The complexity involved in color and how big of a difference various color profiles can make on your print project is something you’ll want to pay attention to. Is there a specific shade of orange or blue that is included in your logo? Depending on who created your logo, your color scheme may include CMYK colors, PMS colors, or both!
CMYK Colors or Process Colors
The term CMYK refers to the four ink colors that make up the schema: cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, which is considered the key color. This particular model mixes together the three primary colors and includes black to produce darker shades. To create an image, printers define four separate plates that make up a full image. One plate is used for each of the four colors (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) and is designed to lay down a very specific amount of pigment on the image. While this may sound like a simple way to print, it has worked effectively for hundreds of years.
PMS Colors
PMS (or Pantone Matching System) colors are slightly different than CMYK colors because they are mixed before they are applied to a surface. The pure spot color, or PMS color, is a mixed ink that allows for a wider range of reproduced colors than the CMYK spectrum. Each PMS color contains a unique hue, which can be matched by a number that is associated with the Pantone Matching System of swatches. PMS inks are not laid in a dot pattern but can be screened in a halftone to produce a variety of shades.
How to Avoid Unexpected Results.
It is important that you don’t use PMS Spot colors in your artwork design if you intend to print your piece using CMYK 4-color process. When designing for CMYK 4-color process, it is always a good idea to refer to the Pantone Process Book and then use the Process color that is closest to the desired PMS Spot color. Otherwise when your PMS Spot color is converted to a CMYK Process color to create printed output, it could yield a result you weren’t expecting. If in doubt, always consult with your printer before getting too deep into your project.