What does "four color" refer to?

[Merkuri]

I've heard people on these boards refer to certain systems (Mutants and Masterminds, for one) and higher levels of D&D as "four color." I understand what this means, but where does the term come from? The only thing I can think of is the tendency for traditional comic book superheroes to have a small number of bright colors in their outfits, but that's just a guess.

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hey there!

I believe it refers to the first colour comic books which were printed in four colours.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

It comes from the printing process for comic books, at least ones from a decade or two ago. The process involved four basic colors - cyan, magenta, yellow, and black - which, when combined in various ways, would produce a whole range of colors.

 

[Piratecat]

It's a reference to the four colors used when printing comic books: black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. In spirit, it refers to the feel of comic book superheroes before they got all angsty and conflicted.

 

[Merkuri]

Ah, that makes sense! Thanks guys! My curiosity is sated... for now... dun dun DUN!