In the printing process, which color is used alongside cyan, magenta, and yellow?

In the printing process, black is used alongside cyan, magenta, and yellow as part of the CMYK color model, which stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black. The addition of black is essential because it enhances the depth and quality of printed images. While cyan, magenta, and yellow can produce a wide range of colors, they cannot create true black effectively; their combination typically results in a muddy or gray color. Therefore, black ink is added to provide a richer and more defined black in printed materials, and it also helps with details and shadows in images. This combination allows for a broader color gamut and improved overall contrast in printed works.