CMYK

Printer ink quartet

CMYK is a color model used in printing, standing for cyan, magenta, yellow, and key (black).

These four inks combine to produce a full range of colors on paper.

CMYK is subtractive—inks absorb light rather than emit it, unlike the RGB model used for screens.

Designers convert digital images to CMYK before sending them to print.

printing

magenta

Vivid purplish-red hue

yellowHue between green and orange
keyLock-opening device
color separationIsolating pigment channels for printing

halftone · prepress · registration · trapping · overprinting · print run · press · substrate · digital printing · color matching

ink

pigment

Color-imparting material

cartridgeSealed container for supplies
tonerImaging powder or facial astringent
colorantSubstance that imparts hue

refill · drying time · color mixing · subtractive · layering · opacity · saturation · bleed

color model

subtractive

Involving removal or reduction

gamutFull range of something
color spaceMathematical hue representation system
color calibrationAdjusting display accuracy

Pantone · color profile · color accuracy · color shift · color management · colorimetry

design

Photoshop

Professional graphics manipulation program

InDesignPage layout application
safe zoneProtected area from threats
vectorQuantity with direction

mockup · proof · color mode · template · artwork

Categories

graphic designlogo, font, typography, layout, color
Light & Colorhue, shade, tint, brightness, saturation
color termsblack, white, red, blue, green
color theorycolor theory, hue, primary colors, secondary colors, saturation
color photographycolor balance, color correction, color grading, color temperature, color negative
colour systemsred, green, blue, yellow, orange

Opposites

color model type

CMYKRGB

Additive color model

HSV · LAB · Pantone

medium/application

CMYKdigital display

Electronic visual output

backlit display

Family

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Rated G