CMYK

CMYK stands for cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. It is a color model used in color printing and many color reproduction processes. It is a subtractive color model, meaning colors are produced by subtracting light from white. In practice, colored inks absorb certain wavelengths and reflect others; combining cyan, magenta, and yellow inks yields a range of colors and the black ink improves depth, contrast, and accuracy.

CMYK is device-dependent and affected by the printing substrate and ink formulations. The black ink, often denoted as K for key, provides crisp text, deep shadows, and reduced ink usage. Process color reproduction relies on calibrating printers and substrates, frequently managed with ICC profiles and color-management workflows to align appearance across devices.

In printing, CMYK is commonly referred to as four-color process printing. It contrasts with RGB, the additive color model used for screens, which mixes red, green, and blue light. Converting between RGB and CMYK is not exact; color management and device gamuts must be considered to maintain consistent appearance across media.

Because the CMYK gamut is typically smaller than RGB, some bright or saturated colors cannot be reproduced exactly in print. Designers use soft proofing, swatches, or spot colors (such as Pantone) when specific hues are required. CMYK remains the standard for most commercial printing, including newspapers, magazines, packaging, and business stationery, but the precise result depends on printers, inks, paper, and production processes.