RGB vs CMYK: Avoiding the "Muddy Color" Disaster
DefinitionThe difference between Light (Screens) and Ink (Printers).
1The Simple Explanation
Screens start Black and add Light (Red, Green, Blue) to get White. Printers start White (Paper) and add Ink (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) to get Black. They are opposites.
2Technical Deep Dive
RGB has a wider 'Gamut' (it can create colors that ink cannot physically reproduce). When you convert RGB to CMYK, out-of-gamut colors (like neon green) get crushed to the nearest printable drab equivalent.
Common Misconceptions
Myth: I should design in CMYK for the web. Fact: CMYK files often don't render in browsers at all. Always use sRGB for web.