Schema for Color Printing
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Subtractive color system (This system is used by color printers
.)
This system produces color by combining colorants such as inks, toners or paint on media, which is
generally used in color printing. The printers create the colors by combining the subtractive primaries:
Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow. White occurs where no colorant is applied, on the contrary, combining all
these three color in theory yields black. However, to produce more solid black, black colorant is added,
and consequently color printing uses four process colors:
C
yan,
M
agenta,
Y
ellow, and blac
K
(CMYK).
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Color capabilities of the color reproduction devices
Color monitors use the additive color system (RGB), and color printers use the subtractive color system
(CMYK) to create a range of colors. Because these color reproduction devices use different color
systems, some colors that can be displayed on a color monitor cannot be reproduced exactly by the
print device. However, using the color matching system (ICM or ColorSync) enables more accurate
representation of the original color by assigning the best color possible.
