Curated CMYK greens

Cyan plus yellow, black only where depth is wanted. Adding magenta to a green is the fastest way to make it look dirty — these builds don't.

Every swatch here is an on-screen APPROXIMATION of a four-colour build. Screens emit light and paper reflects it — no monitor can show you what ink on your stock will do. Ask for a proof.

28 tonal runs · 196 builds

Dark → light, left to right

PPC-081

10/0/55/653/0/14/10

PPC-089

55/0/30/6514/0/8/10

PPC-016

100/0/65/3025/0/16/1

PPC-051

80/0/65/5020/0/16/6

PPC-086

55/0/55/6514/0/14/10

PPC-013

85/0/100/3021/0/25/1

PPC-048

50/0/80/5013/0/20/6

PPC-083

30/0/55/658/0/14/10

PPC-010

35/0/100/309/0/25/1

PPC-018

100/0/35/3025/0/9/1

PPC-045

15/0/80/504/0/20/6

PPC-053

80/0/40/5020/0/10/6

PPC-088

55/0/35/6514/0/9/10

PPC-015

100/0/85/3025/0/21/1

PPC-050

80/0/80/5020/0/20/6

PPC-085

45/0/55/6511/0/14/10

PPC-012

65/0/100/3016/0/25/1

PPC-047

40/0/80/5010/0/20/6

PPC-082

20/0/55/655/0/14/10

PPC-090

55/0/20/6514/0/5/10

PPC-017

100/0/50/3025/0/13/1

PPC-052

80/0/50/5020/0/13/6

PPC-087

55/0/45/6514/0/11/10

PPC-014

100/0/100/3025/0/25/1

PPC-049

65/0/80/5016/0/20/6

PPC-084

35/0/55/659/0/14/10

PPC-011

50/0/100/3013/0/25/1

PPC-046

25/0/80/506/0/20/6

Every value

PPC-010

35/0/100/5

Base build

PPC-010.1

35/0/100/80

Base + 75K

PPC-010.2

35/0/100/55

Base + 50K

PPC-010.3

35/0/100/30

Base + 25K

PPC-010.4

26/0/75/4

75% ink

PPC-010.5

18/0/50/3

50% ink

PPC-010.6

9/0/25/1

25% ink

PPC-011

50/0/100/5

Base build

PPC-011.1

50/0/100/80

Base + 75K

PPC-011.2

50/0/100/55

Base + 50K

PPC-011.3

50/0/100/30

Base + 25K

PPC-011.4

38/0/75/4

75% ink

PPC-011.5

25/0/50/3

50% ink

PPC-011.6

13/0/25/1

25% ink

PPC-012

65/0/100/5

Base build

PPC-012.1

65/0/100/80

Base + 75K

PPC-012.2

65/0/100/55

Base + 50K

PPC-012.3

65/0/100/30

Base + 25K

PPC-012.4

49/0/75/4

75% ink

PPC-012.5

33/0/50/3

50% ink

PPC-012.6

16/0/25/1

25% ink

PPC-013

85/0/100/5

Base build

PPC-013.1

85/0/100/80

Base + 75K

PPC-013.2

85/0/100/55

Base + 50K

PPC-013.3

85/0/100/30

Base + 25K

PPC-013.4

64/0/75/4

75% ink

PPC-013.5

43/0/50/3

50% ink

PPC-013.6

21/0/25/1

25% ink

PPC-014

100/0/100/5

Base build

PPC-014.1

100/0/100/80

Base + 75K

PPC-014.2

100/0/100/55

Base + 50K

PPC-014.3

100/0/100/30

Base + 25K

PPC-014.4

75/0/75/4

75% ink

PPC-014.5

50/0/50/3

50% ink

PPC-014.6

25/0/25/1

25% ink

PPC-015

100/0/85/5

Base build

PPC-015.1

100/0/85/80

Base + 75K

PPC-015.2

100/0/85/55

Base + 50K

PPC-015.3

100/0/85/30

Base + 25K

PPC-015.4

75/0/64/4

75% ink

PPC-015.5

50/0/43/3

50% ink

PPC-015.6

25/0/21/1

25% ink

PPC-016

100/0/65/5

Base build

PPC-016.1

100/0/65/80

Base + 75K

PPC-016.2

100/0/65/55

Base + 50K

PPC-016.3

100/0/65/30

Base + 25K

PPC-016.4

75/0/49/4

75% ink

PPC-016.5

50/0/33/3

50% ink

PPC-016.6

25/0/16/1

25% ink

PPC-017

100/0/50/5

Base build

PPC-017.1

100/0/50/80

Base + 75K

PPC-017.2

100/0/50/55

Base + 50K

PPC-017.3

100/0/50/30

Base + 25K

PPC-017.4

75/0/38/4

75% ink

PPC-017.5

50/0/25/3

50% ink

PPC-017.6

25/0/13/1

25% ink

PPC-018

100/0/35/5

Base build

PPC-018.1

100/0/35/80

Base + 75K

PPC-018.2

100/0/35/55

Base + 50K

PPC-018.3

100/0/35/30

Base + 25K

PPC-018.4

75/0/26/4

75% ink

PPC-018.5

50/0/18/3

50% ink

PPC-018.6

25/0/9/1

25% ink

PPC-045

15/0/80/25

Base build

PPC-045.1

15/0/80/100

Base + 75K

PPC-045.2

15/0/80/75

Base + 50K

PPC-045.3

15/0/80/50

Base + 25K

PPC-045.4

11/0/60/19

75% ink

PPC-045.5

8/0/40/13

50% ink

PPC-045.6

4/0/20/6

25% ink

PPC-046

25/0/80/25

Base build

PPC-046.1

25/0/80/100

Base + 75K

PPC-046.2

25/0/80/75

Base + 50K

PPC-046.3

25/0/80/50

Base + 25K

PPC-046.4

19/0/60/19

