vivid oranges and certain blues and purples can be particularly noticeable.

This means a colour that looks fantastic on your screen might look slightly different when printed.

If you’re unsure which format your artwork is in, or what that means for your finished print, don’t worry we’re always happy to help you get it right.