CMYK Color Wheel
What is the CMYK Color Model
The CMYK model operates on the subtractive color principle, which is quite distinct from the additive principle used in the RGB color model (you can see RGB in digital displays like your computer or television screen). The letters CMYK stand for cyan, magenta, yellow, and key (black), the four ink colors used in color printing.
When we delve into the process, it starts with a white or light-colored backdrop. The inks are then applied to this background, and as their name suggests, they subtract the light reflecting off of it. Essentially, the colors work as filters, absorbing certain wavelengths of light while reflecting others. It’s this reflection that our eyes perceive as color.
In the CMYK model, colors come to life by varying the percentages of each of the four inks applied. It’s a bit like being a chef in a kitchen, mixing ingredients to get a desired taste. But here, you’re mixing inks to get the desired shade.
Some Complementary Colors in the CMYK Color Wheel
How We Convert CMYK to RGB
To make sure we can get the color’s hex code when you click on the CMYK color wheel, we must code to convert CMYK to RGB. So here is what we do:
- Inverse Relationship
- CMYK colors work on a subtractive model, while RGB works on an additive model. Because the CMYK uses percentages to stand for C, M, Y, and K values, we can subtract them by 1 to get the inverse values.
- Conversion Formula
When converting CMYK values to RGB, the formula provided can be understood as:
- R = 255 * (1 – C) * (1 – K)
- G = 255 * (1 – M) * (1 – K)
- B = 255 * (1 – Y) * (1 – K)
The multiplication by 255 scales the value to the RGB range, which is 0-255.
(1 – C) calculates the inverse of the Cyan value, as RGB requires the amount of Red which is opposite to Cyan.
(1 – K) represents the lack of black. The more black (K) you have, the darker the color will be. Hence, we subtract it.
- Rounding
- Since RGB values must be integers between 0 and 255, the results are rounded to the nearest whole number.
