HP 8550mfp Service Manual - Page 141

Subtractive color mixing Table 29 describes how mixing equal amounts of subtractive colors produces other colors. Table 29. Subtractive color mixing Mix equal amounts of... To produce... Cyan + Yellow + Magenta Cyan + Yellow Yellow + Magenta Magenta + Cyan Black Green Red Blue Half-toning Half-toning (also called dithering) is a method used to distribute color pigment to create a full spectrum of color. Because this printer places dots of toner on a page to create an image rather than physically mixing the color (like paint), the dots are distributed in selected patterns. Although they are not physically combined on the page, the eye integrates the dots and the viewer perceives them as a solid color. Process colors The printer does not use half-toning for every application. Any of the four basic colors (cyan, magenta, yellow, or black) can be printed as a solid color. Since red, green, and blue are formed by combining two base colors, they are called process colors. See page 146 for an explanation of how the process colors are created on the transfer drum. EN Color theory 139