What is rich black?

What it means for your file

Use it for large black areas only. Small text and fine lines should be 100% K, and total ink should stay under the printer’s limit (often 300%).

How to fix it

If your printer sent the file back saying “Your black will print gray (or too much ink),” the fix page has the step-by-step way to do it yourself, and a fixed price if you’d rather have it done.

How to fix “Your black will print gray (or too much ink)” →

Where else it comes up

• “The file is RGB, it needs to be CMYK”
• “Total ink coverage is too high”
• “There’s white set to overprint”

Related terms

CMYK

CMYK is the color model used by printing presses: cyan, magenta, yellow and black (K) inks combined to make every color.

RGB

RGB is the color model of screens, which mix red, green and blue light; it can show brighter colors than ink can print.

Pantone (spot color)

A Pantone or spot color is a specific pre-mixed ink, printed on its own instead of being built from CMYK, for exact and consistent brand colors.

Total ink coverage (TAC)

Total ink coverage, or total area coverage (TAC), is the sum of the cyan, magenta, yellow and black percentages at the darkest point of a print file.

Overprint

Overprint means an object is printed on top of the colors beneath it instead of leaving a gap for it, so the inks mix.