Pantone & Print Colour Guide
How does the base colour affect the print result, and when do you need Pantone?
Why does Pantone exist?
The colour you see on screen (RGB) is structurally different from the colour produced in print (CMYK). A screen emits light; paper reflects it. Pantone is a standard colour catalogue that removes this uncertainty — a Pantone code refers to a specific, pre-mixed ink.
The base colour affects the result
BaseEffect
White paperColour comes out closest to reference
Kraft paperColours warm up, light colours weaken
Bamboo / WoodCool colours (blue, purple) go dull
Why is white printing problematic?
White ink has the lowest opacity. When printed on a light base, the base colour shows through the ink and the result looks washed out. On light bases, a dark single colour gives the crispest result.
Why is a vector file required?
The print plate is produced from the mathematical curves in your file. Pixel-based files like PNG or JPG degrade when enlarged and cannot be used for plate production. Accepted formats: PDF, AI, SVG, EPS.