Do you print in RBG, CMYK or both?

  • Created:
  • / Author: idmfirm

We only print in CMYK color mode.

Wide Format

We print in CMYK color mode for all giclee printing, matching your file’s color information. Giclee printing includes all indoor wide-format products 16×20 and broader, including large posters, large prints, large photography, watercolor prints, framed prints, and canvas prints. We use a pigment-based 12-color ink system, including red, green, and blue. However, that system still cannot meet 100% RGB spectrum.

Small Prints

We print in CMYK color mode for smaller prints, such as postcards and 8×10 prints. Those prints require us to use a graphics-enhanced digital press for these products. We implement the latest technologies available to the market. This toner-based system combines with archival media to produce economic fine art prints. Our internal designers will convert all files to CMYK color mode before printing occurs. If you submit a CMYK image, our system will utilize your embedded color profiles.

Outdoor Printing

All outdoor prints and signage, such as banners and yard signs, are printed using solvent-based technology and is converted to CMYK color mode.

What is the difference?

RGB (Red, Green, Blue) and CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) are two distinct color models used in different contexts for reproducing colors. RGB operates on the additive color model, combining varying intensities of red, green, and blue light to create colors. This model is essential for digital displays like monitors, televisions, and cameras, where each pixel emits light. When all three RGB colors are at their maximum intensity, they produce white light, offering a wide gamut that displays millions of colors with high vibrancy and brightness.

On the other hand, CMYK operates on the subtractive color model, which is primarily used in color printing. It combines cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks to subtract varying amounts of light reflected from white paper, producing different colors. CMYK is crucial for achieving accurate color reproduction in print media, compensating for ink absorption limitations and paper reflection limitations. However, it has a narrower color gamut compared to RGB and struggles to reproduce the same vibrant colors seen on digital screens. Understanding these distinctions is not just important, but it’s necessary for graphic designers, photographers, and anyone involved in visual media. It ensures that colors appear accurately across both digital and print platforms, enhancing their work’s quality and consistency.