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Graphic Design vocabulary · Colour Theory

CMYK

Meaning in graphic design, with examples

/ˌsiː ɛm waɪ ˈkeɪ/abbreviationCore term

In graphic design, CMYK means: Cyan, magenta, yellow and key (black): the four ink colours used in most colour printing. Mixing them in small dots creates the full range of printed colours.

In Turkish: CMYK, dört renk baskı

How it is used

Used every day with printers and in print files. You set a document to CMYK, convert images to CMYK, or give a colour's CMYK values (for example C0 M90 Y85 K0). Brand guidelines list CMYK values next to RGB and HEX.

Example sentences

  1. The printer sent the file back because the images were RGB, not CMYK.

  2. That bright turquoise from the website looks dull in CMYK, so let's test a spot colour.

Common collocations

  • convert to CMYK
  • CMYK values
  • CMYK printing
  • CMYK colour mode
  • RGBRed, green and blue: the three colours of light that screens mix to show every colour. It is the colour mode for websites, apps, social media and video.
  • spot colourA specially mixed ink printed as a single solid colour instead of being built from CMYK dots, used for exact brand colours, metallics and neons. Pantone is the best-known system.
  • colour profileA small data set attached to a file or device that describes how its colours should be shown or printed, helping colours stay consistent between screens, software and presses.
  • rich blackA deeper printed black made by adding some cyan, magenta and yellow to 100% black ink, used for large dark areas rather than small text.

More terms: Colour Theory

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