RGB to CMYK Color Converter

R
G
B
Cyan (C)
Magenta (M)
Yellow (Y)
Key/Black (K)

RGB to CMYK Color Converter

What is RGB to CMYK Conversion?

RGB to CMYK conversion is the process of transforming color representations from the RGB (Red, Green, Blue) color model to the CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black) color model. This conversion is essential for print design, as most digital displays use RGB, while most printing processes use CMYK.

RGB Color Model

The RGB color model represents colors using three components:

  • Red (R): Amount of red, from 0 to 255.
  • Green (G): Amount of green, from 0 to 255.
  • Blue (B): Amount of blue, from 0 to 255.

CMYK Color Model

The CMYK color model represents colors using four components:

  • Cyan (C): Amount of cyan, from 0% to 100%.
  • Magenta (M): Amount of magenta, from 0% to 100%.
  • Yellow (Y): Amount of yellow, from 0% to 100%.
  • Key/Black (K): Amount of black, from 0% to 100%.

Conversion Formula

The conversion from RGB to CMYK involves these steps:

1. Normalize RGB values:

\[ R' = R / 255, G' = G / 255, B' = B / 255 \]

2. Calculate Key (Black):

\[ K = 1 - \max(R', G', B') \]

3. Calculate Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow:

\[ C = (1 - R' - K) / (1 - K) \]

\[ M = (1 - G' - K) / (1 - K) \]

\[ Y = (1 - B' - K) / (1 - K) \]

4. Convert to percentages:

\[ C = C \times 100\%, M = M \times 100\%, Y = Y \times 100\%, K = K \times 100\% \]

Usage Example

Let's convert a vibrant blue color from RGB to CMYK:

  • RGB: (0, 127, 255)
  • CMYK: (100%, 50%, 0%, 0%)

Visual Representation

RGB CMYK

This diagram shows the vibrant blue color represented in both RGB and CMYK formats. While they appear identical on screen, the CMYK version is optimized for print reproduction.