Question

What is the CMYK color space model?

Answer 1

The CMYK color space model is a color model designed for printing and printing based on the principle of subtractive color mixing. It reproduces colors through the superposition of three basic inks: cyan, magenta, and yellow, and black (Key, usually represented by K to avoid confusion with blue). Among them, cyan, magenta, and yellow can theoretically be mixed to produce black, but in actual printing, due to insufficient ink purity, black must be used separately to enhance the performance of dark areas and save costs. The value range of each color in this model is 0%-100%, with 0% representing no use of the ink at all and 100% representing the maximum usage. Unlike the RGB model based on additive color mixing (used for screen display), CMYK focuses more on presenting colors by absorbing specific wavelengths of light. Therefore, the same image may show visual differences on RGB devices (such as monitors) and CMYK output (such as prints), and color management is required to ensure consistency.

Answer 2

The CMYK color space model is a core color representation system in the printing and printing industry. It consists of a superposition of four inks: cyan, magenta, yellow, and key/black. Its principle is based on subtractive color mixing: when white light strikes a surface, the ink layers absorb specific wavelengths of light and reflect the remaining light to create color.

For example, cyan absorbs red light, magenta absorbs green light, and yellow absorbs blue light. Theoretically, the combination of these three absorbs all light and produces black. However, in practice, due to the limited purity of the inks, key (key) must be added separately to enhance shadow detail and reduce costs.

The CMYK value range is 0%-100%, indicating the coverage percentage of each ink. Unlike RGB (the additive color model used for screen displays), CMYK has a narrower color range, and some highly saturated colors (such as fluorescent colors) cannot be accurately reproduced. Design considerations:

1. Color gamut conversion: Color distortion may occur when converting from RGB to CMYK, requiring calibration using color management software.

2. Color separation: Before printing, the image must be decomposed into four color channels and plated separately.

3. Practical application: Widely used in printed materials such as magazines, packaging, and posters, it is the standard color model for commercial printing.