color separation LastModified: Friday, August 22, 2003
The act of decomposing a color graphic or photo into single-color layers. For example, to print full-color photos with an offset printing press, one must first separate the photo into the four basic ink colors: cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (CMYK). Each single-color layer is then printed separately, one on top of the other, to give the impression of infinite colors. This type of color separation, mixing three or four colors to produce an infinite variety of colors, is called process color separation. Another type of color separation, called spot color separation, is used to separate colors that are not to be mixed. In this case, each spot color is represented by its own ink, which is specially mixed. Spot colors are effective for highlighting text but they cannot be used to reproduce full-color images. Traditionally, process color separation has been performed photographically with different colored filters. However, many modern desktop publishing systems are now capable of producing color separations for graphics stored electronically. This capability is essential if you want to create full-color documents on your computer and then print them using an offset printer. You don't need to perform color separation if you are printing directly to a color printer because in this case the printer itself performs the color separation internally. Also see The Science of Color in the Did You Know . . . ? section of Webopedia.
Four color process made easy Step-by-step instructions on the four color separation process, beginning with information on process color, followed by basic rules and guidelines.	related categories: Color Color Printers Printers related terms: CMYK color management system (CMS) color printer desktop publishing process colors thermal printer color separation Products : Top Store Offers: eBay  19.95TIFFEN COLOR SEPARATION GUIDE with Gray Scale, 8" Sz, #Q-13 Q13 UPC # 049383079586 KODAK COLOR SEPARATION GUIDE and Grey Scale Q-13 CAT 152 7654 15276... Adorama  23.95Q-13 / Q-14 Gray Scale is a quality control device that helps compare tone values of reflection copy with its reproduction. Also helps find the correc... Amazon Marketplace  30.89 CSN Lighting Stores  140.00Testrite PC1624CC Illuminate the subject with this metal framed light box. This light source is great for editing, arts and crafts, and other art form... Bathroom Furniture Direct  140.00Testrite PC1624CC Illuminate the subject with this metal framed light box. This light source is great for editing, arts and crafts, and other art form... Compare all matches: 10 Store Offers