RGB and CMYK or “Why the Hell Do My Colours Look Different in Print?”
RGB or CMYK? The never-ending debate among illustrators. RGB and CMYK, especially CMYK, are something we all have a love-hate relationship with, more on the hate side. We all admire (as much as we can, since we are very judgemental about our work) the illustrations we create, only to send them to print and discover that the colours look completely different.
Understanding RGB and CMYK is essential when creating a children’s book, because the illustrations need to survive the journey from your iPad or computer to a printed page. These mysterious technical terms are actually quite simple.
RGB, or Red, Green and Blue
RGB stands for red, green and blue, the three primary colours of light used to create the colours you see on digital screens. iPads, computers and TVs all use RGB to display images. RGB is designed for screens because digital displays produce light. When red, green and blue light are combined at their highest intensity, they create white, and when there is no light, you get black. The vivid colours in between are made by changing the intensity of the red, green and blue.
CMYK, or Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key
CMYK stands for cyan, magenta, yellow and key. Key refers to black. CMYK is used for printing, and printing creates colours by applying layers of ink to paper. Cyan, magenta, yellow and black are the ink colours. They are combined in varying percentages to create a wide range of printed colours. Printed ink absorbs and reflects light back towards our eyes, so we see light reflected from the paper through the ink layers.
Why Do RGB and CMYK Matter So Much in Picture Books?
Picture books rely on visual storytelling. Colour can set the mood or communicate the time of day, location or emotion before a reader reads a single word. A change during printing can impact the storytelling. If a carefully curated colour palette becomes darker and duller, the atmosphere you intended can change with it.
So, as illustrators, we have to follow two simple rules:
RGB is for the screen, and CMYK is for printed books.
Don't wait until the last minute to think about the colour mode.
Colour management should not be a final technical chore. Consider it from the very beginning. This will not only give you more control, but it will also save you an enormous amount of time.
How About a Colour Profile?
A colour profile tells a program how to interpret and reproduce colours within a particular colour space. In Procreate and other programs, you will find various RGB and CMYK profiles. CMYK profiles can be associated with a specific printing process and paper condition. Numerous combinations of paper, ink and printing processes produce significantly different results. For example, illustrations printed on coated paper will have higher colour vibrancy than those on uncoated paper.
Should You Illustrate in RGB or CMYK?
RGB or CMYK, that is the question. This is usually the question that sparks a passionate debate. Some illustrators prefer to work in RGB and then convert their files into CMYK, while others swear by doing all their illustrations in CMYK.
However, there is no universal answer, as the right choice depends on each project. Each project has different printer, publisher and production requirements. If you are a self-publishing author, ask the printer which colour profile and file format they require. You must also ask about any other printing specifications or information the illustrator may need.
Now, most printers will require a CMYK file, but does that really mean you have to draw in CMYK? No. When I started out, I tried drawing in CMYK in Procreate. No matter what kind of colour palette I used, the colours were incredibly dull. After about a month of trying and miserably failing, I gave up and started drawing in RGB.
I do convert and colour-correct all my illustrations intended for printing in CMYK. You can do that by using Photoshop or Photopea. Now, I must add a small disclaimer. Over the years, I have developed a colour palette that I use consistently and know transfers well from RGB to CMYK with barely visible changes. The more extreme your original RGB colours are (think neon), the more noticeable the CMYK change will be. Colours can exist comfortably in both colour spaces, though it may take some time to find those colours.
If you have any additional questions, please let me know,
Comments