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 does 4OVER4 count ink colors when printing?
Answer
4OVER4 prints in CMYK, so ink coverage is described by how many of the four process colors run on each side. Because black in this process is built on the same four color press, single color black is counted as four colors.
| Notation | Meaning | How it counts |
|---|---|---|
| 4/1 | Four colors front, one color back | Black side still shows as four colors |
| 4/4 | Four colors both sides | Full color front and back |
That is why a 4/1 job and a 4/4 job can both list black as four colors on your invoice. It reflects the CMYK press, not extra ink you did not request.
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