How Can Brands Differentiate Between CMYK and RGB Color Schemes?

When placing an order for custom packaging boxes you might have come across terms like RGB and CMYK when it comes to selecting the color schemes. These terms might sound very alien to you at the start but we are here to help you to understand them better.

Before finalizing your custom packaging order, your agent must ask you whether you want to go with RGB color coding or CMYK color coding. This is essential as both of these have different roles and are compatible in different dimensions either 2D or 3D format. These color models or schemes are essential in selecting your brand’s theme when it comes to product packaging design.

Your brand’s color scheme plays a great role in making or breaking your brand’s image as it sets the mood for your brand. Your products beautifully displayed in specially crafted custom packaging boxes with a perfect color scheme is essential for attracting a bunch of target audiences instantly.

We have tried to make it more clear using thorough terminologies to help you out in selecting the best color scheme codes for your custom packaging design;

Detailed Guide On RGB Color Scheme Vs CMYK Color Scheme

1.  RGB Color Scheme:

RGB stands for “Red, Green, and Blue”, and is a color scheme mostly used digitally. These colors are usually used for enhancing screen displays and are created by mixing up red, green, and blue. In short, all the colors you see on your screens are in the form of RGB.

A light source is used to mix these colors hence; it gives them the name additive mixing. Slowly colors like blue, red, and green are added to these light sources to create the perfect pigment.

Mostly social media posts, online platforms, and Photoshop-like editing software use the RGB color scheme and allows visual content to be displayed all over digital media.

The best format for transforming such files is the JPEG format as it can easily be accessible everywhere. PNG format is mostly used for files like banners, icons, and buttons so the graphics are illustrated beautifully.

2.  CMYK color scheme:

CMYK stands for “Cyan Magenta Yellow and Key (Black)”, and is a type of color scheme mostly used for products that are supposed to be printed in a 3D form. The CMYK color scheme is specially prepared by combining numerous inks and preparing the desired color outcome.

Here, the principle is quite opposite to that of the RGB color scheme and is termed subtractive mixing. These color codes initially start as black and then their intensity is reduced by layering on several physical inks of different colors.

CMYK color scheme is specifically associated with printing as it converts the colors from natural white light to dyes and pigments by subtracting. The color value of the CMYK color scheme ranges from 0-100%.

Typically, the most opted file formats for transferring CMYK-modeled files are PDFs, EPS, and AI. These files are formatted by the printing expert and then printed onto the packaging materials.

When brands are going for a 3D prototype or sample, or when they receive their final order, the printing that’s used to illustrate on your packaging boxes is in the form of CMYK and allows your colors to appear more vibrant and bright. To give a better idea of how your product packaging design may appear while printing.

Now, the question is,

Is RGB better or CMYK?

Well, to answer that question we will be a little diplomatic here. As no doubt both the color schemes are very well-versed and allow a great depiction and illustration of graphics. If you are more interested in action, CMYK is better as it is typically the major color coding used in getting physical samples for your products.

CMYK are preferable as they are very light replicable and allows brands to select a very attractive and stylish color scheme. However, RGB color codes are used for digital or what we can say 2-D use. If you want to show your products online or in ads, you may want to get your banners and posts made according to the RGB color schemes. But CMYK is used when it’s show-time.

Both of these color schemes have their own merits and demerits and both of them are quite different when it comes to their application.

Conclusion:

It must be concluded that it’s a matter of preference whether any brands want to get their packaging design in 3-D form or stay digital, as for the latter CMYK is preferred 100% moreover RGB. Also, undoubtedly CMYK gives excellent finishing and printing results with beautiful color schemes allowing brands to mix and match according to their designs. I hope, this article resolved some of your queries related to selecting the right color scheme.