CcMmYK color model

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CcMmYK is a six color printing process used in upscale inkjet printers optimized for photo printing. It extends the customary four color CMYK model by adding light cyan (lower case c) and light magenta (lower case m).

Advantages of CcMmYK over CMYK

Cyan and magenta inks are both dark colors. Inkjet printers may have difficulty printing light shades of cyan or magenta with dark ink. The necessary halftoning pattern may be unacceptably large. The gap between the lightest printable shade of cyan and the second lightest shade may be too great.

Light yellow is not used in CcMmYK printing. Yellow ink is not as dark as cyan or magenta, so the benefits are not as apparent.

Practical Application

Many HP Photosmart, Epson Stylus Photo, and Canon PIXMA printers use the CcMmYK printing process. The printers in these families that use the CcMmYK printing process can be identified by their six separate ink cartridges.

Many Lexmark printers also use the CcMmYK printing process. These printers accept the Lexmark #31 photo ink print cartridge. The Lexmark #31 cartridge contains light cyan, light magenta, and photo black ink. When this optional cartridge is not available, compatible printers fall back to the CMYK printing process.

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