CMYK to RGB Converter: Print to Screen Colors
Convert CMYK print color values to RGB screen colors.
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Contrast on white & black
WCAG 2.1 contrast ratio of #235EEB against a white and a black surface.
AA needs 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text (18pt, or 14pt bold); AAA needs 7:1. Use this to choose white or black text over the color.
About this conversion
CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black) is a subtractive color model used in commercial printing. Ink absorbs light, so combining all four inks at full strength yields near-black. Each value is expressed as a percentage from 0 to 100, representing the amount of each ink applied to the paper.
RGB is an additive model used by monitors, phones, and any light-emitting display. Because the two models describe color in fundamentally different ways, converting between them involves a mathematical approximation. The on-screen result is as close as possible but may not be an exact match for the printed output. This difference is why print professionals use ICC profiles and proofing workflows. For guidance on reducing the gap between screen and print, see our printer color calibration guide.
Use this converter when you receive CMYK values from a print designer or a Pantone swatch book and need an RGB equivalent for web or app design. The tool also shows you the corresponding HEX code so you can drop it straight into your CSS.
If you're new to the difference between the two systems, our RGB vs CMYK guide walks through when each one wins and how to convert without surprise.
Worked examples
Real conversions this tool produces — enter the inputs to reproduce each result.
Previewing a print blue on screen (default sliders)
Input
- Cyan (C)
- 85%
- Magenta (M)
- 60%
- Yellow (Y)
- 0%
- Black (K)
- 8%
Result
- Red (R)
- 35
- Green (G)
- 94
- Blue (B)
- 235
- HEX
- #235EEB
The 8% black quietly pulls every channel down: without it the blue would be brighter. This is a naive (non-ICC) conversion — a real proof through a printer profile lands a little duller.
What 'no ink' produces — paper white
Input
- Cyan (C)
- 0%
- Magenta (M)
- 0%
- Yellow (Y)
- 0%
- Black (K)
- 0%
Result
- Red (R)
- 255
- Green (G)
- 255
- Blue (B)
- 255
- HEX
- #FFFFFF
Zero ink is pure white on screen — but on paper it's the stock colour, which is rarely a true 255 white. The math can't know your paper; your eye and a proof do.
A rich orange-red for a flyer panel
Input
- Cyan (C)
- 0%
- Magenta (M)
- 81%
- Yellow (Y)
- 100%
- Black (K)
- 4%
Result
- Red (R)
- 245
- Green (G)
- 47
- Blue (B)
- 0
- HEX
- #F52F00
Full yellow plus 81% magenta drives blue to zero and green down to 47 — that's what makes the colour read orange-red rather than pure red.
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Color conversions are mathematical approximations. For critical color work, verify against physical swatch books and printed proofs. See our methodology and full disclaimer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do CMYK and RGB produce different-looking colors?
CMYK is a subtractive model (ink absorbs light) while RGB is additive (screens emit light). They have different color gamuts, so a CMYK value converted to RGB is a mathematical approximation of how the ink color would appear on screen.
Is the CMYK to RGB conversion exact?
It is mathematically precise but not perceptually perfect. The formula maps CMYK percentages to RGB integers accurately, but the physical appearance of printed ink versus emitted light will always differ slightly.
When should I use CMYK to RGB conversion?
Use it when you receive CMYK values from a print designer or Pantone swatch book and need to display the color on screen (for example, in a website, app, or digital mockup).
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<a href="https://printertools.net/tools/cmyk-to-rgb" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:8px;padding:10px 14px;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;border-radius:8px;background:#ffffff;font-family:system-ui,-apple-system,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:1.3;color:#2563eb;text-decoration:none;">CMYK to RGB Converter: Print to Screen Colors — free tool by PrinterTools</a>More Print calculators
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