Working with colours

Printing in colour - CMYK and Pantone The CMYK (Cyan:Magenta:Yellow:Black) process colour system and Pantone spot colour system are commonly used in offset printing. Digital printing works only with CMYK colour system.

We recommend choose a right printing product type (colour system or mode) to suit your needs before commencing graphic design. We suggest ONLY use the selection of single colour system (CMYK or Pantone) in your design except using CMYK + Pantone spot colour printing. For any queries, please consult our graphic professional.

Display in Colour - RGB
Computer monitors display colour in RGB (Red:Green:Blue) mode which can generates a much wider range of colours compared with CMYK and Pantone colour system. There is a degree of discrepancy in colours between a design displayed on computer screen and printed product and a complete match in colours is only limited in a high-end professional monitor with colour calibration performed. In other words, WHAT you SEE may NOT be WHAT you GET in final print! It is important that you check colours in our digital proof before printing (85-90% close), unless you know what you will get or accept what will be printed.

Accepting File Formats
Preferred Formats:

  • PDF generate only from AI, Indesign, Photoshop and Coreldraw (use profile of “Press Quality”).
  • Adobe Illustrator CS2, CS3, CS4 (outline all fonts)
  • Adobe InDesign CS2, CS3, CS4 (supply links and fonts / outline fonts if possible)
  • Adobe Photoshop CS2, CS3, CS4 (flatten images / supply fonts)
  • Coreldraw 12, 13, 14 (curve all fonts / supply links and fonts if any)
Other Formats (mainly used for digital printing):
Most software as listed below do not provide bleeds (if needed) and are not equipped with colours that match with CMYK or Pantone printing system. Please leave 5-6mm text margins to allow future enlargement and bleeds for professional look of finish products. Colours you use for your products in these softwares should be only as a guide not for final printing.

PDF generated from Microsoft programs
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Publisher
  • Microsoft Powerpoint
  • Microsoft Excel

Checklist before submission of your CMYK design:
  • Leave 2mm bleeds, min. 3mm text margins (see illustration of bleeds and margins)
  • Convert all fonts to OUTLINE when using Illustrator or InDesign (term of “CURVE” used in Coreldraw). Images to be FLATTEN in Photoshop to avoid missing fonts.
  • Use only CMYK colour on all objects, including text, vector graphics and images. Avoid converting Pantone or RGB colours to CMYK through auto conversion, which may change the colours in your design (either in display monitor or Pantone colour guide)
  • CMYK ink density < 280% incl. text, images and vector graphics
  • Avoid use colour sensitive formula – especially Cyan and Magenta scale, try to mix colour in difference of 5-10%
  • Ensure colour CMYK formula used at least 5%. Colours based on CMYK formulas under 5% are too light to be printed – especially used for watermark and light background, ensure colour CMYK formula used > 5%
  • SOLID BLACK areas: always use strong black formula – C40: M40: Y20: K100 for an area larger than 20 x 20 mm
  • Use 100% BLACK for TEXT in BLACK, DO NOT mix with any other colour, specially black <100% formula
  • DO NOT use fine lines (<0.4 points) and light fonts in SOLID background
  • Use trappings if there is no overlap in colour formula merging areas. Consult our graphic professional on this issue



Checklist for submission of your Pantone design:
  • Leave 2mm bleeds, min. 3mm text margins (see illustration of bleeds and margins)
  • Convert all fonts to OUTLINE when using Illustrator or InDesign (term of “CURVE” used in Coreldraw); images to be FLATTEN in Photoshop to avoid missing fonts
  • Use only Pantone colour on all objects, including text, vector graphics and images. Images that are set to Monotone or Duotone must be saved in PSD format and are accompanied with original design files. We only accept design of Monotone / Duotone artwork in Illustrator and InDesign format only
  • Set CMYK formulas at least 5%+ (yellow set above 15% when use as just single channel) as Pantone formulas less than 5% are too light to be printed – especially used for watermark and light background
  • Use HALF-TONE for a SOLID background: maximum 75% half-tone to be used in foreground combined with the same Pantone colour SOLID background
  • Do Not use fine lines (<0.4 points) and light fonts in a SOLID background
  • Use trappings if there is no overlap in colour formula merging areas. Consult our graphic professional on this issue



Disclaimer
The information included in or available through the website, may include inaccuracies or typographical errors. Changes are periodically added to the information herein. IVY printing may make changes in the service or website at any time, with or without notice.