SUBTRACTIVE COLOUR MIXING (INKS) CMYK
Subtractive colour mixing: printing inks (cyan, magenta, and yellow) are shown pouring from cans onto a sheet of paper. The filtering effect of each one of these inks creates all the colours necessary for colour printing. In real four colour printing the inks are applied as screens (tiny dots that vary in size to carry the image information). Black ink is also used to enhance contrast and give an outline to the colours.

CYAN subtracts RED passes BLUE & GREEN
MAGENTA subtracts GREEN passes RED & BLUE
YELLOW subtracts BLUE passes RED & GREEN

Printing Inks: cyan, magenta, and yellow. Printing inks use subtractive colour mixing (lights use additive colour mixing). This simulation shows three printing inks pouring onto a sheet of paper. The filtering effect of each one of these inks creates all the colours necessary for colour printing. In real four colour printing the inks are applied as screens (tiny dots that vary in size to carry the image information). Black ink is also used to enhance contrast and give an outline to the colours.


BUY THIS ANIMATION of subtractive colour mixing!

Labelled diagram of showing printing inks: cyan, magenta, and yellow
above: Labelled diagram showing printing inks: cyan, magenta, and yellow
created using the brilliant Cheetah3D software.





Russell Kightley Media
PO Box 9150, Deakin, ACT 2600, Australia. Mobile phone Australia 0405 17 64 71
email RKM