The document discusses different color processes used for print and digital design. For print, like brochures and magazines, a four-color process of cyan, magenta, yellow and black inks is used to recreate colors. For digital design, like websites and presentations, a combination of red, green and blue lights are used to display colors on a screen. The four-color printing process is universally used in graphic design and commercial printing to reproduce color images cost effectively.

1. It is important to understand the different
processes for using color in visual media.
Design for print such as a brochure,
business card or magazine ad utilizes a
four-color process for creating all colors in
an image.
Design for digital media utilizes a
combination of red, green and blue to
create full color images that will be
projected onto a screen such as a website
or PowerPoint presentation.
Color
Fundamentals of Design
Unit 4: Color
Module 5: The Potential Expressive Qualities of Color!

2. Four-color process printing is a system
where a color image is separated into 4
different color values: cyan, magenta, yellow
and black.
The image is then printed on a printing
press with the colored inks cyan (blue),
magenta (red), yellow and black (the k in
cmyk), reproducing the original color image.
Most of the entire spectrum or gamut of
colors are reproduced with just the four
process ink colors.
The four-color printing process is universally
used in the graphic arts and commercial
printing industry for the reproduction of
color images and text.
Color
Fundamentals of Design
Unit 4: Color
Module 5: The Potential Expressive Qualities of Color!

3. CMYK Process Printing Features
• Uses same 4 standardized base colors all
the time (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and
Black)
• Small dots of these colors are printed at
different angles to create the printed
image
• Most widely used and cost effective
color system in commercial printing
• Significantly cheaper than toner based
printing for larger quantity runs
Color
Fundamentals of Design
Unit 4: Color
Module 5: The Potential Expressive Qualities of Color!

4. In Digital Color percentages of red, green,
& blue light are used to generate color on
a computer screen.
Reproducing color seen digitally can be
different than in printed media because
what we see sometimes is not what is
possible to get. Monitors can often display
far more colors than what is available to
commercial printers using CMYK.
Digital designs should be generated using
the RGB color system.
Color
Fundamentals of Design
Unit 4: Color
Module 5: The Potential Expressive Qualities of Color!