Definition & Meaning of "CMYK"

What is "CMYK"?

CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key, which is black. It is a color model used primarily in printing to reproduce a broad range of colors by combining varying percentages of these four ink colors. The CMYK model relies on subtractive color mixing, where each ink absorbs certain wavelengths of light, resulting in the perception of different colors. The "Key" color is added because using only cyan, magenta, and yellow inks to create black can result in a muddy or dark color.