We have two printing processes, Screen Printing and Digital.
If we are Screen Printing, we custom colour match using the Pantone Colour Guide ( PMS ) using the Coated or Uncoated charts. The colours are mixed on press and visually matched as close as possible to the Pantone colour that has been specified using a Neutral colour booth to ensure a consistent result.
Our digital presses use a CMYK printing process. This basically means that our equipment creates an extensive range of colors using cyan, magenta, yellow and black inks. We reproduce color from the print-ready files that you submit along with your order as closely as possible, but even under perfect conditions, an exact color match is rarely possible. This is a fundamental limitation in the digital printing process.
When we talk about a “color match”, we are referring to color intent indicated in the submitted print file. If the print file contains colors identified as Pantone spot colors, Albion will attempt to match the color. However, certain Pantone colors can not be created to match perfectly using CMYK digital print process. If we are expected to match a previously printed colour, then we suggest supplying a sample so that we have a visual target to match.
Colour on Your Monitor vs. Color in Print
Artwork as it appears on your computer screen is not an accurate representation of what you will see in the printed results. This is for a variety of reasons. For one, every computer screen renders colour differently, in part because of the hardware itself and due to brightness, contrast and colour settings. Additionally, different programs may render the exact same colour differently. Your computer monitor uses an RGB colour model (red, green, black), while our digital presses use a CMYK colour model or a custom colour match for screen printed items. Finally, a digital (PDF) proof is lit up by your computer monitor cannot match the colour or density of a physical, printed piece. By placing an order with Albion you agree to these and other printing limitations.
For the reasons listed above and more, Albion cannot be responsible for colour variations between submitted digital files and the final printed piece. If a print project is colour critical, you should request a hard proof. Though there is an added cost to a hard proof, it will represent the colour output you can expect from your final printed piece.
Additional Important Information About Colour
When the file is created always make sure to set up your document as CMYK and not RGB. Although our rips will convert RGB images on the fly it might not result in the colour that you wish for.
Adding UV coating or laminate: Choosing to apply a UV coating or laminate may impact or alter the appearance of printed colors. Whenever possible we take thes above factors into account when colour matching, however some matte and textured laminates may “dull” some colours. Again, if this is a major concern we strongly suggest ordering a hard proof for color critical pieces. ( Additional charges may apply )