# @barnardco on Instagram

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DMhjbwZN4YV
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/71132081-barnardco-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/6487de4f20.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-07-25T08:36:45.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** James Barnard (@barnardco) — https://gondola.cc/barnardco

## Caption

There’s black. And then there’s rich black. So what’s the difference?

When you use a subtractive colour model, like printing in CMYK, quite often using a 100% black ink value alone just doesn’t cut it.

But when you add a bit of colour, that’s when you get RICH black.

There’s a lot of debate as to which colour values to use to get rich black. It massively depends on the type of paper you’re printing on. A good rule of thumb is to not go higher than a 220% colour mix, so C:40% M:40% Y:40% and K:100% = 220% = 👌

HOWEVER, if you’re printing something with fine detail, like lines or small body copy, DO NOT use rich black.

Why?

Well, if the registration on your printer is off (and your colours don’t line up) then you’ll get a fuzzy halo effect around your words, which makes it really hard to read.

#CMYK #Printing #graphicdesign

## Stats

- **Views:** 100,828
- **Likes:** 3,499
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 81

## Credits

No public credits are recorded here. This does not identify who made the post.

## Tags

printing, graphicdesign, cmyk

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