Converter
Files auto-delete after download.
Drop your CMYK file here
orTIFFJPEGPNG up to 1 GB
Free tool - built for artists
CMYK to RGB Converter for print-ready artwork.
Convert a CMYK image file to RGB so it can print on a wide-gamut workflow like ours - without losing color along the way.
- Used by artists printing with Stackhouse
- Files auto-deleted
- Free, no signup
The color workflow
Why Stackhouse asks for RGB files.
CMYK is for offset presses. Stackhouse fine-art and photo printers use an RGB-driven workflow, which can reproduce colors that CMYK files often clip.
Converting CMYK to RGB before upload gives your artwork more room for saturated reds, deep blues, and clean greens on our papers.
Want the deeper file-prep version? Read the Media Guide or How to Print Your Art.
When you need it
When to use a CMYK to RGB converter.
You have a press-ready CMYK file
Convert it before ordering fine-art or photo prints from Stackhouse.
A designer sent separated artwork
Posters, scans, and artwork files sometimes arrive already converted to CMYK.
Your app exported CMYK by default
Illustrator, InDesign, and Affinity files can carry old print settings forward.
You want a quick color-mode check
Drop in the file. If it is already RGB, the converter will tell you.
How to use the converter
Three steps. About thirty seconds.
artwork.tif
Drop your CMYK file
TIFF, JPEG, or PNG up to 1 GB.
Adobe RGB (1998)
Rec
sRGB
Pick Adobe RGB
Recommended for prints. Choose sRGB only for digital destinations.
RGB
artwork_AdobeRGB.tif
Download and upload
Use the converted RGB file when you place your print order.
Adobe RGB vs sRGB
Which one should you pick?
Adobe RGB (1998)
- Gamut size
- Wider greens, deeper blues, and more saturated reds than sRGB.
- Best for
- Fine-art prints, photography, giclee prints, and photo papers.
- Output destination
- The Stackhouse studio printers and other wide-gamut RGB workflows.
- File size impact
- Usually marginal at the same dimensions.
- When to avoid
- When the final destination is a website or social post.
sRGB
- Gamut size
- Smaller standard color space built for common screens.
- Best for
- Web previews, social posts, screenshots, and online galleries.
- Output destination
- Browsers, mobile devices, and digital portfolios.
- File size impact
- Slightly smaller in some files. Negligible in practice.
- When to avoid
- When you are sending files to us to print. You may leave color on the table.
Frequently asked
About this converter, and the why behind it.
Why does Stackhouse want RGB if you are a printer?
Our fine-art and photo printers are driven by RGB files and can reproduce colors that CMYK often clips before upload.
Should I choose Adobe RGB or sRGB?
Choose Adobe RGB for Stackhouse prints. Choose sRGB only when the final file is for web, screens, or social media.
Will converting CMYK to RGB change my image?
It can change the preview because the file is moving into a wider RGB space. The goal is to preserve more printable color, not make the file duller.
What if my file is already RGB?
The tool will tell you no CMYK conversion is needed. You can upload the file when you order.
Do I need to embed the color profile?
Yes. An ICC profile tells the printer how to interpret your file. The converter embeds the target RGB profile.
Can Stackhouse convert my file when I order?
No. Convert the file before uploading it with your order. If it is already RGB, the tool will tell you no conversion is needed.
Do you store my files?
Files are processed securely and the converted output is automatically deleted after download.
What file types can I convert?
TIFF, JPEG, and PNG files up to 1 GB.
From the Printery Press
More on color and print-ready files.
Color profiles
A simple guide to ICC profiles
Learn how embedded profiles help your screen, file, and print workflow speak the same color language.
File formats
Best file format for art printing
Compare TIFF, JPEG, and PNG so the file you upload matches the print you expect.
Resolution
Mastering image resolution
Understand pixels, print size, and why 300 dpi still matters before you send a file to print.