What is CMYK Printing?

As a packaging manufacturer, one of the most frequent questions we’ve been asking is: What’s CMYK Printing? What’s is full-color printing and offset printing? What should I do when I need my printed box to have the exact color that I was expecting?

Undoubtedly, it does sound like several question marks wandering around you, not just one question. Though it’s the same question when it comes to paper printing.

Why there is a slight or dramatic color difference between customers’ design artwork and the actual printed box? Especially if you are expecting a “neon” light shining colors and get confused when you get a much darker box on hand.

In Printing & packaging industry, there is a term called “CMYK Printing”. Also known as four-color printing and full-color printing. CMYK comes from cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, is majorly used in printing to identify itself from Pantone color printing, or let’s say, “Specific color Printing”. This word is rarely known by most graphic designers, not mentioning all other customers that never get involved in designing and printing.

To make it simple, we can interpret it into a similar explanation as RGB. RGB is an expression for color divisions on a computer screen while CMYK on the printing system. On Printpalance.com there is a detailed explanation for CMYK and how it comes from CMY to nowadays CMYK.

CMY will cover most lighter color ranges quite easily, compared to using RGB. However, CMY by itself can’t create very deep dark colors like “true black,” so black (designated “K” for “key color”) is added. This gives CMY a much wider range of colors compared to just RGB.

Therefore, as a brand owner, when you are planning design for your packaging box, do be reminded that the colors on your computer screen might have much difference when it comes to the printed box. Here comes the question, How to make sure that the color on your paper packaging will be exactly you are expecting and the same as your design graphic?

Method One: Convert the design into CMYK Printing when designing.

Here is a short video made by Printngpalance:

By this, you would have a much closer printed color as your artwork.

However, there will still be a slight color difference that might be bothering some designer that has extremely strict requirement on colors and visions. On most occasions, dark or “neutral colors” would have less difference compared to light and bright colors.

Method Two: Use Pantone Color.

Some customers have very high demands for color accuracy and strict color settings for their products and packaging. In these cases, we recommend using Pantone printing instead of CMYK printing.

Pantone printing offers a more precise color match compared to CMYK. Using Pantone colors for your design is like shopping in a retail store where you can see the actual color, rather than viewing it “online” in RGB format. This ensures the printed color matches the exact Pantone number you specified.

Although Pantone printing is more expensive than CMYK printing, the investment is worthwhile for brands that require premium packaging with consistent and exact color representation. This method provides peace of mind for designers and brand owners who prioritize color accuracy and brand integrity.

Conclusion

Understanding CMYK printing is crucial for achieving the desired color accuracy in your packaging. While CMYK is suitable for most printing needs, Pantone printing offers a higher level of precision for those who require exact color matches. By converting your designs to CMYK or opting for Pantone colors, you can ensure that the final printed product meets your expectations and maintains your brand’s integrity.

Ready to elevate your packaging with precise color accuracy? Contact us today to discuss your printing needs and find the best solution for your brand. Whether you choose CMYK or Pantone printing, we are here to help you create packaging that truly stands out.

What is CMYK Printing? — What can you do if you have strict requirement for colors?