CMYK images

Separated Colors

Each of the four colors are printed independently, but blend together to form all colors. (Image courtesy of Intergraph Computer Systems.)

A CMYK Printer

Typical of a color laser printer, this Tally 8106 printer uses four separate cartridges: one each for cyan, magenta, yellow and black (CMYK). Unlike the commercial print process, which prints the paper four times, in a color laser printer, each of the four inks is applied to the drum before the page is printed.

CMYK Ribbon

This shows a four-color dye sublimation or thermal wax transfer ribbon where four panels of dye or wax-based ink exist for each page, and each panel is as large as the page. After each page is printed, the ribbon is advanced to the next four-color ribbon set.

More CMYK images

Learn more about CMYK