CMYKgamut

CMYKgamut is the set of colors that can be reproduced when cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks are used on a particular printer, ink set, and paper. It is a device-dependent color gamut that depends on ink properties, substrate, and the printer’s characteristics, as well as color management settings.

CMYK is a subtractive color model: combining inks reduces reflected light. Cyan, magenta, and yellow are the primary colors; combining them yields a range of colors, with black ink added to improve depth and reduce ink usage. The CMYK gamut is generally smaller than that of RGB because many bright, saturated colors in the additive space cannot be fully reproduced with inks on paper.

Color management uses ICC profiles to map colors between spaces and devices. When preparing artwork for print, designers may convert from RGB to CMYK using a printer-specific profile, and rendering intents such as perceptual or relative colorimetric affect how out-of-gamut colors are handled. Soft proofing on screen can simulate the final print to aid decisions.

Gamut varies between printers, inks, paper types, and coatings; even the same printer with different settings can produce different CMYK gamuts. Some workflows employ extended gamut or spot colors to broaden the reachable range, such as adding orange or green inks to approach certain hues more closely.

Understanding the CMYKgamut is crucial for color accuracy and predictable reproduction, guiding design choices and proofing processes.