On-press
Common Questions Q: If I convert my Pantone spot colors
to CMYK, will you be able to match the original Pantone color
on press? A: Matching Pantone spot colors
using CMYK screen-built equivalents is not an exact science.
The Pantone formulas come closer with some colors than others.
For most projects, the screen builds are fine. If you need an
exact match to a corporate standard or to some other piece already
printed with a PMS color, it is advisable to run the job “cmyk
+ spot”. For more information on the Pantone Matching
System, go to www.pantone.com.
Pantone sells a color chart that compares original spot colors
with their CMYK equivalents, side by side. Purchasing this guide
is a wise investment if you use Pantone colors as a basis for
color work in your layout files.
Q: Should I print my job on coated
or uncoated paper? A: If you are printing in multiple colors,
have halftones, CMYK images, or heavy solids, coated papers
generally yield better results. Because uncoated papers absorb
more ink than coated ones, projects printed on uncoated paper
can suffer from excessive “dot gain,” which causes
an overall darkening of images, reduction in contrast, and loss
of detail.
Q: Why doesn’t the proof
you gave me look like my color laser comp? A: Laser printers are not calibrated
to produce CMYK or Pantone colors accurately. Our high-resolution
digital proofer gives a much more accurate representation of
the color definition in your file than your laser printer, and
will be a closer match to what you see on the press. If you
like the color of the laser comp better than what you see in
our proof, you may need to alter the color definitions in your
file. For more information about the Pantone Matching System,
go to www.pantone.com.
Q: Can I use a metallic ink on my job? A: Metallics are a mixture of metal
flakes and varnish and are generally used to best effect on
coated papers. Since they are more susceptible to scuffing than
standard inks, a varnish coat is advisable. Avoid designs that
call for trapping a metallic to a process ink. Process inks
are transparent; metallics are opaque. Because they transmit
light differently, trapping a metallic to a process ink can
produce a graying effect.
