Advantages of Full-Color Imprints

Some of the biggest challenges with ordering promotional products often stem from the logo itself. Details like the shape, colors and size of text can make it difficult and costly to print some logos. As printing technology increases though, many of these factors have become less of an issue.

One of the biggest game changers in the Ad Specialties industry in recent years has been the improvement of printing 4-color process. Often referred to as CMYK, process or digital printing, it involves the separation of any full-color image into percentages of four main colors - Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black. The colors are then transferred to a printing press where they are laid down sequentially to recreate the full color image.

4-color process is the most accurate form of color printing available and has long been used in the production of magazines, brochures and other paper products. Recent improvements to the technology have made it possible to use various forms of digital printing on a much wider range of materials. Some of these materials include ceramic, plastic, metal and even some fabrics.

There are a number of different methods of digital printing being utilized today, such as dye-sublimation, transfers and direct-to-garment. While each method of process printing is executed a little different, they all offer the same benefits.
1. They can print an unlimited number of colors.
2. They can produce an extremely detailed, complex or photographic image.
3. They allow for variable data to be printed, such as individual names.

Not only does this technology make it possible to print difficult logos, but it can also be a lot less expensive. When printing in spot colors, each ink color is printed individually. If a logo has 4 colors, the item will get run through the printer 4 separate times. This is why multi-color logos incur a setup charge for every ink color. These setup charges typically run anywhere from $35-$75 per color, which can quickly increase the overall cost of an order. 4-color process printing allows an unlimited amount of colors to be printed with just a single setup charge, making it especially cost effective when ordering smaller quantities.

While improvements in digital printing have opened a lot of doors for ordering promotional products, there are also some disadvantages. One of the biggest problems when dealing with custom logos is that CMYK methods have a difficult time matching specific PMS colors. Keep in mind that if an exact color match is required to meet corporate branding guidelines, spot color printing may still be the best option.