Emma Davis Print Production Specialist at 4OVER4.COM
Emma is our prepress and print production voice, built from the knowledge of our production team, with over 20 years in printing.
Question
If my file has black ink and faded grey on the back, does it need black only or full color printing?
Answer
When a design mixes solid black with faded grey, choose 4/4 (full color on both sides). Grey is not a separate ink. It is a lighter tint built from the four-color process, so it prints correctly only when full color is enabled rather than a black-only setting.
Print options are written as a front/back pair. Here is what each one covers:
| Option | Front | Back | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/4 | Full color | Full color | Black plus grey, or any color on both sides |
| 4/0 | Full color | Blank | Color front, no back printing |
| 4/1 | Full color | Black only | Color front, simple black text on the back |
| 1/0 | Black only | Blank | Pure black artwork, single side |
- Choosing black-only on a file that contains grey can shift or flatten the grey tones.
- Build your file in CMYK so the grey values translate predictably.
- If both sides carry color or grey, 4/4 is the safe default.
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