.png)

RGB vs CMYK
There are various color theories; however, Sir Isaac Newton's observations are widely acknowledged; intrigued by the effects of white light, he based his color circle on the seven octaves of music. In his spectrum, the seven colors reflecting through white light were red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. This theory also considers red, yellow, and blue as primary colors that cannot be created by mixing other colors akin to prime numbers. While individually distinct, these colors combine to form many other hues.
​
Newton's color spectrum mirrors the rainbow scene in nature and the refraction of light from a prism or raindrop. This theory serves well in explaining fundamental color ideas, as these colors are readily visible.
​
The primary colors—red, yellow, and blue—fall between other colors when arranged in rainbow order, creating a mnemonic device with the acronym ROYGBIV.
​
However, the graphic design industry has distinct approaches to color, known as subtractive and additive models. Subtractive deals with how white light is absorbed and reflected off surfaces like paper, while additive deals with radiated and filtered light in electronic mediums.
​
The subtractive model (CMYK), colors are cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. In the additive model (RGB), colors are red, green, and blue.
​
Regarding printing, the CMYK model, with cyan, magenta, and yellow as primary colors, is more effective in creating colors on paper. For electronic use, the RGB model, with red, green, and blue as primary colors, works better when light comes from behind, such as screens.
​
In CMYK printing, a four-color process involves separating a continuous tone color image into four single-color images on cyan, magenta, yellow, and black plates. These plates are printed using corresponding inks to produce a full-color spectrum. This process, known as offset printing, is employed by commercial printing companies.
​
In contrast, the electronic display's RGB color model combines red, green, and blue light intensities to create various colors. Each pixel on a screen represents independent values for red, green, and blue, producing a wide range of colors through the projection of white light from behind the monitor.
​
So, from the traditional RYB or ROYGBIV color circle to the CMYK and RGB models, numerous acronyms and models are used in graphic design to understand and manipulate colors.