What’s the difference between CMYK, RGB, Pantone, and Hex?

I explain this almost every week, and I don’t blame anyone for not knowing it. Most people were never taught the difference. Even designers coming out of college often weren’t. So here’s the plain-English version.

The short answer

CMYK is for print. RGB is for screens. Pantone is a library of pre-mixed colors. Hex is for websites. Each one has a different job.

CMYK: the colors of print

CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black. Think of the ink cartridges in your printer at home. Every color on a printed piece is built by mixing those four inks.

RGB: the colors of your screen

RGB stands for Red, Green, and Blue. That’s how your TV, phone, and computer monitor make every color you see, by mixing light instead of ink. Photos from your phone camera are RGB.

Pantone: the paint swatch of the print world

Think of the paint swatches at Home Depot. You pick a chip, and they mix that exact color for you. Pantone works the same way: it’s a library of pre-made colors, each with its own number, so everyone is talking about the exact same color.

Hex: the colors of the web

A Hex code (like #C80000) is a color code used for websites and anything online. It doesn’t apply to print.

Does it matter if I send an RGB file?

Less than it used to. Years ago, RGB files often printed muddy and dull. Today, the RIP software that drives our printers does an excellent job converting RGB and Pantone into CMYK.

The real issue is accuracy. With Pantone, we can check the color against Pantone’s official CMYK conversion books and make sure we’re matching it. With RGB, there’s no reference to check against, so we’re printing blind. And our Epson large-format printers are exceptionally accurate to Pantone, so giving us a Pantone number really pays off.

My advice

• If your design has vector art (logos, shapes, text) and the color matters, use Pantone. That lets us be as accurate as possible.
• Leave everything else the way it was created. If you shot a photo with your phone, leave it RGB. Don’t convert it to CMYK yourself. In most cases, our RIP does a better job converting it than Photoshop does.

Not sure about your file? Ask us before you send it. A two-minute question can save a reprint.