The 4 color process system of printing uses 4 different primary inks to simulate a near full spectrum of colors by using various dot sizes when printed. These 4 colors (often referred to as process colors) are Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black. Originally created for printing color photography, it didn’t take long to incorporate it into the printed graphics you see today.

When you submit a color design to be printed in 4 color, here is what happens:

• The color design is separated into 4 different digital Black and White images, each representing 1 of the process colors and how much of that color exists in each part of your design.
• Each of these digital B&W images is then exposed onto B&W film using a laser beam in a machine called an Imagesetter.
• Once developed, these 4 different pieces of film are used to burn 4 separate plates, each one of 1 of the process colors as it is found in your design.
• These plates are then put on the press where they sequentially lay down the inks for each of the 4 process colors.

If your job is printed using spot colors, that means that a pre-mixed ink color (commonly called a PMS, or Pantone color) is used to print each plate of the image. These colors can be selected from printed samples (swatch booklets), and matched with extreme accuracy. Because each color must be printed with a separate plate (on the printing press) the fewer colors needed to print the job, the less expensive it will be, and vice versa. The limitation of this method of printing is that it can only handle solid patches of color. Blends and gradients do not print well, and full color photographs are simply out of the question.

For the sake of simplicity this method of printing is only an option for phone in orders, and not on our online ordering system. If you know that you need to use this method of printing for your job, or have questions, please call us:
1-800-555-4885.

The PANTONE® Matching System (PMS) is the dominant spot color printing system in the United States. Printers use a special mix of ink to achieve the color needed. Each spot color in the Pantone system is assigned a name or a number. There are over a thousand Pantone spot colors available.

Pantone swatch books — printed samples of ink - come in coated, uncoated, and matte finishes. You use these swatch books or color guides to find the desired spot color for the type of paper used in your project. Software programs such as Photoshop and QuarkXPress contain color palettes for various printing systems, including PANTONE colors.

If you have access to a Pantone swatch booklet and want to use spot colors for your print job please call us:
1-800-555-4885

At Frontline Printing we use the Internet as the standard method for sending your proof to you. This is a great way to get your job faster, handle changes faster, and decrease printing costs. However not everyone’s monitor is calibrated in the same way.

What this means is that if you need to be very particular about exact color on a print job, you may opt for a hard copy proof mailed to you. Color match prints are the most accurate hard copy proof we can send, and what we recommend for jobs needing exact color matching.

Color match prints are made from the actual film that will get used to print your job. They show you almost exactly how your design will look when it comes off the press, however they are costly and more time consuming. If you think you may need a color match print, or have questions on pricing please call us:
1-800-555-4885

If your design has areas that contain large areas of black or if one element of your design needs to look truly pitch black, you may consider using what is called an enriched black. Enriched black contains 100% of all 4 process colors cyan, magenta, yellow and black, rather than just black. This tends to produce a deeper black especially in large solid areas of black which might otherwise look a bit grayish.

To create an enriched black simply make sure the color you are using in your design application has 100% of Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black.

If you are using colored text in your design please consider making it at least 10pt in size or make it out of only one of the process colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow or Black. This will help ensure your text comes out completely crisp and sharp from the press.