CMYK Color Settings in Illustrator 2026

Specifically regarding rich black, ask the printer about both the print process and print stock being used and the print stock’s total ink limit. That’s the number of adding all four CMYK percentage values together. This is useful if the CMYK values in the document will be preserved rather than converted at the printing stage. For most print stocks, if the number is near or below 300 it should be good. I like using the value C:75, M:68, Y:65, K:90 for a rich black (298%). For something coarse, like newsprint, the value will be around 200-240%. Various kinds of uncoated stock might need a similar value. From time to time I’ll get customer provided art files with objects filled with black levels at 400% (100% in all four inks). It’s not the end of the world when printing with latex inks, but it’s a disaster waiting to happen with thermal inkjet.

I like Brad’s note about rich black and blocks of text, they may not print as sharp set in rich black as they would just with a straight 100%K ink.

Yes, talk to your printer. Any shop using an Indigo will likely recommend you use a modern Offset profile. FOGRA and GRACOL are good ones.

Where this really matters is when you export your PDF. No matter what profile you use, if your export does not convert colours, you are sending the same CMYK values through unaltered anyway. This was fine in the old days when offset printing was pretty much “the same” everywhere. But now with newer tech, a particular CMYK mix on one press may appear completely different on another device.

Indigos, for example, have a wider gamut using electroinks than offset inks, so they are usually internally set to match a particular offset situation so the results are the same. Once you find out what your printer is matching, that’s the profile you should use.

But remember, this is mostly about handling conversions from space to space, usually RGB to CMYK. But even if your file is all CMYK already, you have the choice, on export, to Convert to Destination, or Convert (Preserve Numbers)… the latter leaves all your CMYK values alone and only converts RGB data according to their respective profiles. However, if you Convert to Destination, it will CHANGE even your CMYK values so that they print consistently between devices, so your original 20C 100M 100Y 30K colour might change to, say, 25C 100M 90Y 28K, and that’s the value the Indigo will output to match your intended colour.

The other consideration is the paper stock. Normally, on an offset press, the ink will absorb into an uncoated paper quite readily. An Indigo uses electroinks that are suspended pigment toner particles that are essentially thermally bonded, so even though it works more like offset ink than laser toner, it will sit more on the surface. I mention this because Blacks will be naturally richer on an Indigo than an offset press on uncoated paper. So, your Rich Black need not be so heavy (even 30C 20M 20Y 100K would be sufficient), and for text, you shouldn’t need to use a rich black anyway.

Your printer might actually recommend a profile for uncoated stock. This will compensate for the natural “dulling” of colours by switching the values accordingly to get your the best possible match to your original CMYK colour.

What Ton Frederiks said is so important and critical…

It is best to talk to your printer

…because the answers to many of your questions change depending on the specific printer you are working with. Always discuss your job with your printing service and get their advice!

When you asked about the differences between color settings like FOGRA and SWOP, in general the differences are about how they are matched to specific workflows. It’s usually not important for you to know the details of the differences because you will typically only need to know the names of the few that are used in your region of the world. For example SWOP is typically used in the USA, while FOGRA is a standard more commonly used in other regions like Europe. Your print service will tell you which ones are relevant and recommended for where you are having it printed. 

The other parts of the settings mean other things, like when you see Coated or Web, those relate to the printing process. “Coated” means it’s for coated paper. “Web” means a web press with huge rolls of paper, if the press loads sheets then you might be told to use color settings with “Sheetfed” in the name. Again, this is information only your specific printing service can tell you.

When you ask…

• Which CMYK color values should be used to achieve the deepest possible black?
  Can I work with C 50% / M 40% / Y 40% / K 100% or which setting do you recommend?

The correct mix of CMYK depends on the specific CMYK ink set, paper stock, and reproduction technology that will be used for your job, so again, it depends on what your printing service has set up with their equipment. Some combinations of ink, paper, and printing technology will be capable of deeper blacks than others. 

• Which settings should I use to export the PDF for printing? I am planning to work with PDFX-4, can you recommend that?

Again, different print shops use different combinations of hardware and software that are compatible with different PDF/X workflows, so you cannot assume or guess. You don’t want to send them a PDF/X format they are not set up for, you have to ask them.

The only reliable thing to do is bring all your questions to the printing service you are going to work with. They can tell you the exact settings that will get you the best results for the specific combination of hardware, software, ink, paper, and press type that they use in their shop. 

In addition to what Ton wrote: get test prints if you are unsure.

It is best to talk to your printer and ask for an ICC profile for the paper/press combination.

Don’t use Emulate Illustrator 6, it is effectively turning color management off and you will have no idea what yo are looking at.