Tools / Color Converter / CMYK → RGB

CMYK to RGB Converter.

CMYK to RGB estimates how a set of print ink percentages would appear on a screen. Like its inverse, it's an approximation — handy for previewing a print spec, building a swatch from a brand's CMYK guideline, or feeding a print color into a web mockup.

RGB —
All formats

    The CMYK → RGB formula

    Normalize C,M,Y,K to 0-1. R = 255·(1−C)·(1−K), G = 255·(1−M)·(1−K), B = 255·(1−Y)·(1−K).

    Worked example

    Convert cmyk(65%, 46%, 0%, 69%):

    1. 1−K = 0.31
    2. R = 255·(1−0.65)·0.31 ≈ 27
    3. G = 255·(1−0.46)·0.31 ≈ 42
    4. B = 255·(1−0)·0.31 ≈ 79
    5. Result ≈ rgb(27, 42, 79)

    Python

    def cmyk_to_rgb(c,m,y,k):
        c,m,y,k = c/100,m/100,y/100,k/100
        return [round(255*(1-x)*(1-k)) for x in (c,m,y)]
    print(cmyk_to_rgb(65,46,0,69)) # [27, 42, 79]

    FAQ

    Why doesn't it round-trip perfectly?

    Both directions are device-independent approximations. Rounding plus the gamut gap between print and screen means a CMYK→RGB→CMYK loop can drift by a percent or two.

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