Large black areas that look greyish or blotchy in print? That’s due to using only black ink. With a well-built rich black you get a full, even result. We explain how.
Black isn’t always black
Pure black consists of 100% K (the black ink). For small text that’s perfect. But on large areas pure black quickly looks dull. By putting cyan, magenta and yellow underneath, a deeper, richer black tint arises.
A safe rich black
- Large areas: for example C60 M40 Y40 K100 for a deep black.
- Small text: always 100% K only, to prevent blurriness.
- Don’t overdo it: keep the total ink coverage below about 300% to avoid show-through.
Why it matters
A good rich black makes the difference between a cheap-looking and a premium cover. Supply your file in CMYK and use rich black deliberately in the right places. We check the ink coverage as part of a professional file check.
