The CMYK color model (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black) is the standard color space for professional four-color printing. It describes how colors are created by mixing printing inks on a physical medium—typically paper. Unlike the additive RGB model (light colors), CMYK works subtractively: the more ink applied, the less light is reflected, and the darker the result appears.
Each of the four base colors is expressed as a percentage between 0% and 100%. Combining these values produces more than 4 trillion theoretically possible shades. Because the color gamut is smaller than that of RGB, some bright or neon screen colors cannot be accurately reproduced in print.
The CMYK color system is the industry standard for all printed materials—from brochures, magazines, and packaging to corporate branding. In prepress production, CMYK profiles are used to achieve precise, reproducible results. Professional printers rely on ICC color profiles such as “ISO Coated v2” or “FOGRA39” to minimize color deviations between screen and print.
Designers and agencies should always specify the correct color profile and work in or export layouts to CMYK when collaborating with print providers. This ensures consistent output. For brand colors, Pantone® or HKS® spot colors are recommended for exact reproduction.
In CMYK printing, the four inks are applied in fine halftone dots and printed sequentially. Their overlap produces the desired hue. The black channel (K) is not only used for black tones but also to enhance contrast and detail—without it, prints would look faded.
Vivid RGB tones can only be partially represented in CMYK. Therefore, for exceptionally bright colors, Pantone® or HKS® spot colors are used. These ensure color accuracy and brand consistency, especially for logos and packaging.
Pro Tip: Use soft proofs in software like Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, or Affinity Publisher to preview how CMYK conversion affects colors before printing. This helps avoid surprises in the final output.
Colors are displayed differently on each device. Please note that the colors do not always match 100%. Differences can occur when real colors are processed. We recommend a comparison of the real colors. We do not assume any liability.
Not all CMYK colors are displayed here.
Provide designers and agencies with accurate color values.
RGB to HEX
convert from RGB red green blue to #RRGGBB
RGB to CMYK
convert from RGB red green blue to CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black
RGB to RAL®
convert from RGB red green blue to RAL®-number (RAL 0000)
RGB to HKS®
convert from RGB red green blue to HKS®-number (HKS 00)
RGB to PANTONE®
convert from RGB red green blue to Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000)
RGB to Sherwin Williams®
convert from RGB red green blue to Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000)
RGB to NCS®
convert from RGB red green blue to NCS-number (S0000-X00X)
RGBA to HEX
convert from RGBA red green blue transparency to #RRGGBB
RGBA to CMYK
convert from RGBA red green blue transparency to CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black
RGBA to RAL®
convert from RGBA red green blue transparency to RAL®-number (RAL 0000)
RGBA to HKS®
convert from RGBA red green blue transparency to HKS®-number (HKS 00)
RGBA to PANTONE®
convert from RGBA red green blue transparency to Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000)
RGBA to Sherwin Williams®
convert from RGBA red green blue transparency to Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000)
RGBA to NCS®
convert from RGBA red green blue transparency to NCS-number (S0000-X00X)
CMYK to HEX
convert from CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black to #RRGGBB
CMYK to RGB
convert from CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black to RGB red green blue
CMYK to RGBA
convert from CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black to RGBA red green blue transparency
CMYK to RAL®
convert from CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black to RAL®-number (RAL 0000)
CMYK to HKS®
convert from CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black to HKS®-number (HKS 00)
CMYK to PANTONE®
convert from CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black to Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000)
CMYK to Sherwin Williams®
convert from CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black to Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000)
CMYK to NCS®
convert from CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black to NCS-number (S0000-X00X)
HEX to RGB
convert from #RRGGBB to RGB red green blue
HEX to RGBA
convert from #RRGGBB to RGBA red green blue transparency
HEX to CMYK
convert from #RRGGBB to CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black
HEX to RAL®
convert from #RRGGBB to RAL®-number (RAL 0000)
HEX to HKS®
convert from #RRGGBB to HKS®-number (HKS 00)
HEX to PANTONE®
convert from #RRGGBB to Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000)
HEX to Sherwin Williams®
convert from #RRGGBB to Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000)
HEX to NCS®
convert from #RRGGBB to NCS-number (S0000-X00X)
RAL® to RGB
convert from RAL®-number (RAL 0000) to RGB red green blue
RAL® to RGBA
convert from RAL®-number (RAL 0000) to RGBA red green blue transparency
RAL® to CMYK
convert from RAL®-number (RAL 0000) to CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black
RAL® to HEX
convert from RAL®-number (RAL 0000) to #RRGGBB
RAL® to HKS®
convert from RAL®-number (RAL 0000) to HKS®-number (HKS 00)
RAL® to PANTONE®
convert from RAL®-number (RAL 0000) to Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000)
RAL® to Sherwin Williams®
convert from RAL®-number (RAL 0000) to Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000)
RAL® to NCS®
convert from RAL®-number (RAL 0000) to NCS-number (S0000-X00X)
HKS® to RGB
convert from HKS®-number (HKS 00) to RGB red green blue
HKS® to RGBA
convert from HKS®-number (HKS 00) to RGBA red green blue transparency
HKS® to CMYK
convert from HKS®-number (HKS 00) to CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black
HKS® to HEX
convert from HKS®-number (HKS 00) to #RRGGBB
HKS® to RAL®
convert from HKS®-number (HKS 00) to RAL®-number (RAL 0000)
HKS® to PANTONE®
convert from HKS®-number (HKS 00) to Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000)
HKS® to Sherwin Williams®
convert from HKS®-number (HKS 00) to Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000)
HKS® to NCS®
convert from HKS®-number (HKS 00) to NCS-number (S0000-X00X)
PANTONE® to RGB
convert from Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000) to RGB red green blue
PANTONE® to RGBA
convert from Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000) to RGBA red green blue transparency
PANTONE® to CMYK
convert from Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000) to CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black
PANTONE® to HEX
convert from Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000) to #RRGGBB
PANTONE® to RAL®
convert from Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000) to RAL®-number (RAL 0000)
PANTONE® to HKS®
convert from Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000) to HKS®-number (HKS 00)
PANTONE® to Sherwin Williams®
convert from Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000) to Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000)
PANTONE® to NCS®
convert from Pantone®-number (Pantone 0000) to NCS-number (S0000-X00X)
Sherwin Williams® to RGB
convert from Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000) to RGB red green blue
Sherwin Williams® to RGBA
convert from Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000) to RGBA red green blue transparency
Sherwin Williams® to CMYK
convert from Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000) to CMYK cyan / magenta / yellow / black
Sherwin Williams® to HEX
convert from Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000) to #RRGGBB
Sherwin Williams® to RAL®
convert from Sherwin Williams®-number (SW 0000) to RAL®-number (RAL 0000)