What is the difference between RGB and CMYK color modes?

The distinction between RGB and CMYK color modes primarily lies in their applications: RGB is tailored for digital displays, whereas CMYK is designed for printing.

RGB stands for Red, Green, and Blue, which are the primary colors of light used in digital mediums, such as computer screens, televisions, and other electronic devices. When combined in various ways, these colors can produce a broad range of colors by emitted light. This mode is particularly suitable for devices that use light to display images, enabling vibrant and bright color displays.

On the other hand, CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black (Key), which are the primary colors used in the color printing process. This subtractive color model starts with a white background (usually paper) and layers inks that subtract varying degrees of brightness, resulting in a wide range of colors. CMYK is optimized for the printing process, where color mixing happens through the overlay of inks instead of mixing light.

The other choices do not accurately capture the essential differences: while sketching design might use RGB for ideation on digital devices, color mode interchangeability isn't feasible since they serve very different purposes in digital versus print media.