When preparing art for print vs web, which conversion is typically done?

When preparing art for print vs web, which conversion is typically done?

• A. Never convert color modes
• B. Always export to RGB
• C. Convert to CMYK for print and RGB for web
• D. Convert everything to grayscale

Answer: (C)

Color spaces matter because the way colors are produced differs between print and screens. Screens display light using RGB (red, green, blue), an additive model that maps colors by emitting light. Printers, on the other hand, use CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black), a subtractive model that builds color with ink on white paper. Because of these fundamental differences, prepare art for print by converting to CMYK so the printed colors align with the printer’s gamut, and prepare art for web by converting to RGB (usually with an sRGB profile) so colors render correctly on monitors. This split is why the typical approach is to convert to CMYK for print and RGB for web. Keeping everything in RGB for print can lead to dull or off colors after printing; converting everything to grayscale would remove the color information entirely; and sticking with RGB for web export only ignores print requirements.

Color spaces matter because the way colors are produced differs between print and screens. Screens display light using RGB (red, green, blue), an additive model that maps colors by emitting light. Printers, on the other hand, use CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black), a subtractive model that builds color with ink on white paper. Because of these fundamental differences, prepare art for print by converting to CMYK so the printed colors align with the printer’s gamut, and prepare art for web by converting to RGB (usually with an sRGB profile) so colors render correctly on monitors. This split is why the typical approach is to convert to CMYK for print and RGB for web. Keeping everything in RGB for print can lead to dull or off colors after printing; converting everything to grayscale would remove the color information entirely; and sticking with RGB for web export only ignores print requirements.