75% ink

PPC-046.5

13/0/40/13

50% ink

PPC-046.6

6/0/20/6

25% ink

PPC-047

40/0/80/25

Base build

PPC-047.1

40/0/80/100

Base + 75K

PPC-047.2

40/0/80/75

Base + 50K

PPC-047.3

40/0/80/50

Base + 25K

PPC-047.4

30/0/60/19

75% ink

PPC-047.5

20/0/40/13

50% ink

PPC-047.6

10/0/20/6

25% ink

PPC-048

50/0/80/25

Base build

PPC-048.1

50/0/80/100

Base + 75K

PPC-048.2

50/0/80/75

Base + 50K

PPC-048.3

50/0/80/50

Base + 25K

PPC-048.4

38/0/60/19

75% ink

PPC-048.5

25/0/40/13

50% ink

PPC-048.6

13/0/20/6

25% ink

PPC-049

65/0/80/25

Base build

PPC-049.1

65/0/80/100

Base + 75K

PPC-049.2

65/0/80/75

Base + 50K

PPC-049.3

65/0/80/50

Base + 25K

PPC-049.4

49/0/60/19

75% ink

PPC-049.5

33/0/40/13

50% ink

PPC-049.6

16/0/20/6

25% ink

PPC-050

80/0/80/25

Base build

PPC-050.1

80/0/80/100

Base + 75K

PPC-050.2

80/0/80/75

Base + 50K

PPC-050.3

80/0/80/50

Base + 25K

PPC-050.4

60/0/60/19

75% ink

PPC-050.5

40/0/40/13

50% ink

PPC-050.6

20/0/20/6

25% ink

PPC-051

80/0/65/25

Base build

PPC-051.1

80/0/65/100

Base + 75K

PPC-051.2

80/0/65/75

Base + 50K

PPC-051.3

80/0/65/50

Base + 25K

PPC-051.4

60/0/49/19

75% ink

PPC-051.5

40/0/33/13

50% ink

PPC-051.6

20/0/16/6

25% ink

PPC-052

80/0/50/25

Base build

PPC-052.1

80/0/50/100

Base + 75K

PPC-052.2

80/0/50/75

Base + 50K

PPC-052.3

80/0/50/50

Base + 25K

PPC-052.4

60/0/38/19

75% ink

PPC-052.5

40/0/25/13

50% ink

PPC-052.6

20/0/13/6

25% ink

PPC-053

80/0/40/25

Base build

PPC-053.1

80/0/40/100

Base + 75K

PPC-053.2

80/0/40/75

Base + 50K

PPC-053.3

80/0/40/50

Base + 25K

PPC-053.4

60/0/30/19

75% ink

PPC-053.5

40/0/20/13

50% ink

PPC-053.6

20/0/10/6

25% ink

PPC-081

10/0/55/40

Base build

PPC-081.1

10/0/55/100

Base + 75K

PPC-081.2

10/0/55/90

Base + 50K

PPC-081.3

10/0/55/65

Base + 25K

PPC-081.4

8/0/41/30

75% ink

PPC-081.5

5/0/28/20

50% ink

PPC-081.6

3/0/14/10

25% ink

PPC-082

20/0/55/40

Base build

PPC-082.1

20/0/55/100

Base + 75K

PPC-082.2

20/0/55/90

Base + 50K

PPC-082.3

20/0/55/65

Base + 25K

PPC-082.4

15/0/41/30

75% ink

PPC-082.5

10/0/28/20

50% ink

PPC-082.6

5/0/14/10

25% ink

PPC-083

30/0/55/40

Base build

PPC-083.1

30/0/55/100

Base + 75K

PPC-083.2

30/0/55/90

Base + 50K

PPC-083.3

30/0/55/65

Base + 25K

PPC-083.4

23/0/41/30

75% ink

PPC-083.5

15/0/28/20

50% ink

PPC-083.6

8/0/14/10

25% ink

PPC-084

35/0/55/40

Base build

PPC-084.1

35/0/55/100

Base + 75K

PPC-084.2

35/0/55/90

Base + 50K

PPC-084.3

35/0/55/65

Base + 25K

PPC-084.4

26/0/41/30

75% ink

PPC-084.5

18/0/28/20

50% ink

PPC-084.6

9/0/14/10

25% ink

PPC-085

45/0/55/40

Base build

PPC-085.1

45/0/55/100

Base + 75K

PPC-085.2

45/0/55/90

Base + 50K

PPC-085.3

45/0/55/65

Base + 25K

PPC-085.4

34/0/41/30

75% ink

PPC-085.5

23/0/28/20

50% ink

PPC-085.6

11/0/14/10

25% ink

PPC-086

55/0/55/40

Base build

PPC-086.1

55/0/55/100

Base + 75K

PPC-086.2

55/0/55/90

Base + 50K

PPC-086.3

55/0/55/65

Base + 25K

PPC-086.4

41/0/41/30

75% ink

PPC-086.5

28/0/28/20

50% ink

PPC-086.6

14/0/14/10

25% ink

PPC-087

55/0/45/40

Base build

PPC-087.1

55/0/45/100

Base + 75K

PPC-087.2

55/0/45/90

Base + 50K

PPC-087.3

55/0/45/65

Base + 25K

PPC-087.4

41/0/34/30

75% ink

PPC-087.5

28/0/23/20

50% ink

PPC-087.6

14/0/11/10

25% ink

PPC-088

55/0/35/40

Base build

PPC-088.1

55/0/35/100

Base + 75K

PPC-088.2

55/0/35/90

Base + 50K

PPC-088.3

55/0/35/65

Base + 25K

PPC-088.4

41/0/26/30

75% ink

PPC-088.5

28/0/18/20

50% ink

PPC-088.6

14/0/9/10

25% ink

PPC-089

55/0/30/40

Base build

PPC-089.1

55/0/30/100

Base + 75K

PPC-089.2

55/0/30/90

Base + 50K

PPC-089.3

55/0/30/65

Base + 25K

PPC-089.4

41/0/23/30

75% ink

PPC-089.5

28/0/15/20

