Which color system is typically used for printing with inks?

• A. Additive color
• B. Subtractive color
• C. CMYK colors
• D. RGB colors

Answer: (C)

Printing with inks relies on subtractive color mixing: inks absorb certain wavelengths of light, so the color you see comes from the light that remains. The standard system used in most print workflows is CMYK, which stands for cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. By varying the mix of these four inks, printers can reproduce a wide range of colors, with black added to deepen tones and improve contrast while keeping ink usage practical. This is different from digital displays, which create color by emitting light using the additive RGB system. Subtractive color describes the general principle, but the practical, widely used printing method is CMYK colors.