A spot colour is a pre mixed ink, not CMYK. Spot inks can be many different colours, and also include specialist inks such as metallics, fluorescents and clear varnishes. Litho printing is the only technique that uses spot colours regularly. Litho printing makes use of printing plates for each of the colours that are used, and the inks are laid onto the paper in turn. In 4 colour process, there are plates for each of the CMYK, but it is just as easy to make plates that use spot colours, an addition to – or instead of – the 4 CMYK colours.
Why would you use it?
- It can work out to be cheaper, if you are working on a design that requires less than 4 colours, as setting up plates and the press is expensive and more time consuming.
- It produces colours that CMYK can't such as fluorescents, metallics and finishes.
- Colour matching, consistency in colour reproduction. This is useful in corporate branding as you would want all of your printed matter to be the same.
Spot colours are often catalogued in a system, with the most popular in the USA and UK being the Pantone Matching System. This is basically a catalogue of spot colours, each with code to make it easy to identify.
If wanting to use spot colours you would need to discuss with the printer before working digitally.
If a client wants you to work in specific colours, it is easy to search for the the reference number to get exactly what they want.
If you are using spot colours you shouldn't edit any information as the printers need this so that they can make up the specific ink that you want.
Spot colours only really value for offset print, other print methods like laser will try and match. This is why spot colouring is a commercial print method, I wouldn't be using for my publication, but it is useful knowledge to know.
RESOURCE:
- Illustrator workshop
- https://www.auraprint.uk/blog/what-is-spot-colour/
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