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trichromatic printing

technology
Also known as: three-colour printing

Quick Summary

Trichromatic printing is a technology that reproduces colors by combining three primary inks: yellow, magenta, and cyan. Each ink absorbs certain wavelengths of light and reflects others. When these inks are combined in varying proportions, they can recreate the visual effect of a wide spectrum of colors.1

For example, yellow ink absorbs blue light and reflects red and green. Magenta absorbs green light and reflects red and blue. Cyan absorbs red light and reflects blue and green. When two of these inks combine, they cancel out the color that neither can reflect, leaving only the color both reflect. For instance, yellow and magenta combine to appear red.1

In practice, trichromatic printing often uses screened plates prepared through filters for each of the three colors. A fourth plate for black ink is frequently added to enhance contours and modeling, making the process quadrichromatic. Precise alignment of these successive color impressions is crucial for accurate color reproduction.1

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