CMYK

• The CMYK color model is a subtractive color model, used in color printing, and is also used to describe the printing process itself.
• CMYK refers to the four inks used in some color printing: cyan, magenta, yellow and key (black).

Screen angles of CMYK

• To improve print quality and reduce moiré patterns, the screen for each color is set at a different angle.
• While the angles depend on how many colors are used and the preference of the press operator, typical CMYK process printing uses any of the following screen angles.

C	15°	15°	105°	165°
M	75°	45°	75°	45°
Y	0°	0°	90°	90°
K	45°	75°	15°	105°

Printer color models of CMYK

• CMYK or process color printing is contrasted with spot color printing, in which specific colored inks are used to generate the colors appearing on paper.
• The below image, separated for printing with process cyan, magenta, and yellow and black inks.

• The below figure show the real time printing brochure in CMYK color models.

What is RGB

• The computer's native color space and the system for capturing and displaying color images electronically. All TV, computer and electronic display screens create color by generating red, green and blue (RGB) lights.

Comparision of CMYK and RGB

• The main difference is CMYK used in printing and RGB used in display screens. See below images we can understand remaining differences.

Advantages of CMYK technique

• Less color process / screen for print.
• More productivity.
• Cost minimizing.
• Good hand feel because of using less color on ground.
• CMYK color can be used for different item of print because of common color way.

Disadvantages of CMYK technique

• Shade Variation The most challenging for CMYK on screen print is ‘shade variation’.

History

• CMYK is a color mixing system that uses cyan, magenta, yellow and black (K) inks.
• It is primarily used in print (business cards, posters, brochures, banners).
• In 1906, the Eagle Printing Ink Company incorporated the four-color wet process inks for the first time.
• They discovered that these four colors can be combined to produce an almost unlimited number of richer, darker tones.