CMYK

Definition	:	Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key (black)
Category	:	Technology » Imaging & Printing
Country/Region	:	Worldwide
Popularity	:
Type	:	Initialism

What does CMYK mean?

CMYK color model is a subtractive color model used in the printing process. CMYK refers to Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (black). Some sources say that “K” in CMYK stands for key because, in four-color printing, cyan, magenta, and yellow printing plates are carefully aligned with the black plate which is the key. The key is a shorthand for the printing term key plate. And some sources suggest that the “K” in CMYK comes from the last letter in “blacK” and was chosen because B already means Blue.

Note:
In general, the CMYK model is used for color printing, while the RGB (Red, Green, Blue) model is used mainly for computer displays. In RGB, adding all together will get white. While in CMYK adding all together will get black.