Printing

Single-sided or double-sided, one or multiple PMS colors (with or without color change), full-color printing: When it comes to printing, the options vary per product. Read here what these printing types entail and what the differences are.

Solid Colors

Roller Marks

When printing solid colors, 'roller marks' can occur. In offset printing, roller marks are related to the ink roller system and its distribution. In digital and inkjet printing, this is caused by the buildup of the image in phases (print paths). Unfortunately, this cannot always be prevented and will be more noticeable with some colors than others.

Lamination

Laminating solid colors can result in poorer adhesion for rush orders. Since the ink may not be fully dry, the laminate might not adhere properly. This is especially important if it also needs to be creased, as the drying time is crucial for the best result.

Paper Dust

When choosing an uncoated material in combination with HP Indigo printing technology, there is a greater chance of paper dust in your print. This is caused by the HP Indigo using a static blanket to build up the print, and relatively more paper dust is released with uncoated materials.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What are PMS colors?

The Pantone Matching System (PMS) consists of more than 1100 colors with a unique code that can generally be found on the worldwide known Pantone color fan. Thanks to this universal color coding, printers worldwide can make exactly the same color. PMS colors are mainly used for specific color shades that must always be the same. This can be thought of as corporate identity printing.

Color Difference Conditions: 2 Points of Attention

Each color type has two variants: one for use on smooth, coated paper types (letter code: C) and one for uncoated paper types (letter code: U). Although the color code is identical in this case, a color on an uncoated paper type can look very different than on a coated paper type. This is because paper types with a coating absorb less ink. As a result, colors on coated paper types appear brighter and fresher. Uncoated paper types absorb much more ink, which can make dark colors appear duller.

The color of the background also affects the color reproduction. A paper type with a yellowish tint will give a different result than a very white paper type, even if the color printed on it is exactly the same. So, do you want to minimize the chance of color differences? Always choose the same type of paper.

What does 1/0, 2/2, 4/0 etc. mean?

CMYK

If you choose full color, you usually have two options:

• 4/0 = full color/unprinted (single-sided printing)
• 4/4 = full color/full color (double-sided printing)

The numbers before and after the '/' indicate whether the product can be printed single-sided or double-sided. All colors used in your design are converted to full color.

For some products, it is possible to use (opaque) white in addition to the four CMYK colors. A functional reason to use opaque white, for example with acrylic (plexiglass), is to minimize show-through. Additionally, white as a printing color can also serve a decorative purpose. Here you can think of a striking white design printed on black paper. In both cases, white is considered an extra color:

• 5/0 + white = full color + white/unprinted (single-sided printing)
• 5/5 + white = full color + white/full color + white (double-sided printing)

PMS - Standard Printing

With PMS colors, these numbers do not indicate two things: whether the product can be printed single-sided or double-sided (1) and how many PMS colors you can use in total (2). With single-sided printing, the number of PMS colors you can print on the front is before the '/'. The 0 after the '/' indicates that the back is not printed.

• 1/0 = 1 PMS color/unprinted (single-sided printing)
• 2/0 = 2 PMS colors/unprinted (single-sided printing)
• Etc.

With double-sided PMS printing, the same number appears on both sides of the '/'. This means that the chosen color(s) and the number of different PMS colors on the front and back are the same. In other words: with a standard PMS printing, it is not possible to print one PMS color on the front and two different PMS colors on the back of your print.

• 1/1 = double-sided printing with 1 PMS color (the same color for both sides)
• 2/2 = double-sided printing with 2 PMS colors (the same two colors for both sides)
• Etc.

PMS with Color Change

For some products, you can choose PMS printing with a color change. This means that per side (front/back) you can choose which PMS colors you want to use and how many.

• 1/1 with color change = 1 PMS color/1 PMS color (these can be two different colors)
• 2/1 with color change: 2 PMS colors/1 PMS color (a total of 3 different PMS colors)
• Etc.

What is the difference between PMS and CMYK?

The Pantone Matching System (PMS) and full color (CMYK) are both color systems used for printing. The differences and main characteristics are outlined below.

PMS

• Each PMS color has a unique number that refers to a specific color from the Pantone Matching System.
• The PMS system is universal, ensuring that the color result is always nearly the same everywhere.*
• Colors are made before printing.

CMYK

• Colors in this system are built up from cyan, magenta, yellow, and black.
• CMYK colors are applied in layers during printing.
• The color result is somewhat less predictable than PMS printing.

*Always consider the type of paper on which you print a color. A color can look different on different backgrounds (coated or uncoated, colored or white).

What are CMYK colors?

CMYK is standard for four-color printing, also known as full color. The first three letters of this abbreviation stand for the colors Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow. There are different stories about the abbreviation for K, which represents black. Some claim that K comes from the word 'black,' while others say that K stands for 'Key' (key). This refers to the underlying reason that 'K' is part of the CMYK system. If you print the first three basic colors (CMY) 100% over each other, you should theoretically get full black, but in practice, you get at most a dark brown color. To achieve black, 'K' was added to the series. This makes black the key (Key) to solving the CMY problem.

Depending on the color you want to achieve, a certain percentage of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black is applied over each other. These percentages can be found in the CMYK color code. "0, 80, 10, 10" stands for 0% cyan, 80% magenta, 10% yellow, and 10% black.

From RGB to CMYK

If you submit a design for printing in RGB colors (Red, Green, Blue), it must first be converted to CMYK. RGB is only suitable for displays with a light source, such as television or computer screens. Keep in mind that printed colors will always look less vibrant than colors on a screen!

Color Difference Conditions: 2 Points of Attention

There are two important factors that influence how a color is reproduced: the color and the surface of the background. A paper type with a yellowish tint will give a different result than a very white paper type, even if the color printed on it is exactly the same.

Additionally, a color on an uncoated paper type can look very different than on a coated paper type. This is because paper types with a coating absorb less ink. As a result, colors on coated paper types appear brighter and fresher. Uncoated paper types absorb much more ink, which can make dark colors appear duller. So, do you want to minimize the chance of color differences? Always choose the same type of paper.