Process color

Test print of the process colors black, cyan, magenta and yellow

A process color is the color that is created when several colors are printed at the same time during the printing process (usually in a raster process). With four-color printing , the process color is composed of the colors cyan , magenta , yellow and black .

The color impression results from the mixing of colors, the colors being printed with different screen angles in the screen process. Different shades of color are achieved through different proportions of colors. The white shade results from the color of the paper.

Process colors and screen colors cover a different range. The devices must be calibrated so that the same image impression appears on the screen and during the printing process. In addition, you have to limit yourself to the common area ( color space ).

In contrast to process colors, a spot color (also called a spot color ) is mixed before it is printed.