7 Color Printing vs. 4/clr & PMS

[ondagawood]

Gordo, monq & alois,

Thanks for all the feedback and info, thats' just what I was looking for. Just trying to remember that stuff in case I need it soon for a "new" job. Recently let-go, lack of work and position eliminated. 30 yrs. printing experience looking for new job.

Cheers,
Scott

[rich apollo]

Heck, you can extend the color gamut with an extra hit of cyan or magenta. Here's a link to a simple, inexpensive method:Hi_Fi_color

It works very well.

monq, you asked some questions:

Q: what would be the advantage of trying to recreate Pantones using 7 non pantone inks?
A: The advantage is that the pressmen don't have to wash up the ink fountains and switch colors. Using an extended process set of inks means greater efficiency and that equates to savings. Also, process inks will generally be less expensive than spot colors.

Q: can you really replicate the vibrancy of solid inks like a Process Blue or PMS 485 with these 7 colours?
A: Absolutely! A single large solid is actually tough to print well. Printers will often run a second spot color plate with a screen to smooth out the solid. With an extra cyan plate, I've printed blues so spectacular they make your jaw drop. With an extra magenta I've printed reds that look like a candy-apple paint job on a hot-rod.