Best Color & Stock/Coating Pairings For Print

Best Color & Stock/Coating Pairings For Print

 

 

 

 

In printing, stocks and coatings have different properties that affect print color results. Some colors will look better than others on certain stocks and coatings. This is not to say that printing other colors will necessarily look bad, but it does mean that there are certain pairings that work better.

So, here are some suggested combinations to help the design in your file look its best when printed.

Black + Spot UV

We admit that black isn’t technically a color, but it is in print. The darkness and uniformity of the black (make it a rich black comprised of all 4 CMYK values), will emphasize the spot UV.

What about white? Some UV coatings have a slight color, which could make the white not as pure as your clients probably intended their white to be.

Low Coverage Colors + Uncoated Stock

Uncoated stock tends to soak in the ink, which can make the colors look muddier. Offsetting is also a common issue, especially where ink coverage is high. To minimize this, use lower values for each CMYK color that is in your artwork. If possible, use fewer color values. For example, instead of using all four CMYK colors to create your gray, opt to use just a K value.

Dark Colors + Metallic Foil

Metallic foil is not exactly a stock or coating, but it does deserve its own color pairing. Two of the most popular metallic foils are gold and silver, and they make a design pop because they’re not regular CMYK colors. Contrast these reflective metallics against dark backgrounds such as black, dark blue, dark purple, or dark green.

Light Colors + Pearl Paper

Pearl paper has a special shimmer when you view it at certain angles under the light. The shimmer of pearlescent stock has a color of its own, often a slight beige-and-silver or a pinkish hue. This stock will show a little through the ink, so we suggest colors that make the most of the stock itself. Pastel colors such as light blue, pink, and pale yellow do the trick.

Black & White + Kraft Paper

Kraft paper is brown and textured. Made from recycled paper, it will likely contains bits of materials in the stock that are not the same color as the rest of the paper. Since the stock color is not uniform, you’ll need high contrast colors without losing the intended homemade look of Kraft paper. For this reason, black and white work best.

If you’re going to print white ink, be sure to set your file up properly according to your workflow or the requirements of your print supplier.

Bright Colors + UV Coating

UV coating adds a smooth, shiny layer to the surface of your print. This layer reflects light to make your artwork look brighter. Take advantage of this light-reflecting property by using bright colors. Some of the brightest colors are solid CMY values: 100 cyan, 100 magenta or 100 yellow.

I want to print these products!

If you don’t currently offer these stocks or coatings, you can. You don’t even need to invest in any new equipment. The Print Cafe of LI, lets you test out how well products sell without risking thousands of dollars. You can order business cards in any of the stocks and coatings mentioned in this article online when you create an account. Go To:https://www.printcafeli.com/account/login.html

Trial & Error

We’ve suggested some pairings that produce the best print color results, but just as machinery differs as do human eyes, you may need to try different colors on various stocks and coatings to find what works best for you and your clients. Pulling physical samples is perhaps the best way to show yourself and your customers how inks interact with different substra.   

For Information On These Topics And Many Others Go To: www.printcafeli.com

Large Format Substrates Every Business Should Know

Large Format Substrates Every Business Should

        Know To Help Market Their Company

Coroplast

Coroplast is corrugated plastic. A good way to describe it to clients is to let them visualize a piece of cardboard made entirely out of plastic. The coroplast is available in different thicknesses. The most common ones are 4mm, 6mm, and 8mm.
Coroplast is generally used for signage such as yard signs, A-frame signs, and real estate hanging signs. It is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use because it’s sturdy, lightweight, and waterproof. The surface is also easy to clean.

Vinyl

Vinyl is a tough, flexible material made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin and mesh. There are many different types of vinyl that you can use to print anything from banners to wall decals. The weight, texture, denier (thickness of the threads), and weave density is different depending on the type of vinyl.
Some of the most common types of vinyl for banner printing are:

13oz Vinyl
This type of vinyl is often used for standard indoor or outdoor vinyl banners. It can have a matte or glossy finish. The matte finish is particularly good for reducing glare.

Adhesive Vinyl
The adhesive can be permanent or removable. Always test its adhesive/removable properties first before applying it to a large area.

Perforated Vinyl
This type of vinyl has tiny holes in it that allow light to pass through. It’s perfect for window graphics because it allows passersby to see your message without considerably impacting the lighting of your store.

Mesh Scrim Vinyl
This type of vinyl allows for air to pass through, which makes this material ideal for windier outdoor areas. It’s usually printed with a backer that is peeled off before use.

Foam Board

Foam boards are amazingly lightweight for their bulky size. They work great indoors as trade show signage or displays, but we don’t recommend them for outdoor use as they can also be damaged easily. A common foam board stock that large format printers print on is 4mm foam core (approximately 0.16”).

Styrene

Styrene is a light but durable plastic material. Some of the most common styrene materials are thin enough to be flexible (such as the popular 20pt styrene), so they can be rolled for storage or transportation, but don’t fold them or they’ll crack. They are waterproof and have strong scratch-resistance.

Sintra

Sintra is made from PVC and is waterproof just like styrene, but the surface of Sintra boards are a little easier to scratch. It is, however, still a popular choice for smaller outdoor signage. You can also cut and scored Sintra easily.

3mm is one of the most common thicknesses of printed Sintra. At this thickness, it cannot be rolled but its lightness still makes it easy to transport.

Magnet

Large format printing produces car magnets that turn an unbranded vehicle into a moving advertisement. Magnets are measured in mils (1 mil = 0.001”), with 30 mils as one of the most common thicknesses.
Make sure a magnet stays safely on a vehicle by adding rounded corners. This helps it cling to the car better. You should never use car magnets with bent corners as this increases their chances of falling off.

Canvas

Canvas is a strong, coarse cloth often associated with art? Storage and transportation for canvas are easy because you can roll it or fold it lightly. It comes in different weights, thicknesses, and textures depending on the materials in the weave.
Some clients may want to wrap their canvas around a frame. In this case, you should leave approximately 1 inch for the wrap.

For More Information On Any Of These Substrates Please Call 516-561-1468 or Visit The Print Cafe of LI Website:www.printcafeli.com