RGB to CMYK Color Converter
Convert RGB color values to CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black) format for print design.
Enter RGB Values
Click on the color picker to select a color visually
CMYK Result
CMYK values are used primarily in print design. The conversion from RGB to CMYK is an approximation, as RGB (screen) and CMYK (print) have different color gamuts. For professional print work, consult with your printer for color profile recommendations.
How It Works
RGB (Red, Green, Blue) and CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black) are two different color models used for different purposes:
RGB is an additive color model used for digital displays, where colors are created by combining different intensities of red, green, and blue light. Each component ranges from 0 to 255.
CMYK is a subtractive color model used in color printing. It describes how much cyan, magenta, yellow, and black ink is needed to create a specific color on paper. Each component is expressed as a percentage from 0% to 100%.
Converting from RGB to CMYK involves these steps:
- Normalize RGB values to the range [0, 1]
- Calculate the black key (K) as 1 minus the maximum RGB value
- If K equals 1 (meaning R=G=B=0), then C=M=Y=0 (pure black)
- Otherwise, calculate C, M, and Y based on the RGB values and K
- Convert all values to percentages (0-100%)
The formulas used are:
- K = 1 - max(R, G, B)
- C = (1 - R - K) / (1 - K) × 100%
- M = (1 - G - K) / (1 - K) × 100%
- Y = (1 - B - K) / (1 - K) × 100%
It's important to note that the RGB to CMYK conversion is not perfect due to the different color gamuts of screens and print. Professional print work often requires color calibration and specific color profiles.