Emma Davis Print Production Specialist at 4OVER4.COM
Emma is our prepress and print production voice, built from the knowledge of our production team, with over 20 years in printing.
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 |
|---|---|
| C50 M40 Y40 K100 | 230 percent, safe |
| C100 M100 Y100 K100 | 400 percent, too heavy |
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