Four color printing, also known as full color printing, uses cyan, magenta, yellow and black (CMYK) inks to produce a full range of colors on a printed item. Prints are made using 4 color printing services by a process of separations. Separations are created, usually digitally, by pulling out each of the different colors of ink and highlighting them. For instance, in a photograph, in order to obtain the separations needed to guide the 4 color printing, the pigments of CMYK will be depicted on four distinct images (one each for cyan, magenta, yellow and black). These distinct images, sent via digital file to the printing press, will allow the printer to interpret where the ink should be laid down and in what quantities in order to reproduce the full color image. Separations used to have to be made using a series of cameras and lenses, but today's digital programs allow for the creation of these guides right within the software.

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