CMYK Colour Model

CMYK Colour Model – The Basis for Brilliant Prints

The CMYK colour model is an essential concept in printing. It stands for the four primary colours used in traditional four-colour printing: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (Black). These are also known as process colours and form the foundation for creating all other colours through subtractive mixing.

Cyan is a greenish blue used as a primary print colour to create blue and green tones. Magenta is a reddish pink used for red and purple tones. Yellow is a bright yellow that, combined with Cyan and Magenta, enables a wide range of colour shades. Key, which stands for black, is added to increase contrast and produce deep shadows and rich black tones.

In four-colour printing, these colours are applied in tiny dots on top of each other. By varying the placement, density, and angle, new colours are formed. This is mainly achieved through the halftone printing process, where tiny dots of the base colours are arranged at different angles and densities. The human eye perceives these as a single, blended colour. For example, mixing Cyan and Yellow creates various shades of green, while Magenta and Yellow together can produce orange tones.

CMYK: The Standard in Printing

We use the CMYK colour model is the standard method for printing both small and large runs. Whether you want to print a newspaper or magazine, the colours Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black ensure a precise and vibrant print result. Proper conversion from RGB to CMYK is key to avoiding unwanted colour shifts.

Colour Consistency on Different Paper Types

For small runs of newspapers or magazines, we ensure accurate colour reproduction using modern digital printing. For larger volumes, especially in offset printing, the CMYK model guarantees consistent and high-quality colour output. Even across paper weights from 49 g/m^{2 to 170 g/m}2, the CMYK model produces brilliant, reliable results. Whether you choose coated or uncoated paper for your print project, the CMYK colour model is the foundation for premium print quality.

Tip: For small print runs, we recommend using the FOGRA 39 colour profile to achieve the best print and colour results.