Pantone color printing and CMYK color printing are usually combined in the print and produce process for fantastic packages, which are intended to achieve the best effect at the lowest cost. Most customers would like to achieve fantastic print effect for their coffee bag packages, as it is so tightly connected with the branding. As a reliable and experienced flexible converter and package print services supplier, here we are going to explain what is Pantone color printing and CMYK color printing, and how they perform in actual packages.
CMYK Color Printing
CMYK color print refers to the print process achieved with four basic color: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black. When we decide to print the customer artwork in CMYK color mode, the artwork (usually in Illustrator, Photoshop or PDF files) will have to be separated in these 4 basic colors, with each color overlapping against the other, so it can present most of the colors concerning with figures, physical objects, scenery, text, etc
As you can observe from the below picture, the montain on the upper part, and the apple images on the lower part are realized in CMYK printing.
Pantone Color Printing
A pantone color (which is also called spot color) is very specific exact color numbered in the Pantone Color Matching system, and you can see the brochure of the Pantone Color Collection in below picture, that is usually the standard for color exactness in printing, graphic arts, textile industry, etc.
To print the Pantone color, the first step is to get the specific ink that is able to realize the exact color on the clear substrate film. In actual print process for the coffee bags, the specific ink will be held in the ink tank that is positioned below the print cylinder, and the lower part of the print cylinder will be able to be immersed into ink tank, and achieve the print process.
In actual produce, usually there are two ways to realize the spot color ink, the most common and lower cost is CMYK ink mix, and when the customer ordr has strict requirements for the spot color, then specialized ink may have to be issued from the ink manufacturer, such as gold spot color.
Usually, the #2 option needs the order to be large enough to cover the mininum order quantity when the ink producer supply the specialized ink to us.
So it may come easily for the customers to understand that the print cost for Pantone color would be a little higher, as of the higher waste with Pantone ink leftover in the tank when the order is finished. And this Pantone color is rarely able to be used in the print of other orders.
Pantone Color Print Applications
With specific color effect, Pantone color print is able to create a solid color in contrast to the surrounding colors, so it is quite suitable to print a solid base, especially a large block of solid area, such as the blue front background for the Lifeboost coffee bags 12oz volume.
CMYK Color Print Applications
CMYK color print is able to realize most of the colors of the objects in our daily life, such as the image of coffee beans, it would need to be printed in CMYK mode.
The below graphic shows the sequence for printing CMYK colors.
The different on final effect
Pantone color print and CMYK print are going to present different final effect even with the same color number, as you can see the below picture, it is the front and back artwork printed in the same color. You can easily figure out the difference.
Video Explanation
Ok, that’s all we need to say regarding Pantone color print and CMYK print, of course, we are going to share more cases in the future. you are welcome to reach us if you have any further questions.