RGB Color Model and Why It is Not Used For Printing and Packaging

To determine why not use the RGB color model, we need to check the basics of the RGB color model, not just discuss what abbreviations represent.

RGB Color Model

 RGB stands for red, green and blue. RGB is a device-dependent color model that can only be successfully used in monitors and in some cases of traditional photography. For the color you see on the screen now, it cannot be translated by printing.

Each color displayed is a combination of red, green, and blue. For example, the combination of red and green produces yellow; the mixture of green and blue produces cyan, and the addition of blue to red produces magenta.

The three basic colors add up to white. Unlike CMYK, RGB is considered an “additional” color system for this reason.

RGB Color Combination

In addition to these eight colors (red, green, blue, yellow, magenta, cyan, white, black), various other colors can also be displayed. This is the desired color on the screen that is achieved by mixing various densities. The hardware problem of the display system means that each basic color is only displayed at 0%, 2%, 10%, 28%, 57%, and 100% intensity.

Therefore, colors (except for the eight colors mentioned above, which depend on the 0% or 100% intensity of each base color) will not be displayed accurately. Able to find new ways to achieve color correction on computer and TV screens through research, new tools and advanced coding. Although this opens up many opportunities for technological advancement, the RGB color system still poses problems for printing and packaging.

Why is RGB not Suitable for Printing and Packaging?

 In most printing processes, the RGB color space is usually converted to CMYK before the artwork is created. Basically, any color produced using RGB in the digital space will not produce the same output in physical printing. Color gamut, in other words, the conversion of RGB to CMYK usually only allows colors to be converted as close to the original appearance of the screen as possible.

Therefore, working in the CMYK color space can make the artwork look exactly or as close as possible to the design in real life when it is converted to be printed on paper or packaging.

What if you created a design using the RGB color model?

The good news is that your artistic design can be easily converted to a CMYK color model in any way.

 However, the disadvantage of converting the RGB color model design to CMYK is that the colors may need to be corrected again to produce something close to the original layout you created with RGB.

RGB in Cameras

Digital cameras rely heavily on the use of RGB color systems through CMOS or CCD image sensors. Today’s digital cameras have RGB sensors that can help determine the exposure of the image and create accurate photos.

Although the RGB color model is really helpful in advancing technology and creating a system that we all know and use now, it is not the best color system for printing and packaging. You will end up with distorted colors and end up creating boring and strange designs and prints.

Choosing a CMYK color system for custom packaging and printing will ensure higher quality results.