CMYK vs. RGB: which color mode should I use?
Confirm the appropriate color setup for your product before converting an RGB file to CMYK. The correct output profile depends on the printing process and material; a generic CMYK profile is not a universal production specification.
Why the two color modes differ
Screens use red, green, blue (RGB) light; four-color process printing uses cyan, magenta, yellow, black (CMYK) ink. An RGB image can contain colors outside a particular CMYK output gamut. Material, finish and printing conditions also affect the result, so a screen preview alone is not a final-color guarantee.
What to do before sending files
- Tell us the product, material and any brand-critical colors. Confirm the required color mode and output profile before converting the file.
- Keep an original copy and preserve its embedded profile. If a conversion is required, use the agreed destination profile and review colors that change.
- Export using the agreed file settings. Do not choose U.S. Web Coated SWOP or another generic profile solely because it is a software default.
If your design tool exports RGB, send the original file and ask us to confirm the suitable workflow. Agree color-critical specifications and any requested physical proof before production. We do not publish a universal numeric color tolerance; any approved proof and the agreed specification are the basis for review. Read our color management policy. Related: file guidelines.
Technical reference: Adobe: document profiles, output profiles and color conversion.