RGB to CMYK
Understanding colour for print and how to keep your colours looking their best.
Free tool
Colour Converter
Enter your RGB values to get an instant CMYK estimate for print.
Enter RGB values (0–255)
Colour preview
CMYK result
Cyan (C)
0%
Magenta (M)
100%
Yellow (Y)
81%
Key / Black (K)
11%
Note: these values are mathematically converted and may differ slightly from professional colour-managed (ICC) print workflows.
Screens and printers create colour in completely different ways. Knowing the difference is the key to print that matches what you see on your monitor.
RGB for screens
RGB (Red, Green, Blue) is an additive colour model used by screens, phones and cameras. It mixes light to create a huge, vivid range of colours including bright neons that simply can't be reproduced with ink.
CMYK for print
CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black) is a subtractive model used by printing presses. Ink absorbs light, so the achievable colour range (gamut) is smaller than RGB. This is why some bright on-screen colours look slightly more muted in print.
Why colours can shift
- Very bright blues, greens and oranges often dull slightly when converted.
- Pure RGB neons have no exact CMYK equivalent.
- Different monitors display the same file differently calibrate where possible.
How to get the best results
- Design and export in CMYK so you see print-accurate colour from the start.
- Convert RGB images to CMYK before sending, and check for unexpected shifts.
- For brand-critical colours, specify a Pantone reference.
- Use rich black (C40 M30 Y30 K100) for large solid black areas, and 100% K for text.
Not sure how your file will print? Send it over and we'll run a free colour check before anything goes to press.
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