The Color of Cyan The color cyan is one of the primary colors of the CMYK color model which is also comprised of magenta, yellow and key- or black. The name ‘cyan’ has a Greek origin that simply means blue. While cyan is considered to be in the blue family, it is actually an equal blend of blue and green. Blue is often one of the most difficult colors to describe to another person because of the many diverse shades and tones such as light blue, dark blue or bright blue. Cyan blue is a specific shade that is very closely related to turquoise or aquamarine shades of blue. Uses of Cyan Digital photography and home computer
printers have increased the typical person’s awareness of color. In the use of print
and computer technologies, the term cyan is often used interchangeably with
aqua. The color used in printed materials is generally a combination of cyan
and the other CMYK primaries. The color visible on a computer screen is an
‘electric’ cyan which is closer to aqua on the color spectrum but in its
printed form is actually cyan. Versatility of the Cyan The term ‘cyan’ is used very commonly by other industries to reference a blue shade. The color cyan is referenced in many different arenas, from being the color used for swimming pool tiles because of its association with the color of brilliantly clean water to the blue of burning natural gas seen on a home stove. There are very few colors that can be associated with both hot and cold and yet still generate a visual reference in the way cyan is capable. |  — Color coordinates —
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