Specifying Numbers for Color Printing

Numbers of colors used in printing will affect not only the look of your piece but also the cost of your project. Never underestimate the WOW! factor you can create with a limited color palette. With each single color when using spot colors you can create screen tints and varying opacities which enhance a design

ONLY Pantone Spot colors or CMYK: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black are used in Offset printing.

RGB is used only for the web and video, not for Offset Printing

The Difference Between Process and Spot Color Printing

One-Color Printing

- cheapest type of printing
- one negative film
- one plate

Any spot color is considered one color.
Screen Tints of the same color is still one-color printing.

Black is a color.

So...Using PMS#126 (Pantone Matching System) and PMS#435 and Black would be THREE colors.

Processs colors (CYMK) may be used as spot colors when used independently and applied to a line art image, i.e. black applied to type in a layout is considered a spot color.

Design for Print on a Budget

Two Color Printing

more expensive than one-color
- 2 (film)negatives
- 2 plates

Any combination of two spot colors is two color printing.

Screens of either color is still two-color printing.
Paper color does not count as a third color.

With all of the tools available in Adobe Software, the application of effects, transparency, and varying image opacity creates rich color combinations with just two ink colors

Three-Color Printing

Rarely used.
There are only one, two and four, six and eight color presses.

A three color project will be printed on a four color press and you will be charged for the unused fourth color.

Four-Color Printing

More Expensive

Four process colors are used to recreate the colors in the visible color spectrum.

CYMK or CMYK (same thing)
Cyan(C), Yellow(Y) magenta(M), Black(K)

Just because a print shop uses a four color printing press, the inks are not limited to CMYK. As the designer you will specify what colors you design with. Consider printing with four spot colors, or two colors and two different varnishes, or metallic inks, etc.

Six-color Printing

Very Expensive

Usually used to print the four process colors plus two spot colors or four process colors plus varnishes.

This is often used to elevate a design or to use very specific color matches such as logos. Varnishes and tinted varnishes create depth and unique visual effects on photographic images.