Embedded Files
CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black) is the color space for printed materials. Use a CMYK color profile for any project design that will be physically printed.
A printing press creates images by combining these colors to varying degrees with physical ink. This is known as subtractive color profile: all colors start as blank white, and each layer of ink reduces the initial brightness to create the preferred color. When all the colors are mixed together, they create pure black.
CMYK printing is also known as 4-color-process printing and is the most common method used for printed pieces of collateral. Like using a CMYK color profile in a digital application, using a file with an RGB color profile for a printed piece of collateral will cause color inconsistencies.
PDF files are ideal when a CMYK color profile is needed because they are compatible with most programs. This is by far the best universal file type for sharing designs.
AI files are the native documents created in Adobe Illustrator and maintain their editability. Adobe Illustrator is the industry standard for creating vector-based, scalable designs and therefore, is more than likely the program in which your logo or design assets were originally created.
EPS files are also vector-based and scalable. They are ideal to work with because they are compatible with other vector programs—this file is more of a universal file type (much like the PDF) that can be used to open vector-based artwork in any design editor, not just the more common Adobe products.
CMYK is considered a subtractive form of color creation, meaning a reading of 0% of each color will give you white whereas 100% will produce a rich black. Each color – cyan, magenta, yellow, and black is measured in a value range from 0% to 100%.
A typical CMYK color selection pane from a graphics program
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