Inks And Colors

That HOP off the page...

The ins-and-outs of color printing are second nature to us, but not so for many of our clients. This color printing primer will help you determine which method will work best for your project.

Process Color

Process color is printed using four colors-cyan, magenta, yellow, and black-that blend when they hit the paper to create "full color." By precisely controlling the proportions of each color, we can generate millions of different shades.

Spot Color

Spot color is a single, pre-mixed color of ink, often used to print words or images in specific areas on the page. Spot color can guarantee a more precise color match (to accurately reproduce your logo in your corporate color, for example) and costs less than printing the same color using four colors on a four-color press.

Five-Color Printing

Five-color printing can mean one of three things:

• Adding spot color to a four-color piece, so photographs print in full color and a logo or other symbol prints in the exact color.
• Adding an extra "hit" of color (often white) under a photograph for more impact.
• Adding a varnish. This glossy or matte coating on top of the ink protects from fingerprints, scuffing, and wears; adds richness and depth to photographs; and improves readability of text. A varnish can be flood (covering an entire panel) or spot (applied to a portion of a panel). Often, a spot varnish costs more than flood varnish, because it's trickier to apply and requires more steps in pre-press.