cyanmagenta

Cyanmagenta refers to the pairing of cyan and magenta colors within color theory, most commonly in the context of subtractive color models used for printing and color reproduction. In this framework, cyan and magenta are treated as fundamental colorants alongside yellow, forming the basis of the CMY color space that underpins many printing processes. The term can describe either the two colors themselves or their combined use within a palette or workflow.

In subtractive color mixing, cyan pigments absorb red light and magenta pigments absorb green light. When these two pigments are combined, the result is a blue to blue-violet range, with the exact hue depending on pigment purity, saturation, and concentration. Real-world inks and pigments do not mix as perfectly as theoretical models predict, so the outcome often shifts toward dark blues or purples rather than a pure spectral color.

In additive color systems, which use light rather than pigments, cyan and magenta do not exist as primary colors. Cyan light (green plus blue) and magenta light (red plus blue) together approximate white light when combined at sufficient intensity, illustrating how color behavior differs between pigment-based and light-based models. The term cyanmagenta is therefore most relevant in printing, color management, and discussions of CMY/CMYK workflows.

See also CMY/CMYK color models, color management, subtractive color mixing, and color spaces.