What is CMYK?

Definition

CMYK is the four-color subtractive printing model. Always convert your art to CMYK before sending to print; the gamut is smaller than RGB, especially for vivid blues and greens.

Why it matters

Understanding CMYK is foundational to working in print. It shapes how teams plan, communicate with stakeholders, and interpret performance.

Best practices

• → Define it in shared documentation so every team uses the same meaning.
• → Tie it to a measurable outcome rather than treating it as an end in itself.
• → Revisit assumptions quarterly — the meaning and benchmarks evolve.

Common mistakes

• → Treating it as a vanity metric instead of a decision input.
• → Copying competitors' targets without context for your funnel.
• → Optimizing it in isolation, hurting downstream conversion.