Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
Working with Color Modes
Color modes define the colors represented in the active document. Al-
though you can change the color mode of a document, it is best to se-
lect the correct color mode at the start of the project. Illustrator's main
color modes are RGB (Red, Green, and Blue) and CMYK (Cyan, Ma-
genta, Yellow, and Black).
Color modes determine the number of colors and the file size of an im-
age. For example, an RGB image has at least three colors (like a print-
ing plate), one for red, green, and blue color information. Color modes
not only define the working color space of the active document, they
also represent the color space of the output document. It's the docu-
ment output (print, press, or monitor) that ultimately determines the
document color mode. Color modes do not just determine what colors
the eye sees; they represent how the colors are mixed, and that's very
important because different output devices use different color mixes.
Therefore, when selecting a color mode, know the file format of the
document and where it will be used. An image taken with a digital
camera and then opened in Illustrator would most likely be in the RGB
color mode. An image displayed on a monitor would be RGB, or pos-
sibly Indexed Color. A photograph scanned on a high-end drum scan-
ner would most likely be in the CMYK color mode. An image being
