Väripainannossa

Väripainannossa, or color printing, refers to the process of reproducing images or text in multiple colors. This is commonly achieved through techniques that apply different colored inks or pigments in a controlled manner to a substrate, typically paper. The most prevalent method in modern commercial printing is subtractive color mixing, utilizing primary colors cyan, magenta, and yellow (CMY), often in conjunction with black (CMYK) to achieve a wider gamut of colors and deeper blacks.

The underlying principle involves the selective absorption and reflection of light. Each color ink absorbs certain wavelengths of light and reflects others. When these inks are layered or juxtaposed, the reflected light is perceived by the viewer as a specific color. For example, mixing cyan and yellow ink subtracts red and green light respectively, resulting in the reflection of blue light, which we perceive as green.

Historically, various methods have been employed for color printing, including woodblock printing, lithography, and gravure. Today, offset lithography is a dominant technology for high-volume color printing, involving intermediate plates that transfer the ink to a rubber blanket, which then presses the image onto the paper. Digital printing technologies, such as inkjet and electrophotography (toner-based), are also widely used, offering advantages for shorter runs and variable data printing. The accuracy and quality of väripainannossa depend on precise color separation, ink formulation, and the printing press's capabilities.