Color Model System for describing colors based on a combination of values for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black, the ink colors used in four-color process printing. Creating color separations breaks an image into Cyan, Magenta, Yell, and Black components, from which most colors can be reproduced. In theory, 100% of Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow create black. In practice, the addition of black ink is necessary to print a true black. See RGB.

The CMYK color space uses a combination of Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow colorants to create other colors. Black is necessary because, while in theory an equal amount of C, M, and Y creates Black (K), in practice this results in a muddy brown. Therefore, the standard is to add a Black colorant (K) to create pure blacks and other dark colors. It is also more economical to use a K colorant as Black ink is less expensive, particularly when one ink takes the place of three to create black. This color space is referred to as "subtractive" because when you take all the colors away, it results in white (such as your blank paper).

See Color Model.

See RGB.