CMYKgradient

A CMYK gradient is a color gradient that transitions between colors defined in the CMYK color space, which uses cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks for printing. In subtractive color mixing, each ink absorbs a portion of light, and varying the relative amounts of C, M, Y, and K produces a range of colors that printers can reproduce on paper.

In practice, gradients are created by placing color stops along a gradient ramp with CMYK values. When preparing artwork for print, designers often convert RGB designs to CMYK using color management and ICC profiles to approximate how colors will reproduce on a specific press and paper. Because the CMYK gamut is smaller than RGB, some vivid RGB colors may shift or appear dull after conversion.

Challenges include banding from limited tonal steps and ink diffusion (dot gain) on porous papers. Mitigation strategies include using higher bit-depth workflows, adjusting gradient stops to increase perceptual smoothness, applying appropriate rendering intents, and relying on a calibrated workflow with accurate proofing. The depth of a gradient can also be influenced by how black is used; excessive black in a gradient can cause flat or muddy results on some papers.

Workflow notes often emphasize proofing and calibration. For accurate results, a test print on the target paper and press is recommended. Soft-proofing can help visualize CMYK output on screen, but final approval typically depends on printed proofs.