RGB ↔ CMYK Converter

Convert screen colors and approximate print percentages with live previews.

CURRENT COLOR#2596BE

FREE · PRIVATE · INSTANT

HEX CODE

◉ Pick

TOTAL INK COVERAGE · REFERENCE ONLY

Ask your printer for its ink limit and ICC profile.

OUTPUT

TINTS & SHADES · CLICK TO APPLY & COPY HEX

This is a profile-free mathematical conversion, not print-ready color separation or a physical proof. CMYK preview is displayed on your RGB screen. No data is uploaded.

UNDERSTAND YOUR RESULTS

RGB to CMYK & CMYK to RGB Converter guide

Convert RGB to approximate CMYK percentages or CMYK to RGB and HEX. Live color previews, worked examples and printing guidance.

How to use this tool

Enter red, green and blue as whole numbers from 0 to 255.
Read the live CMYK percentages and copy them.
To reverse the conversion, enter cyan, magenta, yellow and black percentages from 0 to 100 in the CMYK panel.

A worked example

RGB (255, 0, 0) produces approximate CMYK (0%, 100%, 100%, 0%). CMYK (0%, 0%, 0%, 100%) gives RGB (0, 0, 0), or #000000.

How it works

Normalize RGB channels to 0–1. Set K = 1 − max(R,G,B). For non-black colors, C = (1 − R − K)/(1 − K), with the corresponding formulas for M and Y. Pure black uses C=M=Y=0, K=1. In reverse: R = 255(1 − C)(1 − K), with corresponding green and blue formulas.

Frequently asked questions

Why does the print differ from my screen?

RGB emits light while CMYK uses ink. Displays, paper, ink, color profiles and gamut differences all affect appearance. This calculator is not an ICC color-management engine.

Are the CMYK values exact?

They are mathematical, profile-free approximations, not print-ready separations. Use the printer’s required profile in color-managed design software.

Can different CMYK values produce the same RGB?

Yes. Black generation and ink combinations can vary. Round-tripping need not reproduce the original CMYK mix.