RGB stands for Red, Green, Blue. It’s the color system for anything displayed on a screen.

CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black. It’s the color system used in printing.

PMS stands for Pantone Matching System. It ensures exact color consistency using pre-mixed inks.

When should I use RGB vs. CMYK?

Use RGB for digital, CMYK for print, and PMS when you need exact color accuracy.

Do I need to convert RGB to CMYK for printing?

Yes. Printers require CMYK files to reproduce color accurately.

What happens if I print an RGB file instead of CMYK?

Colors will shift unpredictably — reds may look brown, blues may look purple.

How can I make sure my printer understands my brand colors?

Provide RGB, CMYK, and PMS values in your brand guidelines.

How do I choose the right printer or decorator for color accuracy?

Look for vendors who understand brand color management, use Pantone or spot-color systems, and provide proofs before large runs.

How do these color codes relate to Promotional Products and the decoration of those promotional materials?

Color systems play a critical role in promotional products. When decorating items like drinkware, backpacks, or bags, printers often rely on PMS to ensure brand colors reproduce exactly, since RGB isn’t relevant to physical products and CMYK can create slight variations. Choosing PMS ensures that your logo looks the same across printed brochures, embroidered polos, and imprinted mugs — no matter the material or production method.

What’s the risk of not having PMS values in your brand guidelines?

Without PMS values, every printer or decorator may interpret your brand colors differently, leading to inconsistent results across brochures, apparel, signage, and promotional products. This inconsistency weakens brand recognition and can erode trust with your audience.

Do PMS, CMYK, and RGB values always match exactly?

No. Each color system works differently — RGB uses light, CMYK mixes ink, and Pantone uses pre-mixed formulas. While conversions can be close, exact matches aren’t always possible. This is why expert guidance and careful proofing are critical to achieving the best possible consistency across mediums.

How do these color systems pertain to embroidery, direct to film, heat seal and other apparel decoration methods?

For apparel decoration, color accuracy depends on the method. Embroidery matches brand colors through carefully selected thread colors, often guided by PMS references. Direct to Film (DTF), Direct to Garment (DTG), and Heat Seal processes work more like printing, so designs are prepared in CMYK and adjusted to simulate PMS tones when possible. Patches, like embroidery, use thread or woven yarns that are chosen to match PMS values closely. Other methods, such as screen printing or sublimation, also rely on CMYK or spot-color systems to approximate or match PMS values. In all cases, using clear brand guidelines with RGB, CMYK, and PMS references ensures that your logo and designs look consistent, no matter the decoration technique.

What is Pantone and how does it compare to RGB, CMYK and PMS?

Pantone is the standardized color language used by designers and printers worldwide to achieve exact color matches. While RGB is for screens and CMYK is for four-color printing, Pantone provides specific, pre-mixed ink formulas to ensure absolute accuracy. PMS (Pantone Matching System) is the actual Pantone standard, where each color has a unique code. In short: RGB is flexible for digital, CMYK is versatile for most print, and Pantone (PMS) is the gold standard when you need perfect, repeatable color consistency across every medium.

Top 3 Symphonix Blogs From 2025

Our Top Blogs from 2025-2 (2)

In case you missed them last year, or just want to revisit, here are our Top 3 blogs from 2025. These posts cover some of the most interesting, useful, and fun insights we shared over the year. Discover promotional merchandise that attendees actually keep, learn the surprising history behind sizing charts, and explore how tailgating evolved from ancient celebrations to modern-day stadium traditions.

Whether you’re planning your next event, refining your brand strategy, or just love a good story, these blogs are packed with tips, history, and real-world examples that you can use—and enjoy. Don’t miss out—click below to read them all and get inspired for 2026!

Our Top 3 Blogs from 2025

Conference season moves fast, and the wrong swag gets left behind. This guide breaks down 12 proven event giveaways attendees actually keep, based on real conference wins, reorder data, and smart budget strategy.

Learn More >

Sizing charts may seem simple, but their history is anything but. From tailor-made garments to wartime uniforms and data-driven averages, this blog explores how sizing charts came to be, and why fit has never been one-size-fits-all.

Learn More >

Tailgating is more than a pre-game ritual, it’s a tradition shaped by history, culture, and community. From ancient harvest feasts to Civil War picnics and modern parking lot parties, this blog traces how tailgating became an iconic part of American sports.

Learn More >

Let's Connect!

Interested in our solutions? Fill out your info below and we'll be in touch.

Taylor Harris · January 21, 2026

Taylor is a Production Manager at Symphonix, where she specializes in helping clients find the perfect promotional merchandise and apparel tailored to their needs, budget, and brand. In addition to supporting clients with their marketing goals, she also plays a key role in managing Symphonix’s internal social media and web content. She brings creativity and reliability to every project she takes on.

Connect on LinkedIn