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Does Canva Use RGB or CMYK?

Last updated on September 27, 2022 @ 3:58 pm

There’s a lot of confusion around the difference between RGB and CMYK color modes, and which one is best for printing. Canva is here to set the record straight.

RGB (Red, Green, Blue) is the color mode native to digital displays and screens. CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) is the color mode used for printing purposes.

So why the difference? Put simply, RGB offers a wider range of colors because it uses light to display color.

PRO TIP: Canva uses RGB color mode by default. While this is fine for on-screen viewing, it can cause issues when printing. CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) is the standard color mode for print. If you’re planning to print your design, make sure to change the color mode to CMYK before downloading it.

CMYK, on the other hand, uses pigments to print color. Because of this process, there are a limited number of colors that can be accurately printed using CMYK.

When it comes to choosing between RGB and CMYK, it really depends on what you’re using your design for. If you’re creating something that will only be viewed digitally (like a website or social media graphic), then RGB is the way to go. If you’re creating something that will be printed (like a flyer or business card), then CMYK is best.

Of course, if you’re designing something that will be both printed and viewed digitally (like a magazine article), then you’ll need to use both color modes. In this case, you’ll need to design your project in two versions: one in RGB for digital viewing, and one in CMYK for printing.

Madison Geldart

Madison Geldart

Cloud infrastructure engineer and tech mess solver.