RGB to CMYK Converter

Type RGB values and see the CMYK percentages used for printing.

How it works

CMYK describes a color by how much ink goes on paper: cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. Black, called K, is 1 minus the brightest RGB channel, and the other three are scaled by what is left after black is taken out. Red 255, 0, 0 has no cyan and no black, so it comes out as 0% cyan, 100% magenta, 100% yellow, 0% black. Drag the sliders to see how each RGB change moves the ink percentages.

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FAQ

What does K stand for?

K stands for black, called Key. It is the black ink, kept apart from the three color inks so dark colors print cleanly.

Why does black come out as 0, 0, 0, 100?

Black on screen means no light at all, so the formula puts everything into the black ink and nothing into cyan, magenta or yellow.

Can I send these percentages to a print shop?

Yes, as a starting point. Print shops work in CMYK, but their machines and paper can shift the result, so ask them to proof it before a big run.

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