Living in a CMYK World
By Debbie Comer
The purpose of the CMYK process is to reproduce full-color photographic images. It is comprised of 4 inks placed on paper in layers of dots to combine to create the illusion of many more colors. CMYK colors are used in a wide variety of print materials, including magazines and newspapers. Their limitation includes color inconsistency – the same color may turn out differently even when the same color appears on multiple pages or on the same page.
CMYK usage:
- Full-color photographs
- Complex graphics that include multiple colors
Spot colors, also known as the Pantone Matching System (PMS) is a system of pre-mixed inks. One ink color is chosen for each color in the publication. This is a similar system to that of house paints – each color corresponds to a number and a swatch sample. This color matching system ensures the consistency that is lacking with the CMYK 4-color process system.
Spot color usage:
- Precise color matching for logos and branding
- Covering a large area – focusing on consistency and saturation
- More vibrant hues and precise shades
- Special effects like fluorescent, pastel, or metallic colors
Knowing the difference between CMYK and PMS matching inks makes all of the difference in accurately adapting computer and web-based documents into beautiful printed pieces. Ask the printing experts at JPT Graphics if you have any questions about which color process works best for your printing needs.