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
How do color printing options like 4/0 and 4/4 affect pricing?
Answer
Full-color printing uses the CMYK process (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black), which reproduces the full spectrum of colors in most artwork. What actually changes the price is not the number of colors but how many sides you print.
Printers describe this with a two-number shorthand, front over back:
| Notation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 4/0 | Full color on the front, nothing on the back |
| 4/1 | Full color front, single ink (often black) on the back |
| 4/4 | Full color on both sides |
- The price difference reflects the printing done on each side, not an extra charge per color.
- Printing the back, going from 4/0 to 4/4, adds cost because it is more ink and another pass.
Ready to order?
Get your standard business cards printed at 4OVER4
