What Being "Out of Gamut" Means in Graphics GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Software & Apps > Design 75 75 people found this article helpful

What Is " Out of Gamut" in Graphics?

By Sue Chastain Sue Chastain Writer St. Petersburg College Sue Chastain is a former Lifewire writer and a graphics software authority with web design and print publishing credentials. She's also skilled in WordPress administration. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on November 1, 2019 Tweet Share Email Lifewire Tweet Share Email Design Graphic Design Photoshop Animation & Video 3D Design The phrase "out of gamut" refers to a range of colors that cannot be reproduced within the CMYK color space used for commercial printing. Graphics software is designed to work with images in the RGB color space throughout the editing process.

" Out of Gamut"

The RGB color space has a much wider range of discernible colors than CMYK which explains why RGB colors tend to darken when moved to CMYK. When you print an image it must be reproduced with inks and these inks cannot reproduce the same range of colors that we can see with our eyes because the RGB color space uses light, not pigment, to produce the color. Because the gamut of color that can be reproduced with ink is much smaller than what we can see, any color that cannot be reproduced with ink is referred to as "out of gamut." In graphics software, you often will see an out of gamut warning when you select colors that will shift when an image is converted from the RGB color space used in the editing process, to the CMYK space used for commercial printing.

An Example

The above image gives you a rather graphic view of understanding gamut. The outer box is all of the color known to modern man, including all of the colors we can see and those we can't, such as Ultraviolet and Infrared. The first circle is the 16 million colors found in the RGB color palette and the inner circle is all of the colors that can be reproduced by a printing press. That dot in the middle, for all intents and purposes, is a black hole. If you move from a corner of the box to the dot, colors essentially get darker. They get lighter as you move away. If you pick a color in the RGB gamut, it will have an equivalent in the CMYK gamut but, with a difference. If a color moves toward that dot it gets darker. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire Why Don't Colors Match What I See on the Monitor? What Is a Knockout in Graphics, Prepress, and Printing? When to Use Spot Colors Versus Process Colors (Or Both) RGB vs. CMYK What to Consider Before Buying a New Printer What Color Is Blood Red and What Is Its Symbolism? What Is the HSV (Hue, Saturation, Value) Color Model? Preparing Images for Mobile Devices What Is an Inkjet Printer? Graphic Design 101: What Is the CMYK Color Model? How to Use Crimson in Print and Web Design What Color Is Plum and What Is its Symbolism? The Color Cobalt and How Is It Used in Publishing Color Separations in Commercial Printing All About the Color Chartreuse and Its Use in Design What Color Is Lilac? Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies