What is a safe TAC limit?

240% for newsprint, 260–280% for uncoated stocks, 300% for coated stocks, and up to 320% for high-end sheetfed presses. Always confirm with your printer.

Does this work on a CMYK PDF?

Flatten and export the PDF page as a high-resolution PNG first, then drop it in. The estimator works on rendered pixels rather than the original CMYK channels.

Why does my black area show 400% coverage?

Pure rich black (100% of all four channels) is 400% TAC and almost always exceeds press limits. Replace it with a rich black recipe like 60/40/40/100.

PressmarksPrepress Tools

Ink Coverage · TAC

Is your file over-inked for the press?

Upload an image to estimate total area coverage — the combined C + M + Y + K ink — find the heaviest spots, and highlight everything above your printer's limit before it causes set-off or drying problems.

Maximum total area coverage

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Average TAC: —
Over limit: —
Limit: —

Over-limit areas

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Estimate only. This uses a standard (naïve) RGB→CMYK conversion with no ICC profile or black generation (GCR/UCR). Real separation depends on your output profile, so treat results as a guide and confirm heavy areas in your prepress software.

Total Area Coverage (TAC), also called Total Ink Coverage or TIC, is the sum of the four process inks at a given point: cyan + magenta + yellow + black. A solid rich black might hit 300–360%, and pile on too much ink and it won't dry, smears, or sets off onto the next sheet.

What limit should I use?

The limit depends on paper and press. Absorbent, uncoated and newsprint stocks dry slowly and need lower limits; coated stocks on a sheetfed press tolerate more. Always defer to the number on your printer's spec sheet.

Common limitsNewsprint 240% · Uncoated 270–300% · Coated web (GRACoL) 300% · Sheetfed coated 320–340%.

Typical maximum ink limits

Condition	TAC limit
Newsprint	240%
Uncoated offset	270–300%
Coated, web (GRACoL)	300%
Coated, sheetfed	320–340%

Fixing over-inked areas

The usual fix is to reduce ink in the shadows during separation — using your output profile's black generation (GCR) to swap some CMY for black, or applying a max-ink limit when converting to CMYK. A "rich black" recipe like 60/40/40/100 keeps blacks deep while staying near 240%.

Frequently asked questions

Is this exact?

No — it's an estimate. Without your ICC output profile there's no single correct RGB→CMYK conversion, and black generation changes the totals. Use it to spot risky areas, then verify in prepress software with the right profile.

Why is my photo showing high coverage?

Dark, saturated areas naturally carry the most ink. RGB images often imply more than 300% when naively converted; a proper profile with black generation brings it down.

What is rich black?

Black text or fills with some CMY added underneath for a deeper result, e.g. 60/40/40/100. Keep the total under your paper's limit so it still dries.

Do you upload my image?

No. All analysis happens in your browser and nothing is sent anywhere.