---
type: faq
title: "What is total ink coverage (TAC)?"
description: "Total Area Coverage, or TAC, is the sum of the four CMYK ink percentages in the darkest part of a file. It matters because too much ink cannot dry properly"
resource: https://www.4over4.com/faqs/color-ink/what-is-total-ink-coverage-tac
tags: ["Printing Terms Glossary", "faq"]
timestamp: 2026-07-20T18:54:40.856Z
---

# What is total ink coverage (TAC)?

Total Area Coverage, or TAC, is the sum of the four CMYK ink percentages in the darkest part of a file. It matters because too much ink cannot dry properly

Part of the **Printing Terms Glossary** hub. See [all faq concepts](index.md).

- Page type: faq
- Hub: Printing Terms Glossary
- URL: https://www.4over4.com/faqs/color-ink/what-is-total-ink-coverage-tac