"CMYK" redirects here. For the extended play (EP) by James Blake, seeCMYK (EP).
"CMYB" redirects here. For the cMyb gene tree, seeMYB (gene).
Ink used in four-color printing: cyan, magenta, yellow, and black.
Pairwise combinations of cyan, magenta, and yellow inks produce red, green, and blue. All three combined produce an imperfect black.
A color perceived as cerulean () is a blend of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks, as observed under magnification.
TheCMYK color model is a subtractive color model used incolor printing as well as describing the printing process. The abbreviationCMYK refers to the four color components used in printing:cyan,magenta,yellow, andblack (thekey plate).[1]
In subtractive models, inks reduce the amount of light reflected from a white or light background. White is the color of the substrate, and black results from the combination of inks. This contrasts withadditive color models (e.g.,RGB color model), where colors are produced by emitting light, white results from combining all primary colors, and black represents the absence of light. The addition of black ink reduces ink consumption and produces more consistent dark tones compared to using cyan, magenta, and yellow alone.
The CMYK printing process was first implemented in the 1890s for color newspaper illustrations and comic strips.
Diagram showing color halftoning with CMYK separations. The combined halftone pattern appears as a uniform color to the human eye at sufficient viewing distance.
Halftoning (orscreening) allows a printer to produce continuous tones by varying the size and spacing of small ink dots. This creates the perception of intermediate colors between the primary inks. For example, 20% coverage of magenta ink produces a pink tone rather than full magenta.[2][3]
Without halftoning, CMYK inks would only produce eight colors: the three primaries (cyan, magenta, yellow), the three secondaries (red, green, blue), white, and black.
CMYK contrasts withspot color printing, where specific inks produce fixed colors. Some presses can combine process and spot colors. High-quality printed materials often require full-color process printing, sometimes augmented with spot colors or metallic inks.[8][9]
Extended gamut systems (e.g., CMYKOG Hexachrome) increase the range of reproducible colors beyond standard CMYK.[10]
Comparison of RGB and CMYK gamuts on the CIE 1931xy chromaticity diagram
RGB displays emit light and produce additive colors, while CMYK inks absorb light and produce subtractive colors.[11] Each model has a distinct color gamut; colors visible on one may not be reproducible on the other.[12]
The CMYK model codes for absorption of light. Cyan absorbs red, magenta absorbs green, and yellow absorbs blue. Black ideally absorbs all wavelengths.[13]
Spectrum of printed wavelengths on paper. Readings from several flower petals are shown for comparison.
RGB and CMYK are device-dependent; no universal formula converts between them. Color management systems usingICC profiles are required to map between devices accurately. Conversion depends on device gamuts, rendering intents, and factors such asdot gain and Neugebauer primaries.[14]
^Collins, Wayne; Bahr, Alex; Kuo, Gwen (2020).Graphic Design and Print Production Fundamentals. Graphic Communications Open Press.Archived from the original on November 3, 2025. RetrievedDecember 23, 2025.Process colors are typically used when a design requires full-color printing or when it includes complex images like photographs.
^Stone, Maureen C. (2003).A Field Guide to Digital Color. A K Peters/CRC Press. p. 11.ISBN978-1568811611.
^Wyszecki, Günther; Stiles, W. S. (2000).Color Science: Concepts and Methods, Quantitative Data and Formulae (2nd ed.). Wiley-Interscience. p. 174.ISBN978-0471399186.
