Topic 4 ยท Colour
Black, CMYK and Pantone
The short answerThere are three ways to print: black only, CMYK full colour, or Pantone (PMS) spot colours. You can mix them.
Did you know?
Pantone is priced like full colour, so one spot colour costs a little more than plain black.
The details
Black is grayscale: ink laid down in dots, and the smaller the dots, the lighter the grey. CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) is full colour, with one offset plate per colour. Pantone (PMS) uses a separate plate mixed to match a specific colour. Pantone can be added to black (2/2) or to CMYK (5/5). Pantone is priced as full colour, so it costs a little more.
Pop quiz
In CMYK, which letter stands for black?
Common questions
Can I combine black, CMYK and Pantone in the same project?
Yes, you can mix them. A Pantone plate can be added to your custom setup. Adding a Pantone colour may affect the price of your project.
When is it worth adding a Pantone colour?
When an exact brand colour matters. Pantone colours add cost. Offset printing gives a better PMS colour match than print on demand and prints more consistently.
Keep exploring
Still deciding?
Our print team will talk it through with you, or get an instant quote.
Our print team will talk it through with you, or get an instant quote.
