Should Logos Be in CMYK or RGB Colors?

When making logos and other designs, the first thing you need to do is pick a color mode. The biggest mistake that people make when they design is not taking the color mode into account. In this case, you might want to know if you need to use CMYK or RGB for your logos.

As a general rule, logos should be provided in both color modes, if possible. It’s best to use CMYK for print usage, and use RGB for digital usage.

Consider using a logo maker that suggests colors based on templates. Placeit.net has a great logo maker that we’ve used personally, and highly recommend because it’s 100% commercially usable and even allows you to copyright or trademark the logo after download.

Choosing between CMYK and RGB for a logo is often a difficult choice. The two modes are both important and useful in different situations, but it’s best to look into how they are used first so you can make an informed decision when it comes to design. We’ll give you a complete overview of CMYK and RBG colors below so you can select which to use on your logo.

Is CMYK or RGB Best for Logos?

In the field of color design, CMYK and RGB are two of the most often used color models. In order to decide between these two options, it is necessary to know if your completed design will be printed or only be available digitally.

As a general rule of thumb, CMYK should be used for printing and RGB for digital work.

If the logo will be seen mostly on a digital screen, RGB should be used. Digital markets are becoming more and more common, and RGB is becoming more popular. However, any logo that will be printed on tangible objects rather than only on a computer screen should be created in CMYK mode.

Switching Between Color Modes

It’s not uncommon to encounter logos in both digital and real-world contexts. In instances like these, choosing a color mode may be more difficult, and it may be easier to adhere to colors that are visible across both spectrums.

When designing for print or online, look for colors that are nearly identical in CMYK and RGB modes so that future conversions will be as seamless as possible. Due to the wider spectrum of colors in RGB, the switch from RGB to CMYK is more difficult. Therefore, it’s common advice for logo designers to begin their work in CMYK mode and switch to RGB as needed.

When it comes to designing, it’s difficult to maintain a consistent color palette. Using the wrong color in your logo can hurt your brand, making potential customers confused or even putting them off.

When deciding on which colors to use, think about how these colors will look on a variety of different things. Something that looks good on a computer might not look as good in print, or the other way around. On top of that, you should expect some differences in your color across platforms, as colors aren’t always shown the same way on different devices.

While no one can control the billions of personal mobile phones, computer monitors, and print materials out there, there are some color modes that we use that are considered universal.  If used correctly, these color modes can also make a big difference in how the colors stay the same.

To put it simply, color modes are the way that image software works out the number of color channels that can be used in a picture. While there are many different color modes out there, CMYK and RGB are two of the most popular and the best for making logos.

What is the Difference between CMYK and RGB?

CMYK stands for cyan, magenta, yellow and, key (black).

The CMYK printing process includes mixing various volumes of different color inks to create a whole spectrum of color, with white representing the natural hue of the backdrop and black representing the entire mixture of colored inks. The CMYK colors are printed on top of each other using different volumes of transparent ink. Halftone percentages are printed using little dots of color that are invisible to the human eye.

Meanwhile, RGB stands for red, green, and blue. Computer displays, digital cameras, and TVs all utilize this color mode to display visuals on the screen by using a variation of red, green, and blue light intensities.

RBG is needed because computers can show color more accurately than paper can. RGB is the best color to use for your website, ad posters, banners, logos, and so on. The use of CMYK colors in digital work might result in more subdued tones, depending on the design’s characteristics.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to which color mode to use, it all boils down to what your final product is and how you want to present it.  When in doubt, design your logo in CMYK mode since it will look great whether it’s displayed digitally or printed. 

You could also try using a logo maker like Placeit to experiment with the design until you discover something that fits within your color range. If you’re looking for a consistent color palette, you may also want to consider consulting a professional designer to find something that works well in both RGB and CMYK.