---
title: "CMYK vs RGB – colours for print and screen | Sweet Lava"
description: "CMYK mixes inks on paper, RGB mixes light on screens, and the same design needs both. See why colours shift between them."
url: https://sweetlava.eu/en/glossary/cmyk-vs-rgb/
lang: en
alternate_pl: https://sweetlava.eu/pl/slownik/cmyk-a-rgb/
---

Design & branding 

# What is CMYK vs RGB?

CMYK is the colour model for print (cyan, magenta, yellow and black, mixed as inks on paper); RGB is the model for screens (red, green and blue, mixed as light). The same design needs values in both.

The difference comes down to physics. A screen emits light and builds colours from it (RGB, an additive model), while print reflects light off inks laid on paper (CMYK, a subtractive model). The achievable colour ranges don't overlap: vivid, glowing colours from the screen – especially bright greens, oranges and blues – come out noticeably calmer in print.

In practice a brand palette is defined in several colour spaces from the start: HEX/RGB for screens, CMYK for print, and for key brand colours additionally Pantone – inks mixed to a swatch standard, repeatable regardless of the printer.

**Warning sign:** if the brand book contains only HEX values, the guessing starts with the first business card or leaflet, and the brand colour will look different on every material.

## Related services

- [ Brand identity design & design systems → ](https://sweetlava.eu/en/services/branding-design-systems/)
- [ Publication design & DTP → ](https://sweetlava.eu/en/services/dtp-publishing/)

## Related terms

- [Brand book](https://sweetlava.eu/en/glossary/brand-book/)
- [Bleed and prepress (preflight)](https://sweetlava.eu/en/glossary/bleed-and-prepress/)
- [Visual identity](https://sweetlava.eu/en/glossary/visual-identity/)

## Preparing a catalogue, a book or another publication?

We design and typeset publications for print, from layout to production files. Quote within a few days.

[ Get in touch ](https://sweetlava.eu/en/contact/?source=glossary-cmyk-rgb)