Spot color printing versus CMYK

MD · 10-11-2005, 07:46 PM

lemme see the file.
*edit* It really depends on the number of spot colors, and the complexity of the file.

Mynock · 10-11-2005, 07:47 PM

Are talking about four-color press and spot color on press? Or spot color press versus digital press?

defjoe · 10-11-2005, 07:49 PM

typically spot color printing is cheaper cause your using one or 2 colors as oppossed to 4 colors (talking the actual ink here). Trapping is a bigger issue but not as much today as in the past.

the swtach library you are most likely talking about is the Pantone Library. do you have a guide in your office? there are other libraires but this is the mst common one used.

I would say all printers do spot color, there are actually some that only do spot color (like mine here on campus).

jimking · 10-11-2005, 07:51 PM

Spot color inks are more expensive than cmyk inks. But a spot color job can be cheaper than 4/cp. for example if it's a 2spot color job then the printer only needs to produce 2 films and 2 plates for press. If the printer is using direct to plate than its only 2plates no film. If it's 4/cp than double the amount of materials. As far as spot colors in illustrator or PS these programs have Pantone libraries in them. You should get yourself a pantone book.

Mynock · 10-11-2005, 07:52 PM

Spot color can be expensive depending on the ink what the printer uses.

jimking · 10-11-2005, 07:59 PM

Originally posted by defjoe

typically spot color printing is cheaper cause your using one or 2 colors as oppossed to 4 colors (talking the actual ink here). Trapping is a bigger issue but not as much today as in the past.

the swtach library you are most likely talking about is the Pantone Library. do you have a guide in your office? there are other libraires but this is the mst common one used.

I would say all printers do spot color, there are actually some that only do spot color (like mine here on campus).

What would drive the price up would be 4/cp+spot colors. Also we consider varnishes as a extra color because of additional plates needed.

PersonasBinar · 10-11-2005, 07:59 PM

even on a CMYK press you can run a four spot job ..just means cleaning and running new inks is all.

jimking · 10-11-2005, 08:06 PM

Originally posted by PersonasBinar

even on a CMYK press you can run a four spot job ..just means cleaning and running new inks is all.

That's true. You can put anything in the ink well. Often times we will recieve a job with a large solid spot color on it. Even though it's one color we may add a 60% second hit of that color to make a nice solid at no extra charge.

PersonasBinar · 10-11-2005, 08:21 PM

I've had users design the spot in CYAN@100... re: PUBLISHER users pre-pantone support

rickself · 10-11-2005, 08:48 PM

One thing to consider when you're planning a spot color job and what application to build it in. If it's a 2 or 3 color job, built in PSD, using the CMYK channels to build it. The press doesn't give a squirrels peanut what color you build the file in, as long as it separates correctly. And you can make it easier on yourself (and, ok, the prepress guy) by using the 4 process channels instead of struggling with spot colors in PSD. The drawback is that the client will have trouble visualizing the spot colors!!

jimking · 10-11-2005, 08:58 PM

Originally posted by rickself

One thing to consider when you're planning a spot color job and what application to build it in. If it's a 2 or 3 color job, built in PSD, using the CMYK channels to build it. The press doesn't give a squirrels peanut what color you build the file in, as long as it separates correctly. And you can make it easier on yourself (and, ok, the prepress guy) by using the 4 process channels instead of struggling with spot colors in PSD. The drawback is that the client will have trouble visualizing the spot colors!!

What rick is saying is if you picked 3 spot color- Pantone Moe, Pantone Larry and Pantone Curly and used Magenta,black,Cyan and if it seperates correctly, the printers will assign Moe, Larry, and Curly to your process colors. It's all about seperations. Yep Yep Yep

rickself · 10-11-2005, 09:01 PM

Soitenly!! Now yer speaking Stoogese...somethin we can ALL understand. Nyuk nyuk nyuk.

rickself · 10-11-2005, 09:02 PM

Just don't pick Pantone Shemp...it will never print right!

PrintDriver · 10-12-2005, 02:19 PM

Is the printer a large format vendor?
Then spot colors and CMYK colors do cost about the same. Actually, we can't hit CMYK specs so it can cost more to nail your CMYK color build without a spot reference.

Spot color printing versus CMYK

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