When creating bespoke custom packaging boxes, it’s critical to comprehend the differences between PMS and CMYK in order to choose the approach that best suits your requirements. 

Additionally, it aids you and your designers in determining the format in which the colors in your design files for printing must be specified.

Pantone Matching System, sometimes known as PMS, is a system for identifying and matching colors. 

This guarantees that colors on custom packaging boxes are always a true match across vendors, platforms, and designs. Additionally, it helps ensure that subsequent orders for your packaging will maintain the same level of color and quality as earlier ones.

PMS or Spot Color Printing: An Overview

Spot colors are singular, pre-mixed colors that are made according to a predetermined formula. Systems for specifying colors offer precise formulae for the required spot color. The Pantone Matching System is the common color scheme that most designers are familiar with (PMS).

Merits  

• Accurate color reproduction is possible with PMS on custom packaging boxes.
• With PMS, you may reveal true hues right away.
• The world has standardized all PMS colors.
• Currently, 18 base inks can be combined to create 1867 common print colors.
• PMS offers a wider color spectrum.

Demerits

• There are several drawbacks to using Pantone inks for text printing, including their high cost and tendency to be inefficient.
• Spot colors necessitate specialized printing equipment, which is less available to individuals who aren’t working in the printing industry.

Spot color printing with analog printing vs CMYK

Spot colors are perfect for analog print techniques because they are often utilized in packaging with one or two colors in flexo printing on custom packaging boxes. Along with C, M, Y, and K print stations, spot colors are also utilized in offset printing to give a brand color to the offset print (same process as litho-lam). 

Print plates are used to apply the pre-mixed inks to the print surface. To create a full-color design, the plates are added to the corrugated surface in stages.

Spot colors are produced using a predetermined formula, and as a result, the colors are constant throughout print runs, equipment, and printing processes. 

So, when color accuracy is important, analog print is chosen for custom packaging boxes. Analog print is not a cost-effective or efficient process for short-run or low-volume printing since it necessitates the creation of print plates and associated tooling.

When requiring color fidelity

Printing the brand mark is one instance when accuracy in packaging printing is necessary. PMS is the best option for these applications because it can provide you with the same colors every time you print. While CMYK produces slightly varying colors with each print and has poor color accuracy.

Extra-large custom packaging boxes

The only option for printing on large-size custom packaging boxes that will produce accurate colors is PMS spot colors.

When a single run is necessary When printing on fabric packaging, a single run is necessary since repeated runs can damage the fabric. In a single print, CMYK is unable to provide precise tones. PMS is the best option for such printing, therefore.

Moreover, PMS is the best option if you need to print a lot of pages. The main investment, in this case, is print plates, and as volume increases, so does the cost per print.

Printing Surfaces: Coated vs. Uncoated

The next decision to make is whether to use coated or uncoated paper after deciding between CMYK and Pantone. Regarding color, there is a significant difference between coated and uncoated printing surfaces.

If the same exact ink is applied to a coated surface as opposed to an uncoated surface, it will appear differently.

An example of a coated surface is a poly mailer (as are coated papers). A poly mailer has ink applied to it, which rests on top of the material. On the other hand, when the same ink is used on uncoated paper or a Kraft Mailer custom packaging box, the substance absorbs it.

The uncoated surface typically has a more matte or faded finish, whereas the coated surface typically has a brighter finish. Custom retail boxes are the best choices for retailers.

The following image helps to illustrate the differences, but keep in mind that since these colors are in RGB, they don’t exactly represent PMS colors accurately.

Determine if the printing substrate is coated or uncoated before choosing the color for a print. Both an uncoated and a coated color-matching booklet are available from Pantone for CMYK and PMS.

Use the appropriate one for your particular assignments to have a better idea of how the color you’ve chosen will appear on your printing substrate. Get custom boxes wholesale from The Custom Boxez now.