Faded Slide Restoration Examples, Page 3

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Click images to view larger versions. Before Photo Restoration

After Photo Restoration

The CMYK system. The Subtractive Color Method.
"CMYK" is the acronym for "Cyan," "Magenta," "Yellow," and "Black."
Cyan, magenta and yellow are the three primary colors in the subtractive method. All colors in CMYK start with these primary colors and then black is added to deepen or intensify the color. When the three primaries are mixed together you will get a "near" black. More like a muddy brown. That is why printers also use black ink. Just about any color can be achieved by mixing these four colors together. There are exceptions, though. Subtractive colors get darker when mixed. Each of the mixed inks or paints absorbs different components of light. If the right combination of paint or ink is mixed together, all of the components of light are absorbed and the result is a near black.

CMYK is a term mainly used in printing inks and also in paints. Printing presses use four different sets of rollers and plates to print a four color finished product whether it is a magazine, a post card or just about any printed product. Some presses will use less colors but not achieve a true four color print; some will use more than four colors. Spot colors of unusual colors will be used because they are difficult to create using the CMYK model.

Many computer printers use the CMYK model. They will have four separate ink tanks and print heads.