CMYK is the color mode used in printing. It builds every color by combining four inks: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black (the K stands for Key). It is a subtractive model, meaning inks absorb light and layer together to produce the final shade. C: Cyan M: Magenta Y: Yellow K: Black (Key) Because presses print in CMYK, set up your artwork in CMYK before submitting. Files built in RGB are converted to CMYK for print, and some bright screen colors can shift during that conversion.

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Question

What is CMYK?

Answer

CMYK is the color mode used in printing. It builds every color by combining four inks: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black (the K stands for Key). It is a subtractive model, meaning inks absorb light and layer together to produce the final shade.

C: Cyan
M: Magenta
Y: Yellow
K: Black (Key)

Because presses print in CMYK, set up your artwork in CMYK before submitting. Files built in RGB are converted to CMYK for print, and some bright screen colors can shift during that conversion.

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