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radoslava645
Known Participant
May 9, 2019
Answered

What color values are best when printing CMYK White?

  • May 9, 2019
  • 3 replies
  • 32659 views

Hello!

I have a question regarding printing CMYK White.

What color values you should use for a better result?

For example:

C - 0 M - 0 Y - 0 K - 0

or

C-0 M - 0 Y - 0 K - 5

I know for example that when you have to print CMYK Black there are many other combinations like Rich Black or Warm Black and many others.

So I was wondering, is there anything like this for CMYK White?

Thank you for your time!

    Correct answer Doug A Roberts

    In CMYK, 'white' means 'no ink'. So CMYK 'white' will just be whatever paper stock you are using.

    If you want an actual printed white, you need a spot ink.

    3 replies

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Monika GauseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 9, 2019

    It slightly depends on where this white is used.

    When you have an illustration and there are white spots here and there, then a 0% white will cause "holes" in the print where there is just paper. This might or might not be how you want it to look. In those cases having some small percentage of whatever color might be a good idea.

    On the other hand the percentage must not be too small, otherwise it cannot be printed. Therefore often print services tell you the smallest amount of ink coverage they can print. This also needs to be considered in gradients from white to whatever color.

    Which color exactly to use instead of white depends on the combinations.

      S
      soulunite1
      Participant
      May 16, 2020

      You alwasy want some value covering all of the sheet for a consistant look and feel across the piece. The varnish will sit diffeerntly on the raw paper that the inked parts. This is sort of a pro-tip that unless you have spent time as a pre-press op or been on a press run you would not know. If you are having something professionally printed this step may be handled, without you ever knowing, by tht pre press operator before the film is made or the difital files sent to a digi offset printer.  I always set my values to C0 M0 Y2 K2.    This only apllies to 4 color CYMK printing ...  Spot color priting is a whole other animal..

       

        Doug A Roberts
        Community Expert
        Doug A RobertsCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
        Community Expert
        May 9, 2019

        In CMYK, 'white' means 'no ink'. So CMYK 'white' will just be whatever paper stock you are using.

        If you want an actual printed white, you need a spot ink.

          M
          Matt Walker 427
          Inspiring
          May 9, 2019

          In my experience there is no substitute for white C-0 M-0 Y-0 K-0, anything else I would define as a colour, sometimes the stock that is being printed onto isn't a bright white, that can make printing look a little off but the paper stock colour is nothing you can control with ink colours.

          White is C-0 M-0 Y-0 K-0.

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