Question
What is total ink coverage (TAC)?
Answer
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 and can smear or offset onto the next sheet in the stack.
- Add the cyan, magenta, yellow, and black percentages in the heaviest area.
- Most presses cap TAC around 300 percent for reliable drying.
- Rich blacks are a common place for TAC to run too high, so check them.
- Staying within the limit prevents set-off, smudging, and slow drying.
| Example black | TAC |
|---|---|
| C60 M40 Y40 K100 | 240 percent, safe |
| C100 M100 Y100 K100 | 400 percent, too heavy |
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