What is the difference between CMYK and Spot Color Printing?Updated 2 years ago
The main difference between CMYK and Spot color printing is the number of colors being printed and the way that those colors work together to create the design.
CMYK is a 4-color process made of Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black that all come together to give the visual impression of a color, image or design. By using these four print colors, you can create any amount of color combinations by using only four plates or by using toner. CMYK is often best used for full color designs or to print images within your design.
Spot color can be any number of colors–although it’s often maxed out at 4–that are solid, pre mixed, often to match a Pantone color, and printed individually. Spot color often has a richer, smoother appearance, especially for large areas of color, and is best for more simple designs. CMYK is often more adaptable as it can create complex, multi-color designs with just the use of four colors.
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