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and appeal. If your budget is big enough then go with process or digital color. If
your budget is tight then consider these options.
Colored Paper: For limited budgets for quantities of 1500 or less, this is a good
choice. Papers come in a wide selection of colors, textures and weights. Using a
colored paper and black ink means lower set up and run costs so you get color at
a low price.
Colored Ink: Above 1500 sheets, colored ink on white paper may be a better
choice. The charge for colored ink is quickly overcome by the savings of white
paper. If you choose colored ink on colored paper, be aware that most colored
inks allow the color of the paper to show through. The two colors blend in the
eye to a darker color. The effect can be very attractive but if you need a specific
ink color for a logo, choose white paper.
Accent or Spot Color: The next step up in price is usually 2 colors of ink on a
white stock. Black for text and photos plus an accent color is a great
combination. Design effects like screens and blends provide a lot of variety. Two
colors are great. Three colors may not be better. Process color provides more
impact per dollar than 3 spot colors. Upgrade to process or digital color unless
there is a strong reason like "the boss insists".
Process Color: For marketing impact, process color captures and keeps attention
best. The terms full color, process color, 4 color or CMYK color refer to printing ink
dots of the 4 colors cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y) and black (K). To the eye,
the dots blend into text, colors and images. In offset printing, there is a set up
cost associated with separating a design into CMYK printing plates and for the
time required to get all 4 sets of dots to print in register so the design is
reproduced accurately. These set up costs make small jobs very expensive per
sheet. For long runs, set up costs are spread over more sheets and become less
important.
Digital Color: Our digital presses are great for small color jobs. Gloss papers and
heavy card stock are no longer big problems. More flexibility, higher quality and
lower costs make digital color more attractive for many short run jobs. You get
the benefits of process color at a much better price.
Design: Small design elements can influence printing, finishing and mailing costs
in a big way. Call us for free help with design and cost questions.