Here is the Quick Explanation and Definition of Color Printing
It will help you understand a few terms to better communicate with your print professional
Color Printing
Basically, there are two kinds of color printing that makes up
what world buys.
One is known by the term “spot color” and the other is most commonly known as
“process color”, “full color”, or 4-color printing.
Generally the more colors you print, the higher your investment. Generally, but
not always.
Spot color printing refers to a single specific color of ink rendered
straight from a can of ink or custom mixed based on a Pantone chart. Similar to
what you would find when you go to paint store. Sometimes printing jobs will
have three or more spot colors involved. Spot colors are not limited to tiny
spots of ink coverage. They can encompass the entire printed piece if desired,
and is a common thing to do.
“Process color or full-color printing” refers to colors of ink that are a
combination of the colors cyan, magenta, yellow and black. When those four
colors are applied, they combine to produce the gamut of colors in the allowable
spectrum.
4-Colors printing can approximate most spot colors. “Approximate” is the
operative word. Sometimes nothing else will do except the spot color.
4-color, process color or full-color printing is more expensive to produce
because it does require more expensive equipment and skilled personnel to
create. The most commonly seen full color printing is color images you see in
the Sunday newspaper, catalogs, glossy brochures, and magazines.
However, 4-color printing is commonly seen on business cards and stationery as
well. Humans see in full color and that is what appeals to the eye more than
black and white and spot colors. For eye-catching displays of any sorts, full
color is simply the most outstanding way to draw attention to the subject.
In the midst of the digital age, full color printing is very affordable. Most
print professionals have digital laser copiers that can produce high quality
4-color prints at a very competitive price. You simple do not have to buy 5000
brochures to get a decent price per piece. You can have any quantity you desire.
There is a trade-off of affordability and quantity. At some point, it will make
economic sense to go one way or the other. Digital print devices also render
better on some paper stocks than others, which is not usually the case when a
printing press with real ink is involved. Offset printing presses do quite well
no matter what paper stock is used.
Brochures 