Printing Colors and Plate Charges

Many clients usually can not understand the printing colors and plate charges, while purchasing the packaging bags,

In particular, the clients don’t know how to calculate the printing plate charges.

We analyzed the composition of the plate charges in the article “2 Tips About The Printing Plate Charge” before

So, in order to reduce the printing risk and effectively control the cost, we must understand the effect of printing colors on the plate charges

1、Difference Between Spot Color And CMYK Four-color Printing

Spot Color Printing: Use the ink of the specified color(like PMS), cover printing ink directly to the packaging pouches, keep it will remain exactly the same with printing.

It features a wide range of color, much more than RGB color range and CMYK printing colors range, no transparency. if the amount of printed color is less, such as 1~3 colors, the cost is relatively low.

CMYK Four-color Printing: {Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black(Key Plate)}

Rely on four-color ink overlay each other to produce color, means the color image must through four different colors system of dots together (C, M, Y, K)

usually the color images (not including one or two solid colors image) all can be mixed by four-color printing, suitable for printing complex color packaging bags,

CMYK ink has transparency, so some light-colored need to spot color printing, such as white color, if not, the white will become dirty, not pure. That’s why supplier will tell you that you will have to pay five plate charges, if your CMYK design with one white color.

Spot Color & CMYK Mixed Printing: In your design printing file, including the spot color process and the CMYK four-color printing process.

PS: In printing, CMYK printing is Composited target colors through these four colors. Spot color printing is not Composited by these four colors, just a particular ink to printing the color.

For better to reducing the total cost , simple color printing packaging bags ,use spot color process.

For example, one packaging bag only need to print orange

If use CMYK four-color printing , it will be required by 2 colors dots (red, yellow) ;

but spot color process, just need use the specified orange ink printing, not only good effect, and the price is also cheap.

2、How To Calculate The Plate Charges Of Printing Colors?

Let’s begin with a easy to understand concept. Hypothesis the supplier’s plate charges is $100/ color.

Spot Color Plate Charges: one color, one plate charges, if the design is composed of 6 kinds of Pantone color, then total plate charge is $100*6=$600

CMYK’s Plate Charges: no matter how complex of the design file colors , as long as it is CMYK color printing, usually calculated as 4 colors plate charges, then total charge is $100*4=$400

packaging printing colors is complex, clients can understand by consulting your designers, or ask your designers to use spot color system or CMYK four-color system, when packaging design by graphics software.

Graphics software commonly used color matching system ——

• Spot color system : PANTONE, TOYO ColorFinder, RIC Color Guide, and so on
• Systems developed based on four-color printing : TRUMATCH, FOCOL TONE, ANPA COLOR, etc.

CMYK & Spot Color Mixed Printing Plate Charges: if your design contains a high-definition CMYK picture, and gold, white 2 colors. Then total plate charges is $100*6=$600

The above 3 cases are the standard model for calculating the plate charges, can be applied to the most packaging bags printing.

But in order to control the order costs better, maximize profits.

Customers will need to know more about the application of print color and plate charges, and more production details.

3、The Common Sense And Misunderstanding Of Printing Colors & Plate Charges

Limited to article, we help the clients understand in depth with 3 typical printing plate charges.

① CMYK Must Be Four Colors Plate Charges?

CMYK four-color printing whether to use four colors, depending on the image.

If only two or three simple colors, three plate cylinders is OK

If multi-colour , should be four plate charges.

Even though the client request CMYK printing, but some complex printing situation or in order to achieve some kind of printing effect, need to translate one or two colors to spot color printing, it’s normal.

So,The plate charges will be increased accordingly.

② One Color, One Plate Charge? I Feel Too Much!

Some clients because of the packaging printing design color rich, so worry about the plate charges may be higher.

Red and Jacinth color, they will think those are two colors, so need to pay two plate charges

well, so many different red colours, what should we do? Paid all? that’s bullshit!

In fact, that’s misunderstand the color and color tone.

Some colors because of changes in brightness and saturation, looks like two colors, but same color tone.

For example:

CYMK Red (M100, Y100)

Orange Red (M80, Y80)

Two different colors in eyes, but the same color tone(M,Y mixed color)

Therefore, not every color must be plate making, no duplicate payment.

That’s why CMYK printing is usually only four colors of the plate charges.

the same as CMYK color tone, Spot colors process can also have brightness and saturation changes, different is only spot colors are opaque and can be covered. CMYK have transparency, which may cause overprinting error

③ 2 Sets Similar Packaging Design, Need To Pay 2 Sets Plate Charges?

1 set means all colors of this packaging design, like you have a printed design containing 4 colors, the plate charge is $1 / color, then one set plate charges is $4

So ~ Let’s assume that Mark needs printing during purchasing coffee bags.

Mark have two coffee bags design, same size, text and layout but have two different words, 500g and 1000g.

• How sets plate charges does he have to pay?
• Answer is one set plate charges + one color plate charge

Go on: Mark have one coffee bags design,same size, text and layout, but want to printing two different color effects.

• How sets plate charges does he have to pay?
• Answer is one set plate charges

So, we need to know

• If the packaging bag size change, printing plate cylinder layout must be change, the whole plates is different, so it must be two sets plate charges
• If the packaging bag size does not change, just only increase this plate cylinder which part of content changes. So the price will be less than two sets but more than one set
• If the packaging bag size and content not change, just change printing colors, there is no need for additional plate making, one set plate charges.