In Illustrator's printing workflow, which color model is used for print color?

In Illustrator's printing workflow, which color model is used for print color?

• A. RGB
• B. CMYK
• C. HSL
• D. LAB

Answer: (B)

CMYK is the color model used for print color. Printers create color by layering cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks in varying proportions, a subtractive process where more ink means less light reflected and a darker result. This setup matches how printed materials are produced, so CMYK faithfully represents how colors will appear on paper. RGB is for screens, where colors are created by light combining—an additive process that doesn’t translate directly to ink on paper. HSL describes color in terms of hue, saturation, and lightness and is a way to organize color visually, not a standard print workflow. LAB is device‑independent and useful for color management across devices, but for typical printing tasks you convert your colors to CMYK to align with the printer’s ink system and the resulting printed appearance.

CMYK is the color model used for print color. Printers create color by layering cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks in varying proportions, a subtractive process where more ink means less light reflected and a darker result. This setup matches how printed materials are produced, so CMYK faithfully represents how colors will appear on paper.

RGB is for screens, where colors are created by light combining—an additive process that doesn’t translate directly to ink on paper. HSL describes color in terms of hue, saturation, and lightness and is a way to organize color visually, not a standard print workflow. LAB is device‑independent and useful for color management across devices, but for typical printing tasks you convert your colors to CMYK to align with the printer’s ink system and the resulting printed appearance.