The RGB Color Model and Why It’s Not Used in Printing & Packaging

RGB colour model

RGB stands for red, green and blue.

It is a device-dependent colour model and can only be successfully used on screens and in certain conventional photographic applications.

This means that the colours you can see on the screen at this moment will not print the same way.

All the colours displayed are mixtures of red, green and blue.

For example, red and green make yellow, green and blue make cyan, and blue and red make magenta.

When all three primary colours are combined, they result in white. This is because, unlike CMYK, RGB is an additive colour system.

Combinations of RGB colour

As well as the eight colours (red, green, blue, yellow, magenta, cyan, white and black), it is possible to display many other colours.

This is done by combining different concentrations of colours to produce the required colour on the screen.

The three primary colours (red, green and blue) each have six strengths.

0%

20%,

40%

60%

80%

100%

This also implies that there are 63 or 216 colours in total.

However, this is only theoretical.

Display system hardware issues mean that each of the basic colours is represented with strengths of 0%, 2%, 10%, 28%, 57% and 100%.

Therefore, colours (except for the eight colours described above, which are based on 0% or 100% strength of each primary colour) are not represented correctly.

Advances in technology mean that programmers and engineers can discover new methods of colour correction for computer and television screens through research, new tools and advanced coding.

While this has created numerous technological development possibilities, the RGB colour system continues to present problems for printing and packaging.

Why is the RGB colour space not ideal for printing and packaging?

In most printing processes, RGB colour space is typically translated into CMYK prior to the creation of the artwork.

Learn about the CMYK colour model.

In essence, colours generated using RGB on a digital platform will not appear the same in print.

This is based on the colour gamut; that is to say, the conversion from RGB to CMYK will typically produce colours that are as close as possible to the original display.

Therefore, designing in CMYK will enable the artwork to appear as accurately as possible, i.e. as it will appear when printed on paper or packaging.

This applies to:

Offset printing

Flexographic printing

Digital printing

What should you do if you have designed something in the RGB colour model?

The good news is that your artwork designs can easily be converted to the CMYK colour model using whichever design program you are using.

However, the disadvantage of converting RGB colour model designs to CMYK is that the colours may need to be redone to create a design similar to the original RGB design.

The following video by Print Place demonstrates how to convert from RGB to CMYK:

The RGB colour model has been used in applications.

RGB on screen

As mentioned earlier, the most popular use of the RGB colour model is for displaying digital designs and images.

It is used in:

Cathode ray tubes

- LCD displays

LED displays.

The type of display that you are most likely familiar with today is the LED display. These encompass such things as your TV and computer monitor.

These types of screens show RGB colours on each pixel, forming the images and designs we are familiar with.

Component video display signals also use the RGB colour model.

Do you remember the red, green and yellow plugs on the back of your TV?

This is because the RGB colour system is used to transmit these particular colours.

In fact, that is because the RGB colour system is used to transmit these colours to our televisions, allowing us to sit on our sofas and watch our favourite films and TV shows!

RGB on cameras

Digital cameras are highly dependent on the RGB colour system, using CMOS or CCD image sensors.

Digital cameras currently available have an RGB sensor that helps to determine the exposure of your photos and produce accurate images.

While the RGB colour model has been incredibly useful in technological development, it is not the best colour system for printing and packaging.

Not only will you end up with distorted colours, but you will also produce dull and strange designs and prints.

This is why the CMYK colour system is better suited to custom packaging and printing, allowing you to achieve better results.