50% ink

PPC-089.6

14/0/8/10

25% ink

PPC-090

55/0/20/40

Base build

PPC-090.1

55/0/20/100

Base + 75K

PPC-090.2

55/0/20/90

Base + 50K

PPC-090.3

55/0/20/65

Base + 25K

PPC-090.4

41/0/15/30

75% ink

PPC-090.5

28/0/10/20

50% ink

PPC-090.6

14/0/5/10

25% ink

What to know before you specify one

The same build is not the same colour on two stocks. Coated seals the surface, so the ink sits on top: denser, brighter, sharper. Uncoated absorbs it and the dots gain, so the identical numbers come back darker, duller and lower in contrast. Judge process colour on a proof printed on YOUR stock.
Below about 8% a screen stops being reliable — on uncoated it fills in, on coated it can vanish. The tint steps here sit above that floor deliberately, so the light end of a family still prints as a colour rather than as a rumour.
Process is right for photographic work, for anything with many colours in it, and for jobs where the colour needs to be close rather than exact. A spot ink is right when the colour IS the brand and has to be identical on every run, and when the colour sits outside what four inks can reach at all. Process costs nothing extra on a full-colour job; a spot is an extra unit on press.

Builds with a full write-up

Pairs beautifully with

Three combinations that hold up on press. Open one and the Studio starts with the stock, the foil and the ink already locked in.

PPC-081 on Gmund Leather Mocha

PPC-081 on Gmund Leather Mocha is uncoated, so the dots gain: the same 10/0/55/40 build prints a step darker and duller than it looks on screen. That softness is usually the reason to choose this sheet. The rich chocolate brown ground shows through a translucent build — the printed colour shifts toward the sheet, so sign off against a printed sample.

Gmund Leather Mocha PPC-081

Compatibility matrix

Start this combination

PPC-081 on Gmund Urban Dust

PPC-081 on Gmund Urban Dust is uncoated, so the dots gain: the same 10/0/55/40 build prints a step darker and duller than it looks on screen. That softness is usually the reason to choose this sheet. The warm mid taupe ground shows through a translucent build — the printed colour shifts toward the sheet, so sign off against a printed sample.

Gmund Urban Dust PPC-081

Compatibility matrix

Start this combination

PPC-081 on Materica Acqua

PPC-081 on Materica Acqua is uncoated, so the dots gain: the same 10/0/55/40 build prints a step darker and duller than it looks on screen. That softness is usually the reason to choose this sheet. The pale seafoam / soft aqua ground shows through a translucent build — the printed colour shifts toward the sheet, so sign off against a printed sample.

Materica Acqua PPC-081

Compatibility matrix

Start this combination

Common questions

Do these greens shift on uncoated stock?: Yes, every one of them. Uncoated fibres absorb the ink and the dots gain, so the identical build comes back darker, duller and lower in contrast than the coated version. It is not a fault — it is what that sheet does to process ink. Judge it on a proof printed on your stock.
Can you match a brand colour with one of these greens?: Often, yes — and where a build stops short of the brand colour we say so and quote the spot alternative instead of quietly printing something near it.
How are the tonal steps built?: Each run starts from one tested base. The shades add 25%, 50% and 75% black to it; the tints drop the ink to 75%, 50% and 25%. That gives you seven values that belong together, so hierarchy inside one hue never needs a second colour.
Are these an official colour standard?: These are our own tested recommendations, developed on our presses and our stocks. They are not a published colour standard and are not affiliated with any colour system.