We cannot guarantee color matching as colors print differently based on material, inks, color codes, etc. If you have a specific color in mind, let us know the Coated Pantone color code or the CMYK color code. If your brand is very specific about their colors, we recommend getting some color swatches made. You can choose up to 10 colors to swatch and you only have to cover the shipping! This is the best way to get the color you need, as we change our inks biyearly and colors may change slightly.

What's the difference between CMYK and RGB?

RGB stands for Red, Green, and Blue. These colors are used for digital mediums such as computer or phone screens. RGB colors tend to be formed by lights from the screen, allowing for brighter colors. CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black. These colors are used for print materials such as posters or flags. CMYK colors tend to be more muted and not as vibrant since the colors are comprised of inks instead of lights as with RGB colors.

Can you print in RGB?

Unfortunately, we cannot print in RGB. For physical prints, the inks are CMYK. We can print a file that is set to RGB, but the colors are not going to look the same. If providing your own artwork, please be sure the color mode is set to CMYK.

CMYK vs RGB: What's the Difference?

What is Color Matching?

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CMYK vs RGB Colors

A question asked often: “Please explain the difference between RGB and CMYK to me! I don’t understand. Why can’t you make the color match my computer screen!”

Knowing the difference between the color modes in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Corel Draw, or any other design software is very important when it comes to color matching RGB. Your final product will not match what you see in your design file if you submit RGB files.

We’ve had many clients send us RGB files and request that we match those colors to our custom flag prints. Unfortunately, RGB colors cannot be translated to CMYK. An RGB color will lose its bright, neon-like color when it is converted to CMYK color mode.

To see the difference between CMYK vs RGB color modes, visit the RGB and CMYK Wikipedia pages and view the images at the top right. CMYK looks like paint colors, while RGB looks like very bright neon colors.

How Do RGB Colors Differ From CMYK?

RGB stands for red, green, and blue. Your computer monitors and other RGB displays, like televisions, display your colors with a combination of red, green, and blue light. These “lights” create bright and vibrant colors.

CMYK colors are cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. To make a color in CMYK, you will take different amounts of C, M, Y, and K ink and mix it to create your desired color. To picture how CMYK vs RGB differ, imagine having 4 buckets of paint and mixing them together to create a color. It is very similar to painting. Unlike mixing ink, your monitor will be using R, G, and B lights to create colors, while commercial printing machines will be using actual ink.

RGB Color Samples

Let’s look at the difference between RGB and CMYK. Below, you will see a small sample of RGB colors. These colors are some of the most requested RGB shades for our custom feather flags and air dancers. We’ve received thousands of requests for having our custom flags match these colors. I’ll try to quickly explain why we cannot match CMYK vs RGB.

You’ll notice that each of the colors below are very bright. Computer screens display colors in RGB, so when you see these colors on any monitor, they will be very bright and vibrant. These colors would be awesome to have on flags or banners, but unfortunately, we cannot match any of these colors in CMYK. All textile machines print in CMYK colors only (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, & Black).

CMYK Color Samples

Now, before you look at the image below, be ready to be shocked. Figure 2 displays the bright RGB colors from Figure 1 converted to CMYK. CMYK vs RGB look nothing alike, right? This is because the CMYK color spectrum cannot achieve those bright neon colors. The colors in Figure 2 actually look great if you don’t compare them to Figure 1. In short, what you should take from this is that the difference between RGB and CMYK is that the colors look very different!

Color Matching RGB to CMYK

RGB colors cannot be matched to CMYK. They just differ way too much to match. What you can do is convert your RGB colors to CMYK by using the Rapid Tables website or simply Google “RGB to CMYK”. A much easier way to overcome the discrepancies between CMYK vs RGB is to change your design file to CMYK color mode.

Follow the instructions below to do this in our preferred designing software:

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

Can Any Sign Be Printed in RGB Colors?

Unfortunately, the signs we offer do not support RGB colors. Our custom air dancers, custom feather flags, rectangle banner flags, teardrop flags, vinyl banners, retractable banners, or any other items that we have available must use CMYK colors.

If possible, we recommend trying to use Pantone colors when creating your artwork. Pantone colors tend to match the best from computer screen to real-life prints. When comparing CMYK vs RGB, please note that your flag colors will be lighter than what you see on your screen. The RGB colors on your monitor will make the colors brighter than they actually are.

Hopefully, after reading this article about the difference between RGB and CMYK, you now know what to tell your client when they want you to explain the ins and outs of color matching RGB and CMYK. Be sure to always send a design proof to your clients for approval if they provide you files in RGB. Otherwise, you will be receiving an angry phone call.

Summary

CMYK vs RGB: RGB colors are made up of RGB lights, which is what you see on your computer screen or television. CMYK is made up of ink, which mixes to create colors, similar to when creating paint colors. Because of this, RGB colors cannot be achieved in the CMYK spectrum. All signs that we produce are in CMYK; therefore, you must always design them in CMYK color modes.

Feather Flag Nation cannot guarantee color matching with custom orders. CMYK and Pantone color codes are best when providing color codes.

Have any questions about CMYK vs RGB? Contact Us! Send us an email at sales@featherflagnation.com or give us a call at 1 (877) 900-5692. We are open M-F from 8am-4:30pm PST.

Color Matching CMYK vs RGB: What’s the Difference?