Ink Colors Used in the Printing Industry
Types of Printing Inks: CMYK Colors and Solid or “Spot Colors”
The Pantone Matching System
Most industries which print inks on a substrate, from paper to plastics, ceramics or glass, all use the same color standard, the Pantone Matching System (PMS), as a method of determining and communicating color accuracy. When it comes to your company's corporate logo, it is important to know your Pantone colors to acheive consistency in the reproduction of your corporate ink color(s).
There are two main types of printing inks used in commercial printing, and it is important for any print buyer to know and understand the limitations and differences between the two ink color types.
- Process Ink Colors, also known as CMYK, are used in commercial printing to produce full color printing, such as color photos and multi-colored illustrations. The 4 ink colors are overlapped on the printing press to create the illusion of the nearly unlimited numbers of colors in a photograph. When printing is produced in process color, the logo(s) and other copy are usually also printed in CMYK inks.
- Solid Ink Colors, also known as "Spot" or PMS colors, are those used in 1 and 2 color printing projects (commonly known as “quick printing”) as well as most advertising specialties. Solid ink colors are mixed to the desired ink color BEFORE the ink is applied to the paper, much as paint colors are mixed before you paint a wall.
Process Ink Colors – CMYK
Process color printing (also know as 4-color printing or four color process) is the mixing of four ink colors duing the printing process to produce a nearly unlimited number of colors. The four process color inks are: Cyan (C), Magenta (M), Yellow (Y) and Black (K).
CMYK printing involves the use of halftones and screens to distribute the images, illustrations and text into a pattern of dots onto the printing plates which are then transferred to the paper. The tiny dots of each primary color are printed in a pattern so small that they are perceived as the many various color tones within the image of the artwork.
The right side of the above image is mostly composed of large yellow and magenta dots which overlap one another. When viewed from a distance the “dots” will appear to blend and the right side of the image will be perceived to be a hue of red. As the dots become smaller on the left the color of the image will appear to be lighter. Notice where the cyan (blue) and yellow dots overlap one another the color appears to be green.
Solid Ink Colors – “Spot Color”
A solid ink color, or “spot color,” is an ink color that contains one matched color of ink printed on one printing plate. Spot color(s) are often used when only one or two color printing is needed. Instead of mixing ink colors on the printing press, as is CMYK printing, spot ink colors are mixed before putting them on a printing press. Solid ink colors do have some advantages:
- Some color hues cannot be accurately achieved in CMYK printing
- Solid colors do not have to contain dots of color (shading) to achieve color, so they may appear crisper. Most corporate logos contain use solid Pantone ink colors for their stationery, etc.
— Pantone Ink Charts —
Many manufacturing companies use PMS colors located on various Pantone Color Charts to describe and communicate hues of color, known as the Pantone Matching System (PMS). On each Pantone PMS color chip is the "recipe" to mix inks for each particular PMS ink color. The Pantone Ink Charts are available on both coated and uncoated paper stock, as the paper finishes cause significate color variation, not to the hues as much as their color intensity. Matte paper Pantone Color Guides are also available.
Process Color Ink Chart
The Pantone Process Color Guide
Pantone makes a Process Ink Color Chart with many combinations of the four CMYK inks and the resulting color. On each Pantone color chip the “recipe” of the CMYK values are written, making the chart a valuable tool when determining process color choices.
Solid Color Ink Chart
The Pantone Solid Color Guide
Colors created without screens or dots, such as those found in the Patone Folmula Guide, are referred to in the industry as spot or solid colors.
From a palette of 14 basic colors, each of the spot colors in the Pantone Matching System is mixed according to its own unique ink mixing formula developed by Pantone.
Dual Ink Chart
The Pantone Color Bridge Guide
Many solid colors of the PMS Solid Color Chart cannot be accurately reproduced in 4-color process. This is especially true of very vivid colors, such as bright orange and blue. Projects that mush have accurate solid Pantone color in addition to full color images require the use of 5 and 6-color printing presses or multiple press runs.
Pantone makes the Bridge Guide to show a side-by-side comparison of solid color and it's CMYK closest match. This guide is an essential visual aid tool for graphic designer to demonstrate to clients the degree to which their corporate logo colors will shift hues when printed in process color instead of their official Pantone Solid Colors.
Your computer monitor will not represent CMYK or Spot PMS colors accurately unless it has been calibrated for color accuracy. Even with a calibrated monitor, nothing beats an actual Pantone Chart for a critical color matching situation.
Printers often add coatings to finish off a printing project. Paper coatings can be used to reduce scratching and fingerprints and to add visual impact. Typical coatings include varnish, aqueous, UV and laminating. Varnish and UV can be "spot coated" for added artistic and reflective situations: to add or eliminate sheen to some areas but not others for visual impact and to control glare.
Varnish - a clear gloss or dull coating sealant.
Aqueous Coating - aqueous coating is a water based sealant available in gloss, dull, and satin which is more durable than varnish.
UV Coating - a clear gloss or dull liquid that is cured with ultraviolet light. UV coating gives more protection and sheen than either varnish or aqueous coating.
Laminate - laminates protect the paper from water and are available in various thicknesses. They are costly, but provide a strong, washable surface often used on menus and books.
Read more about paper coatings
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