RGB ↔ CMYK Color Converter
Bidirectional color conversion with gamut warnings, HSL, HSV, Lab, and bulk hex input
Cyan
Magenta
Yellow
Black
RGB Screen
#E53935
CMYK Approximation
#E63935
HEX
#E53935
RGB
rgb(229, 57, 53)
HSL
hsl(1, 77%, 55%)
HSV
hsv(1, 77%, 90%)
CIE Lab
L:51.7 a:64.7 b:43.2
CMYK
C:0% M:75% Y:77% K:10%
Why Convert RGB to CMYK?
CMYK vs RGB: What Designers Need to Know
RGB — Screen Color
RGB (Red, Green, Blue) is an additive color model used by all digital displays. Combining all three channels at full intensity produces white. RGB has a larger color gamut than CMYK, which is why some vivid screen colors cannot be reproduced in print without gamut shift. Always export a separate RGB version for web and social media.
CMYK — Print Color
CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black) is a subtractive model used by commercial presses. Each percentage represents ink coverage on the plate. Combining all four at 100% produces a muddy near-black — for true blacks, printers use Rich Black (C:60 M:40 Y:40 K:100) for large areas, and 100% K only for fine text to prevent mis-registration blur.
Color Profiles & ICC Workflow
Professional print workflows rely on ICC profiles (such as SWOP, GRACoL, or Fogra39) to standardize how colors are interpreted across different presses and substrates. When preparing files for Catdi, embed your color profile, convert all RGB elements to CMYK, and verify spot colors are converted to process if your job is 4-color only. Submit PDF/X-1a or PDF/X-4 with bleed for best results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about RGB to CMYK conversion and print color.