RGB to CMYK Converter

Convert RGB color values to CMYK for print with live sliders.

Enter a color

#3B82F6
 
  • HEX
  • RGB
  • HSL
  • HSB
  • HSV
  • CMYK
Copy CMYK Copy Link

Contrast & Accessibility WCAG ratio of this color used as text

Aa ——on white
Aa ——on black

Shades & Tints click any swatch to load it

Shades (toward black)
Tints (toward white)

Color Harmonies based on the current Hue

Complementary
 
Analogous
  
Triadic
  
Split Complementary
  
Tetradic
   

About the RGB to CMYK Converter

What is RGB to CMYK conversion?

RGB is an additive model for screens: it mixes red, green, and blue light, and all three at full strength make white. CMYK is a subtractive model for print: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (black) inks absorb light on paper, and more ink means darker. This converter takes your RGB values and returns the matching CMYK percentages, along with HEX, HSL, and HSB and a live preview.

Anyone preparing artwork for print needs this step, because a printer thinks in CMYK while your design tool and screen think in RGB. Move the R, G, and B sliders to see the CMYK ink mix update instantly. A quick but important caveat: a screen can show vivid colors that no ink set can reproduce, so treat the result as a faithful starting point and always confirm with your print shop's color profile for an exact match.

How to Use This Tool

  1. Set your RGB color. Drag the Red, Green, and Blue sliders, type 0–255 values, paste a HEX code, or use the eyedropper.
  2. Read the CMYK value. The four ink percentages appear at the top of the results and update live.
  3. Grab the rest. HEX, HSL, and HSB are listed too, each with a copy button.
  4. Explore. Use the shades, tints, and harmony swatches, and check the contrast panel.

Common Use Cases

  • Print preparation: Convert on-screen brand colors to CMYK before sending files to a printer.
  • Business cards and flyers: Get the ink mix for a color you picked on screen.
  • Estimating ink coverage: The K (black) and total percentages hint at how heavy the print will be.
  • Spec sheets: Document a color in both RGB and CMYK for digital and print use.
  • Learning color models: Watching additive RGB become subtractive CMYK makes the difference click.

Need the reverse or another model? Use our CMYK to RGB converter, the HEX to CMYK converter, or browse all our free color tools.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I convert RGB to CMYK?

Enter your red, green, and blue values and the CMYK percentages appear instantly. The tool scales each channel to 0–1, derives the Key (black) from the brightest channel, and works out Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow from what's left.

Will the printed color exactly match my screen?

Not always. RGB screens can display colors that lie outside the CMYK gamut, so very bright or neon colors will look more muted in print. This converter gives a standard, profile-free conversion; for a precise match, use your printer's ICC profile or ask them for a proof.

What does the K in CMYK stand for?

K stands for Key, which is the black plate. Black ink is used instead of layering cyan, magenta, and yellow because it gives crisper text and deeper shadows while using less ink.

Why is this conversion sometimes called "lossy"?

Because CMYK can't reproduce every RGB color, some vividness is lost when you move to print, and converting CMYK back to RGB won't always return the exact original. The numbers here are mathematically consistent, but print is a physical process with its own limits.

Is this tool free and private?

Completely. There's no sign-up, and the conversion runs entirely in your browser with JavaScript, so your colors are never uploaded or logged. It works offline once the page has loaded.