What is RGB?
RGB (Red, Green, Blue) is the color model used in screens and digital displays. Learn how RGB colors work, how to combine them, and how they differ from other color models.
RGB is an additive color model in which red, green, and blue light are combined in various intensities to produce a wide range of colors. It is the standard color model for digital screens including computer monitors, smartphones, televisions, and cameras. Each channel has a value from 0 (no light) to 255 (full intensity).
How RGB Colors Work
RGB is an additive model — colors are created by adding light: • Red (255, 0, 0) + Green (0, 255, 0) = Yellow (255, 255, 0) • Red + Blue = Magenta • Green + Blue = Cyan • Red + Green + Blue at full = White (255, 255, 255) • All channels at 0 = Black (0, 0, 0) In CSS: rgb(255, 87, 51) creates an orange-red color.
RGB Range and Color Depth
Each RGB channel has 256 possible values (0–255), giving: • 256 × 256 × 256 = 16,777,216 possible colors per pixel • This is called 24-bit color or True Color • Modern displays often use 10-bit per channel (1024 values) for HDR content • Screens that cannot display the full range show "color banding"
RGB vs CMYK vs HSL
• RGB — Additive model for screens; mixing adds brightness • CMYK — Subtractive model for print; mixing inks absorbs light • HSL (Hue, Saturation, Lightness) — Intuitive model for designers; easier to select and adjust colors Design software typically allows you to work in any model and convert between them.
Try it yourself
Convert ColorsAbout RGB
The RGB model was developed alongside CRT monitors in the 20th century and is based on the trichromatic nature of human vision — our eyes have three types of color-sensitive cones. Digital cameras capture images in RGB, screens emit RGB light, and web standards (HTML/CSS) use RGB as the foundational color model.
FAQ
- What does RGB stand for?
- RGB stands for Red, Green, Blue — the three primary colors of light in the additive color model.
- What is the difference between RGB and CMYK?
- RGB is used for screens and adds light (mixing gives lighter colors). CMYK is used for printing and subtracts light through ink (mixing gives darker colors). A color that looks vibrant on screen in RGB may appear duller when printed in CMYK.
- What is rgba() in CSS?
- rgba() is the CSS function for RGB with an added alpha (transparency) channel. rgba(255, 87, 51, 0.5) creates the same orange-red color at 50% transparency.
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