Understanding colour schemes is
essential for working with digital
colour swatches. In this regard there
are two main colour models to
consider: RGB and CMYK. RGB is
a colour model in which the additive
primary colours of red, green and
blue light are added together to
reproduce a broad spectrum of
colours. The main purpose of
the RGB colour model is the
representation and display of
images in electronic systems such
as scanners, digital cameras and
computers. RGB is generally faster
to work with than CMYK and
well-suited to screen display.
However, RGB images need to be
converted to CMYK for commercial
printing purposes. CMYK is a
subtractive colour model used in
colour printing, which applies cyan,
magenta, yellow and key (black) to
the printed surface.
Also worth a mention is Pantone, a
US-based global colour authority that
serves the fashion industry and other
sectors with a comprehensive colour
classification and matching system.
The Pantone Color Matching System
is a standardised colour reproduction
service that enables designers, printers and manufacturers to all
work together to exact colour
specifications across Pantone’s wide
range of spot colours. Pantone’s
spot colours cannot be simulated
with CMYK but require base
pigments, including white and black,
to be mixed in specified amounts.
Today, all digital graphics software
offers a comprehensive range of
colours, textures, gradients and
patterns that can be applied to a
drawing and edited through the use
of palettes and layers. Palettes
display editing and monitoring
options such as working with RGB
or CMYK colour. Layers allow users
to separate different elements of an
image so that each layer can be
saved and edited independently.
This is particularly useful when
building up an image and adding
elements such as colour or texture.
In addition, specific fabrics, patterns
and surface textures can be scanned
from original sources and added to
palettes or taken from computer-
generated fabrics.