Why do we use CMYK color for printing?

In summary, CMYK is used for printing purposes while RGB is used for monitors. The bold content explains the difference between light being emitted in a monitor and light being absorbed in printing. CMY covers a wider range of lighter colors compared to RGB. The colors cyan, magenta, and yellow are the opposite of red, green, and blue, and this can be represented mathematically as cyan = 1 - red, magenta = 1 - green, and yellow = 1 - blue. The addition of black in CMYK is to account for the fact that mixing colors equally typically does not result in gray. Therefore, black is added as a separate color in the CMYK model. Some printing professionals refer to
  • #1
shivajikobardan
674
54
I will tell my research that i have done earlier here.

CMYK is used for print pieces like brochurers and business cards.
For RGB we need to start on black paper but we can't add light until we reach white because light can't be painted on surface, what does this bold content means to say?
in a monitor, light is being emitted (or added)when you add r,g,b you get white...in ink light is being absorbed(or subtracted) and when you absorb r,g,b you get black

if rgb is used, you get strange, muddy, and incorrect colors from printer. (but the question is why)

cmy cover most lighter color range quite easily compared to rgb.

I want if possible some mathematical representations of this...thanks
 
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  • #2
Paint absorbs light. When we apply multiple layers of paint, more light is absorbed and the resulting color is darker.
Light is additive. Adding more light of a different color makes it lighter.

The painting colors cyan, magenta, and yellow are the opposite of the monitor colors red, green, and blue.
We might put that in formula form as $cyan = 1 - red, magenta = 1 - green, yellow = 1 - blue$.
Since mixing colors equally generally isn't quite gray, black is added as an additional color. The K in CMYK stands for blacK.

Btw, printing professionals tend to refer to cyan, magenta, and yellow as the colors blue, red, and yellow, which is what we learn in primary school as the primary colors..
 

FAQ: Why do we use CMYK color for printing?

Why do we use CMYK color for printing?

CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black) is the standard color model used for printing. This is because these four colors can be combined to create a wide range of colors, making it more cost-effective and efficient for printing purposes.

How does CMYK color differ from RGB color?

RGB (Red, Green, and Blue) is the color model used for digital displays, such as computer screens and televisions. CMYK and RGB have different color gamuts, which means that not all colors can be reproduced in both models. CMYK is better suited for printing while RGB is better for digital displays.

What is the purpose of the black (K) color in CMYK?

The black color in CMYK is used to improve the contrast and depth of darker colors in printed materials. Without the black color, a combination of cyan, magenta, and yellow would result in a muddy, dark color.

Can I use CMYK colors for digital designs?

While CMYK is the standard for printing, it is not recommended to use CMYK colors for digital designs. This is because the colors may look different when printed compared to when viewed on a digital screen. It is best to use RGB for digital designs and then convert to CMYK for printing.

Are there any limitations to using CMYK colors for printing?

Yes, there are limitations to using CMYK colors for printing. CMYK is a subtractive color model, which means that colors are created by subtracting light from white. This can result in less vibrant and accurate colors compared to the original design. Additionally, CMYK is not suitable for printing metallic or neon colors, as they cannot be created using CMYK inks.

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