Color Matching: All orders require your file to be submitted in CMYK colors.
Black should be indicated as C35 M35 Y35 K100 for the richest black.
Pantone colors should be PMS Coated numbers.
THERE ARE 2 WAYS FOR US TO COLOR MATCH YOU’RE FILE TO THE FINISHED PRINT
- HARD COPY: Customer provides a hard copy print out of the file for us to hold up to the print and color match. However, we do not guarantee exact CMYK color matching because of the many variables involved in digital printing, but we will do our best to match your CMYK selection if a hard copy is provided.
- PMS COATED COLORS: Customer provides the Pantone Coated Number indicated within the file. We use the Pantone Color Bridge Chart to hold up to the print and color match. Make sure that the PMS color are named and indicated correctly within your file and that there are no duplicates. However, we do not guarantee exact PMS color matching because of the many variables involved in digital printing, but we will do our best to match your PMS selection.
CMYK COLOR MATCH PRINTING ISSUES: Our printers use CMYK process to print but since there is no universal CMYK matching chart to physically hold up to the print and color match it, we have to have something to go by, either a Hard Copy or PMS indicated colors. Below are examples of the various things that can affect color output.
Printing Variables: Printing color output varies not only depending on software used but also on the printer, ink, and media used.
Software: There are variables in the color palette set up from computer system to computer system and printer to printer. This makes it impossible for us to guarantee color matching of CMYK files unless we have a hard copy to go by or PMS colors are indicated. If a computer monitor is not calibrated correctly, what one person seeing color wise on the screen is not necessarily what they are going to see in the final print.
Printers and Ink: Each printer uses different system set ups, and color palettes, inks and materials used to print on. So a printer that prints CMYK and uses Solvent Based Inks the colors will print different than a printer that uses other forms of ink like Water Based Dye, Pigment, or Latex Inks. Also some inks color shift after printing and drying.
Print Media Materials: Colors can be affected by the specific material use to print on. For instance a print done on Poplin Fabric which absorbs ink the color will print lighter than Scrim Vinyl, which does not absorb the ink and has a special coating to receive the ink. Colors will look different printed on a Matte surface opposed to a Glossy Surface.
Color Matching File Issues:
Color Percentages or Transparencies: We cannot guarantee matching a color that is indicated within the file as a percentage or is a transparent layer of a color. Example: 10% of Black. Color percentages have to be converted to a solid PMS Coated color for us to color match. The reason we have to have this converted is that there is no one Universal Black color of ink. CMYK Black looks different than RGB Black or PMS Black. If a computer monitor is not calibrated correctly, what one person is seeing color wise on the screen is not necessarily what they are going to see in the final print.
Fades and Gradients: We cannot guarantee matching a color that is indicated within the file as a fade or gradient. These are affected by all of the variables listed above and with the banding and gradual fading of one color into another can result in color combinations that are not desired.
DDI Signs® will do their best to color match your prints. We are not responsible if PMS colors are not indicated and we cannot guarantee exact PMS or CMYK color matching. Please consult the Pantone to CMYK Color Bridge chart to compare to printer output and find the PMS color numbers.
