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I'd use RGB until you get to the point where you need to separate the design for printing, since CMYK can lose data, and doesn't represent the full range of colors like RGB.

When you deal with CMYK you also have to deal with color profiles and the like since every printer is different and inks are not perfect. So it's best to work in RGB, so that you don't lose data and you get the full range of possible colors, until you print.
 

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I can help with this one. RGB is for computer images, CMYK are for printed. The pixels on computer monitors use red green and blue to make every color, green gives a better color range than yellow, which is why it isn't RYB, so when you're doing something that will be used for web graphics, video games, etc. you use RGB. I've noticed at times when I didn't switch from CMYK and saved my GIF and JPEGs they wouldn't show up when I put them on the web. If you're making a magazine, sign, poster, etc. you get a better range of color with the four color system. Now as far as screen printing..... it doesn't make a difference if all you're doing is printing in black to make the transparencies, but if you're doing heat transfers, DTG or dye sublimation it would be best to use CMYK because it breaks everything down into those four colors and comes out more accurate than if you use a file based off of three colors that translates as best it can when it goes to the printer. I seen someone say CMYK looses color or something like that, in these cases you might want to calibrate your printer because that's usually what makes it print differently than what you see on the screen. Lap top and other flat screens sometimes make it hard to guage a color because it can look one way from your current perspective, but if you stand up and step off to the side, the whole screen will look darker or brighter depending on where you're standing, so that aspect alone can throw you off in terms of the actual shade of a color and how it looks when it's printed. I hope this helps :)
 

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If you're making a magazine, sign, poster, etc. you get a better range of color with the four color system. Now as far as screen printing..... it doesn't make a difference if all you're doing is printing in black to make the transparencies, but if you're doing heat transfers, DTG or dye sublimation it would be best to use CMYK because it breaks everything down into those four colors and comes out more accurate than if you use a file based off of three colors that translates as best it can when it goes to the printer.
I do not do sublimation but from my understanding the image is sent through a RIP. Does the RIP not handle converting the RGB values into proper CMYK values calibrated for that machine and ink set? This is how modern photocopiers work, If you send a CMYK file to a modern photocopier, it will convert it to RGB then back to CMYK based on it's RIP. It's best to send the file as RGB and let the RIP do it's job.

I really think i'm missing something as i can't see why we would use CMYK mode other then to adjust CMYK channels for process printing, the RIP handles the conversion for the best results for your device. If there's no RIP then i can see why you'd want to adjust the CMYK channels manually.
 

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I know what you mean Red but I wasn't talking about just adjusting the CMYK channels, I was talking about the overall setting for that file. When you start a new photoshop file the window pops up where you set the size, background etc. One of the things on there allows you to make it RGB CMYK LAB or whatever. That's what I was referring to. RGB does have a wider range of colors than CMYK, but it terms of printers which use CMYK it's a different set of recipes. Some graphics programs don't give you the option of setting the overall file to RGB or CMYK, which is where the RIP software would come in.
 
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