Color Systems in Design-RGB or CMYK?

What is the difference between RGB and CMYK when we are talking about color? Many a people might not be able to answer this and you are not alone. These are two color display systems with different purposes.

I like this one color but how do I know what system to choose? Considering what medium you plan to use most will determine which system is best.

The RGB system is best for electronic-based displays, including websites and televisions, because it is an emitted/projected display. Red, green and blue are combined and added to a black background, thus allowing light to come in. In RGB, the light source comes from behind the color and is pushed to the eye.

The CMYK system, on the other hand, is a reflection-based display and is best used on printed items. The colors are combined on a white background, subtracting from the view of the white and masking the light reflected to the eye. In CMYK, the light source is in front of the color and the light is bounced off the color to the eye.

I have these great colors on my website and would like to print some flyers…will I get the same colors? While it is possible to find similar colors on the RGB and CMYK systems, unfortunately not all colors will display the same from your website to your flyer.

RGB and CMYK overlap on many colors, but some colors are specific to the system that you are using. While a graphic designer might be able to find a similar color, the two systems might still display the color differently.