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
What is spot color printing and how does it differ from CMYK?
Answer
The two methods reach color from opposite directions. Spot color lays down a single pre-mixed ink for each color, while CMYK builds every color from tiny dots of four process inks. That difference decides how accurate and how flexible each one is.
| Spot color | CMYK process | |
|---|---|---|
| How color is made | One pre-mixed ink per color | Four inks blended as dots |
| Accuracy | Exact and repeatable | Close approximation |
| Best for | Logos, brand colors, specialty inks | Photos, full-color art |
| Metallics / neon | Available | Not possible |
- Spot color is the choice when a color must match every time, like a corporate logo.
- CMYK is the choice when a design has many colors or photographic content.
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