CMYKväriavaruusjärjestelmää

CMYK is a subtractive color model used in color printing. The letters stand for the four ink colors used: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (Black). In this model, white is seen as the absence of ink, and black is created by combining all four inks. This differs from additive color models like RGB, where colors are created by adding light.

The CMYK model is based on the principle of subtractive color mixing. When white light, containing all colors of the spectrum, strikes a surface, certain wavelengths are absorbed by the pigments, and others are reflected. Cyan ink absorbs red light, Magenta absorbs green light, and Yellow absorbs blue light. When these inks are combined on a white surface, they subtract more and more of the spectrum, resulting in darker colors. Pure black is achieved by layering all three inks, but this can sometimes produce a muddy brown. Therefore, black ink (Key) is added to create deeper blacks and to save on the cost of using large amounts of cyan, magenta, and yellow inks.

CMYK is essential for professional printing, including magazines, brochures, and packaging. Different printing processes and paper types can influence how CMYK colors are rendered. The conversion from RGB (used for digital displays) to CMYK is a crucial step in preparing images for print, as the two models have different capabilities and color gamuts. Understanding the CMYK color space helps designers and printers achieve accurate and consistent color reproduction in printed materials.