Spot colour, finishing & engraving
You can use colours not included in the CMYK colour space – the so-called spot colours – to print certain products. Additional finishing options for promotional items include varnish, foil and engraving. For all these processes, you have to follow certain specifications when setting up the artwork.
UV colour
Create another colour field in the layout program and assign the respective colour to the desired design elements.
- Swatch name: “UV”
- Colour type: spot colour
- Colour mode: 100 % Magenta
Please also note the information under "Data info" on the product pages in our online shop.
Spot colour
To achieve a specific colour that is not included in the CMYK colour space, you can use Pantone or HKS spot colours for certain products:
- Brochures
- Catalogues
- Stationery
- Envelopes
- Presentation folders (with flaps)
- Posters (as of 150 g/m² art print paper)
- Many promotional items (only Pantone spot colours)
Create an additional colour swatch in the design program and assign the colour to the design elements in question unless otherwise specified.
- Swatch Name: This field should contain the name of the selected Pantone or HKS spot colour.
- Color Type: Spot
- Color Value: Any
Different paper types and have different properties. Recycled papers tend to have a greyish/yellowish tint, whereas offset papers or art papers can have a white or bluish appearance. Order our paper sample book to experience the different paper types, paper weights and finishes up close to help you determine which substrate best suits your needs.
We will convert spot colours to CMYK if
- the product was ordered without spot colours or
- if spot colours are not available for the product ordered.
Spot Relief varnish
Add another colour field in the layout program and assign the respective colour to the desired (possibly duplicated) design elements.
- Swatch name: “coating”
- Colour type: spot colour
- Colour mode: 100 % Cyan
Before exporting the print file, set all relief varnish design elements to “Overprint”.
Please also note the information under "Data info" on the product pages in our online shop.
Spot UV coating
Add another colour field in the layout program and assign the respective colour to the desired (possibly duplicated) design elements.
- Swatch name: “coating"
- Colour type: spot colour
- Colour mode: 100 % Cyan
Spot silver finish
Add another colour field in the layout program and assign the respective colour to the desired (possibly duplicated) design elements.
- Swatch name: “silver”
- Colour type: spot colour
- Colour mode: 100 % Cyan
Spot finish with hot foil
Create an additional colour swatch in the design program and assign the colour to selected parts of your design (which may have been duplicated).
- Swatch Name: "foil"
- Color Type: Spot
- Color Mode: 100 % Cyan
Printing white for promotional products
Add another colour field in the layout program and assign the respective colour to the desired (possibly duplicated) design elements.
- Swatch name: "white"
- Colour type: spot colour
- Colour mode: 100 % Magenta
Please bear in mind that you have to submit a vector file for many promotional items. Read the article "Submitting vector graphics – how does it work?" to learn how to convert existing images to vector graphics.
Printing promotional items with gold and silver spot colours
We print gold and silver spot colours using the following Pantone inks:
- Gold: Pantone 871 C
- Silver: Pantone 877 C
Create an additional colour swatch in the design program and assign the colour to the design elements in question.
- Swatch name: "gold" or "silver"
- Colour type: spot
- Colour value: any
Please bear in mind that you have to submit a vector file for many promotional items. Read the article "Submitting vector graphics – how does it work?" to learn how to convert existing images to vector graphics.
Laser engraving
Create an additional colour swatch in the design program and assign the corresponding colour to the design elements in question.
- Swatch name: "Laser"
- Color Type: Spot
- Color Value: Any
Please bear in mind that you have to submit a vector file for many promotional items. Read the article "Submitting vector graphics – how does it work?" to learn how to convert existing images to vector graphics.
Blind embossing (letterpress)
Create an additional colour swatch in the design program and assign the corresponding colour to the design elements in question.
- Swatch name: "letterpress"
- Color Type: Spot
- Color Value: 100 % Cyan
Please bear in mind that you have to submit a vector file for many promotional items. Read the article "Submitting vector graphics – how does it work?" to learn how to convert existing images to vector graphics.
You need help with creating the spot colour?
Our “How to set up spot finish in my artwork files” tutorial shows you how to correctly create elements and layers in InDesign using the example of silver finished design elements.