Process inks · Tool 02 · A toy

Ink
lab

Every printed colour is made from four inks: cyan, magenta, yellow and black. Overlap them, mix your own recipe, and see what the press actually lays down.

Print standard

01 · Overprint tableDrag the inks
over each other

Inks on paper are see-through, so where two overlap you get a third colour. Move the discs around and watch the overlaps.

Inks on the table

    C + M + Y only reaches a dark grey: lighter than black ink, three times the ink on the sheet, and hard to keep neutral on press. That is why presses carry a fourth ink, K (black).

    02 · Ink mixerMix a
    recipe

    Each slider is how much of the paper that ink covers, from 0 to 100%. Try a recipe below, or make your own.

    Your recipe

    Total ink0%

    Try a recipe

    Paper white
    CMYK0 / 0 / 0 / 0
    Screen HEX#FBFAF7
    Share

    Under the loupe

    A press can't print "40% cyan" as a flat colour. It prints tiny dots, each ink at its own angle, and your eye blends them. This is your recipe, magnified.

    03 · Find a recipePick any
    colour

    Choose a colour and the lab works out the closest ink recipe. Some bright screen colours (neon greens, electric blues) are outside what four inks can print.

    Your colour

    Closest recipe: -

    On your screen-
    Printed in CMYK-

    04 · Your imageSee your artwork
    in ink

    Upload a photo, artwork (PNG, JPG, WebP) or a PDF to see how it prints in four-colour process on the standard chosen at the top. Everything is converted on your device; your file is never uploaded.

    Your image

    Showing the sample image

    View

    RGB · your fileCMYK · FOGRA51

    Colours are simulated from Fogra characterisation data for offset on coated paper: FOGRA51 (PSO Coated v3, ISO 12647-2:2013) or FOGRA39 (ISO Coated v2, ISO 12647-2:2004). Source: Fogra, fogra.org. A screen can only approximate print. Real results depend on stock, ink and press, and that's what our press proofs are for. Brand colour that must match exactly? Ask us about Pantone spot inks.