Your NH Print Shop Is Talking Spot Color vs. Four Color

Serving Nashua since 1982, your favorite NH print shop, The Print Factory, has seen and heard it all. However, we often find that some questions are more prevalent than others. For instance, what is the difference between spot color and the four-color process? Living in a digital world, the world of printing can sometimes seem overwhelming. But, when it comes to this question, the answer is as simple as this.

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Spot Colors

Colors created without screens or dots are referred to as spot or solid colors in the printing industry. From a palette of 14 primary colors, each of the spot colors in the Pantone matching system is mixed according to its unique ink mixing formula, developed by Pantone. The Pantone system is a unique system for color matching, utilizing a number system to identify the colors so that manufacturers worldwide can rely on one system to identify color so that there is uniformity without ever having to come in contact with one another. The most commonly used are in the Pantone solid palette. This system consists of 1114 colors identified by three or four digit numbers and a letter prefix. Without this system, a print shop in NH would have to carry thousands of different ink colors.

Process Colors

Process colors are represented as percentages of cyan, magenta, yellow and black. Varying the percentages of each of these colors offers thousands of color possibilities. This method of achieving color imprinting is called CMYK, four-color process, 4C process, or even just process. The biggest drawback to CMYK is that there is no standardization. It varies by print house and printer operator.

Although the first three letters stand for the first three tones used, the K at the end stands for key. Because in a four-color process, cyan, magenta, and yellow printing plates are keyed or aligned with the key of the black key plate. Since black results from a combination of colored ink, black or dark colors are produced by using black ink instead of cyan, magenta and yellow for cost purposes. 

Simplicity With Your Favorite NH Print Shop

If you are interested in quality print services done by a reputable team at a print shop in NH, contact The Print Factory. With attention to detail and professionalism, our team provides you with the highest quality and the most personalized service that you deserve. For more information, call us today at 603-880-4519.