What does RGB stand for and when to use it?

Summary/Overview

RGB is an acronym you may come across when working to produce images digitally in colour. It’s a colour representation model used in electronic displays, such as computer monitors, televisions and smartphone screens. As there’s more than one colour model used in digital displays and printing, it can be confusing to know which is the best one to use for a specific project.

This article explores what RGB is, where and how it’s used, and how to create better designs by using RGB or other colour models. Adobe Express can help you get started on creating innovative colour displays and designs for free.

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What is RGB?

RGB is an acronym for three colours – red, green and blue – and describes a colour model most frequently used in digital displays.

This model works by combining red, green and blue light to create a vast array of colours from the spectrum.

While RGB has been used occasionally in conventional photography, its main purpose is in digital displays – smartphone screens, televisions and computer monitors.

RGB is device-dependent, meaning images may display differently depending on the manufacturer, make and model. Each device interprets the three base colours/lights in its own slightly unique way. Each colour has a value from 0 to 255, which can be detected differently across devices, and even change over the lifecycle of a single device. The higher the value, the more intense the colour.

What is RGB used for?

RGB is widely used across multiple industries to create colour displays for a variety of pieces of equipment. RGB features can be found in many high-end computer components and in some peripherals.

Examples include:

• Motherboards
• Graphics cards
• Memory sticks
• Monitors
• Headphones
• Speakers
• Keyboards
• Mice
• Mouse pads
• Fans and cooling devices
• Computer casing
• Power supply units
• Solid state drives.

RGB strips and light fixtures can also be added externally to your desk layout to give you more control over your lighting.

In addition, RGB is widely used in products such as digital cameras, colour televisions, video cameras and image scanners.

Free digital design template ideas using RGB.

RGB vs CMYK: which one should you use?

There’s more than one colour model used to produce colour images. The most common, apart from RGB, is CMYK. This stands for cyan, magenta, yellow, key – key is used to represent black as the letter B is already in use for blue in RGB.

The CMYK colour model is mainly used in printing, although both colour models can be used across a range of projects and technologies.

As a quick reference, you would most likely choose RGB when working digitally, and CMYK when working with print media, such as flyers and posters.

When to use RGB:

• Web and app design
• Social media posts
• Online logos
• Online ads
• Video content
• Digital graphics
• Photographs viewed online
• Infographics

When to use CMYK:

• Business cards
• Stationery
• Flyers/posters
• Menus
• Merchandise
• Product packaging
• Signs and storefronts
• Billboards

When to use RGB in your designs.

Before you start creating a new design, it helps to know what medium the finished product will be displayed in, so you can choose RGB or CMYK appropriately. In graphic design, where most finished products are designed to be viewed online, you would mostly use RGB – the only exceptions would be if certain images or graphics were also going to be printed.

Read on to learn more about when to use RGB in your designs.

Digital branding.

Colour plays a key role in digital branding – the colour of a logo or font associated with a specific business is often one of the things people remember the most. RGB gives bright, luminous colouring on-screen, ideal for creating memorable digital branding. Colours can also be converted into CMYK for print media.

Social media.

Social media is an entirely digital medium and therefore all images, profile pictures, videos and other posts should be created using RGB. This ensures integrity of colour and creates vibrant images that people will notice and remember. For most social media posts, you will only need 72ppi – the best formats to use are JPG, GIF, PNG and PSD files.

Website design.

RGB is an effective tool in web design. Not only can it be used to create attention-grabbing images, but it can also be used in HTML to specify colours to be displayed. To display the entire colour range for all possible values, the display system of the computer being used must have at least 24 bits.

Photographs.

RGB LED is increasingly being used in photography as an alternative to using filters and gels to alter light sources. Red, green and blue LEDs can be utilised to maintain the correct colour balance between the camera, the natural or ambient light, and the LED lights, creating results that appear more natural.

Video content.

There are multiple uses for RGB lighting in videography, from creating a green screen to illuminating the backdrop and creating scenes of cinematic quality. Different moods and atmospheres can be created by filtering the colour of the backdrop, such as increasing red to give the impression of urgency or increasing blue to denote a more tranquil scene.

Infographics and other visuals.

Use of the right colour palette in infographics and other visuals can make or break the effectiveness of your graphic. RGB is best used for creating digital content, such as infographics and other visuals that are intended to be viewed online.

Editable RGB design examples.

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Useful things to know.

Who invented RGB?

The patent for modern RGB colour modelling was developed by Werner Flechsig in 1938. However, John Logie Baird is known for having demonstrated the first RGB colour transmission in the world as early as 1928.

Does the human eye see in RGB?

Yes – the human eye is an RGB visible light sensor, meaning we can see in this spectrum. However, humans can also see far more than just these three colours.

What is white in RGB?

White in RGB is when each of the three colours – red, green and blue – are represented in equal intensity. This is represented by an RGB value of 255, 255, 255.

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