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Print: manufacturing

Four-Color Process ("Full Color")

This is when an image is broken into 4 basic colors (CMYK) e.g. color photos. These colors are cyan, magenta, yellow and black.

All "full-color" printing where photographic images are accurately reproduced is really made up of only four ink colors - cyan, magenta, yellow and black - which are then mixed in various percentages to achieve a full palette of colors, including the "continuous tone" of photographic images. Four-color separation is the process in scanning when a photographic image is recreated using the four process colors. In addition, a full gamut of accent colors or background colors can be achieved through this process. However, the process does have limitations, and certain particular hues and shades are difficult to recreate using four-color process printing. In these cases, you'll need to specify a spot color (see below).

Spot Color Printing with PMS Colors

When matching a particular color is critical, you can achieve it by using specific inks. The Pantone Matching System (PMS) is the worldwide standard for ink colors, and provides a vast array of different shades, including many different metallic and day-glow shades, both of which must be printed using this method. Spot color printing is used for simple one or two color jobs, but spot colors can also be added to a four-color process job when metallic color is desired or a specific color must be exactly reproduced. This is referred to as "adding a fifth color" and does increase cost somewhat. Depending on the press being used, it may be possible to add a sixth or seventh color as well. One limitation with spot colors, including day-glow and metallic, is that they are difficult to reproduce in a final proof. They are usually approximated in the proofing process, and you need to always refer to the appropriate Pantone matching guide to see how the color will actually print.

IMPORTANT NOTE ON SPECIFYING PMS COLORS How ink will look on your final printed piece is in large part determined by the coating on the paper you've chosen. The Pantone Matching System offers exact numbered color samples for coated, uncoated and now-even matte paper. For example, PMS186C is a Pantone red for coated paper, while PMS186U is a Pantone red for uncoated paper. If you compare the two samples, you'll see that they are noticeably different because of how paper absorbs the ink (and how light reflects off coated surfaces). Please refer to the appropriate Pantone color guide for the paper you are printing on.

Matching Rare and Unusual Colors Occasionally a customer will have a fabric sample or other object that doesn't match any of the Pantone shades. Talon International can custom-match many of these requests with specially mixed inks. An ink draw down is provided to show how it will print.

Offset Printing (Lithography)

For Both Four-Color Process & Spot-Color Printing, this is by far the most common printing process today, used for everything from color magazines to photography books, as well as the majority of paper trim. Offset printing offers highly sharp photographic images and crisp type, with full access to both four-color process and spot PMS colors. Talon International uses high-quality, state-of-the-art printing presses with computer- aided registration.