Printing using specific PMS Inks
PMS colors are standardized colors as specified in the Pantone Matching System (PMS), and are the de-facto ink / color matching system. These are single colors, that not only span the rainbow, but with thousands of colors across that rainbow! For example, there are over 100 shades of yellow alone.
Several years ago, it was more common for our clients to printing using just 2 colors (such as a blue ink and black ink) in their print jobs to keep costs low. However, due to huge advancements in technology and cost-efficiency, the gap in cost between 2/color printing and full-color (4/c process) printing has narrowed significantly, and 4/color printing is now the overwhelming standard.
The other factor contributing to the large shift to 4/color is the need for our clients’ design, logo, and branding to be consistent across not only printed products, but also the web, and most companies do not restrict themselves to a 2/color logo on the web.
Using a PMS color in your print jobs will still be the best solution if you have a specific color for your corporate logo and must match it from run to run. While this will ensure the best match from job to job, there still will / can be variances. Ink is pre-mixed and color-matched (to PMS specifications) by the ink company prior to arriving at your printing plant, but that doesn’t mean it will be mixed exactly the same every time.
In addition, the surface of the paper stock will have a dramatic difference on how the ink will appear on your print job. Uncoated papers will absorb the ink and ‘dull’ the color very significantly. Gloss and similar coated stocks will hold-out the ink to a great degree, and the ink will print deeper, richer, and more vibrant. This is why PMS color-matching books (containing swatches of thousands of colors) are manufactured in both uncoated and coated versions. In some instances, we have chosen a PMS color for a particular yellow when our client printed on uncoated stock, and an entirely different PMS color when printing on coated.
Ultimately, you should create your logo the way you want it to appear, and work with your printing company to help determine the best, most cost-effective solutions for reproducing that color on your print projects.