Files & prepress
What is CMYK vs RGB?
RGB is the additive colour space screens use; CMYK is the subtractive ink space printers use — and colours that glow on screen, especially bright blues, greens and oranges, dull down when converted for print.
Every print device ultimately lays down cyan, magenta, yellow and black (plus whatever extra channels it has), so RGB artwork gets converted somewhere — by the designer deliberately or by the RIP silently. The deliberate version lets you see and fix the dull-down; the silent version becomes a customer asking why their electric blue turned denim.
Modern large-format RIPs handle RGB input well and wide-gamut inks close part of the gap, so the practical rule is less 'always convert' and more 'proof in the space you'll print, and never promise a screen colour you haven't seen on media.'
Related terms
Software that speaks the trade
PrinterFlo runs print & sign shops on one board — quotes that price by size and material, proofs approved from one link, and a production checklist the quote writes for you.