Special finishes course – special inks
Special inks
Special inks can be used to create colours that are unobtainable from mixing conventional process colours (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black). They can also be used as a means to reduce the number of inks used in a job. For example, you could have an entirely green book cover and create it from Cyan and Yellow which would make it a 2 colour job or simply pick a green Pantone to make it 1 colour.
Things to consider
- Pantone inks should be selected from a Pantone swatch library. Pantone+ Solid coated or Pantone+ Solid uncoated depending on which stock you are printing on. InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator have Pantone libraries built in.
- Pantone inks can be tinted, graduated and feathered.
- Pantone inks can be set to overprint or knock out depending on your desired effect. Always check with Overprint Preview switched on.
- Metallic inks have a reduced effect when printed on uncoated paper.
- Metallic inks have a reduced effect when tinted, graduated or feathered.
- Non-metallic inks look weak/translucent when overprinting solid (100% tint) areas of metallic inks. This is why it’s often recommended to knock out black text instead of overprinting it in order to keep it looking black.
- White ink can be created as a spot colour with a CMYK breakdown. Making the CMYK breakdown a vibrant colour can make it easier to view on screen than a white, especially when set to overprint.