What is CMYK?

CMYK is a color model used for full color printing. It consists of the colours Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key (black).

What is CMYK?

CMYK is a model that consists of four basic colours, namely Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key (or black). With these four colours, different color combinations can be made that are used for printing.

The colours cyan, magenta and yellow are derived from the three primary colours red, green and blue. Green and blue create cyan, blue and red create magenta, and finally red and green create yellow. With the CMY colours no black can be made, but only a dark brown color. That is why black has been added as an extra color. Then why is black displayed as a key in the CMYK model? This is because the ‘B’ of black should not be confused with the ‘B’ of blue.

The CMYK model is also known as a subtractive color mode. This is because the base of the color spectrum is white, like white paper. Because the printed ink reflects and absorbs the light, you perceive colours.

What is the difference between RGB and CMYK?

RGB is a color model that consists of the three primary colours red, green and blue. The RGB model is also known as the additive color model. This is because the base is black. When light is added to it, different colours are created. RGB is therefore a color model that you mainly encounter on a screen, such as a television.

So you use RGB for screens and photo products, while you use CMYK for printed matter such as flyers and posters.

So make sure that you always use the CMYK color model when submitting files that will be used for printing.