the-aps.org>publications>cmyk vs. rgb

RGB VS. CMYK

RGB - Red, Green, Blue

The color process used by computer displays. The presence of all three colors as light waves is perceived by the eye as white; the absence of light is perceived as black. This is also known as additive color. RGB color is very different from CMYK color. The range of colors that can be generated by RGB mode is much larger than those that can be generated by CMYK.

NOTE: APS publications now follow an RGB workflow. Authors may now submit all color images in the RGB color scheme. RGB images will be preserved throughout the online publication process and displayed as the author intended. The RGB workflow allows for the preservation of fluorescent blues, greens, and reds.

CMYK - Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black

The four-color printing process uses the aforementioned inks. It is also known as subtractive color, or process printing.

NOTE: All color images printed in the APS journals will still have to be converted to CMYK for print publication. This is unavoidable. In most cases the print quality should not suffer, but the conversion from RGB to CMYK does involve a color shift. This shift is most noticeable in fluorescing reds and greens.

Back to Color Figures

Back to Instructions for Authors Main Page

05/15/2008