Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) Practice Exam

Which color mode adds black to cyan, magenta, and yellow, primarily used in publishing?

1. RGB

2. CMYK

3. Grayscale

4. HSB

The correct answer is: CMYK

The color mode that adds black to cyan, magenta, and yellow is CMYK. This mode is specifically designed for the printing process and is commonly used in the publishing industry because it allows for a wide range of colors to be reproduced accurately on physical media. CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (black). The addition of black enhances the depth and richness of colors, providing the ability to achieve darker tones and improve contrast in printed materials. This is particularly important in professional printing, where precise color reproduction is essential for branding and visual quality. In contrast, RGB (Red, Green, Blue) is used primarily for digital displays and works on a different principle of color mixing. Grayscale represents images in shades of gray, without the use of color, while HSB (Hue, Saturation, Brightness) describes colors in terms of their qualities but doesn’t involve the printing process specifically. Thus, CMYK is the standard color mode used in publishing due to its ability to produce comprehensive and vibrant printed images by layering colored inks.