The Printing Process & Ink Colors

There are two ways to get your project produced. Digitally and with Lithography.

Digital: This is the process of sending your finished files to a digital output device such as a computer printer, copier, plotter or other digital device. These devices takes your file and then in a single process using toner or special ink transfer your file digitally onto the finished paper stock. This process increases in quality and speed every year. This process can be costly in high quantity.

Lithography: This is the process of taking your finished file or camera ready art and producing a negative and then a metal printing plate, or direct to plate; then mounting the plate onto a printing press. The press, using water and ink will transfer the image to a rubber blanket, then to the paper using a tolerance of about .004" squeeze between each transfer. There are many variables in this process from paper variables, machine variables through climate variables. But the quality of the finished product by far make this the best process for your project. This process can be costly in low quantity.

Ink Colors: Ink colors only come into play when lithography is used to produce your project. Digital output can produce colors close to desired colors but not exact. Ink used in lithography is made using a worldwide standard in the commercial printing field. The Pantone Matching System is a set of colors used as reference in the field, each color has has a formula like a recipe that everyone can follow to end up with the same color every time. There are base colors used for mixing that include black, white, blues, greens, reds and yellow.

Spot Colors: By selecting a PMS color and preparing your art files or camera ready artwork for separation you can mix the desired color and print each item the color you would like. This process requires art and or film, and a printing plate for each color desired. When a large number of colors are desired, the process usually changes to "Process Color" or full color printing.

Process Color: When you want to print a project with many colors or in actual life colors you will be required to print in process color format. This process uses 4 colors to give the look of millions of colors. This process requires a digital file that is sent to an image setter that outputs directly on negatives, or directly on the printing plate itself. The four colors used in process printing are Black, Cyan, Magenta and Yellow. The art is transformed into small dots that are arranged in a manor the you have an optical illusion of seeing many colors. For instance, if the a cyan and yellow dot the same size are right next to each other your eye will see green, by making one of the dots smaller or farther apart from each other the color you see will change. To print using this process a printing company would need equipment and an operator that is able to handle the tight registration needed for the illusion. Everything must be printed exactly right for the illusion to be effective. This is why this process can be more expensive then most other printing processes.

Always remember we are here to answer your questions about your printing project. We will guide you through the decisions that need to be made to insure you get the product you are really looking for.