​​Differences CMYK, RGB and Pantone systems in packaging printing industry

In the field of design and packaging printing industry, distinguishing and understanding color systems is the basic element that a designer or a printing technician. In particular, there are 3 commonly mentioned color systems: RGB, CMYK, Pantone. So what are these color systems and how do they apply to design and printing?
 

1. CMYK color system in packaging design

The CMYK system is the color system in which colors are produced from a combination of four colors:

• Color C: Blue (Cyan)
• Color M: Lotus color - Magenta
• Color Y: Yellow (Yellow)
• Color K: Black (Black)

This is a subtractive color system because these are the colors we see by the reflection of the light and not the ability to glow.
 
For example, when we see a red object, this object absorbs the wavelength of another color and reflects the red wavelength to the eye of the viewer.
 
CMYK color system is the color system often used in offset printing for products such as carton box, POSM publications, namecards.  

2. Pantone color system in packaging design

Besides the 4 CMYK colors, the Pantone color system is considered as the 5th primary color for the packaging printing world. Since its inception, Pantone colors soon became the standard color reference system, the official language of communication in the global design industry.
 
The Pantone Color Matching System (PMS) is basically a standard color reproduction system. By standardizing colors with their names by codes, manufacturers in different locations, different stages can look up the Pantone system and certainly create a color matching effect for the product without any direct contact.
 
The colors that have been studied, standardized with the specifications in the preparation, are coded specifically and entered into the PMS system, are Pantone colors.
 
Pantone colors are often defined as mixed colors, or fifth colors. Because Pantone colors are standardized with clear specifications, they can be considered as mixed colors, different from normal colors (colors created from print jobs mixed from CMYK colors - 4 basic colors in print).
   
In the name of Pantone colors, besides the specific codes that show the shades, after the numbers usually have the letters C, M, U to show the exact color effect changes on each paper material.
 
Pantone colors are often used in industries, especially in packaging printing industry. Currently, Pantone colors are also commonly used in fabric dyeing (for fashion designs), plastic materials, spray paint, electrostatic paint on metal surfaces (for industrial design). Pantone color guides have been widely accepted and used by artists, designers, printers, manufacturers, and marketing.
 
Although the Pantone color system is widely accepted worldwide and is standardized as a global color design language. However, the use of the Pantone color system is also limited by only 300 sample colors and the production technology of the Pantone color system is relatively high cost.
 

3. RGB color system in packaging design

The RGB color system is a color system using an additional model. In which red, green and blue light are combined by different methods to form other colors. The RGB color system is the abbreviation of R: Red (red), G: Green (green), B: Blue (blue).

   
In additional light models, these are the original three colors. From these three primary colors from how to change the ratio between RGB colors to create a multitude of different colors and how to combine these 3 RGB colors called colors (colors created from these 3 colors will be bright) than the original color (additive color).
 
The RGB color system is the mode that displays the natural colors of CRT monitors, LCD monitors and plasma displays. Cameras and scanners can also use RGB mode. The RGB color system is the best color system for website design, digital images, online brochure design, etc.
 
Thus, in offset printing with the application of CMYK color system will relatively cost savings when producing large quantities. Moreover, CMYK color system is the original color system that can be applied to blend many different shades, which is the reason that offset printing technology still has a certain position in the market.

Read more: Discover the secrets of color in packaging design

Khang Thanh - The packaging manufacturer in Vietnam specializes in producing paper bags, carton box, carton offset, labels, hangtag, books, calendar, POSM and so on. Contact us to support your brand with the right packaging: info@khangthanh.com