What is CMYK color mode?

CMYK is the color mode used by XcelPrinting to reproduce your job on one of the presses at the print facility. The color calibration of Cyan (C), Magenta (M), Yellow (Y), and Black (K) determines the final color in your artwork. As a result, your submitted files must be in CMYK color mode to maximize color quality.

If your files are submitted using any other color standard, such as RGB or Pantone, they will need to be converted to CMYK. Conversion from one color standard to another may cause colors to shift. Before submitting your artwork files, you may want to review our file preparation guidelines at: http://www.xcelprinting.com/helpcenter/

How can I guarantee color accuracy?

It is impossible to guarantee 100% color accuracy. However, you can maximize color quality by ensuring that all submitted files are in CMYK color mode and that the correct color calibration is set for the desired color match. When these four inks (collectively known as CMYK) are combined, they can produce millions of different colors. Changing the percentage (screen) of one ink can dramatically effect the color. Black (K), the fourth process ink, is often used to darken the colors created by the other three process colors CMY.

How do I match CMYK colors?

It is always challenging to match CMYK colors 100% on paper. Mixing colors on the computer can be challenging, namely when you are trying to translate specific colors to work in a four-color printing process. However, when color matching is critical, you should use a CMYK chart and enter the values that best reflect the color you are trying to reach.

Your software program and file type impact the best way to do color matching. Software programs have different tools to do color corrections, and some programs do not have any tools for color corrections. When printing a process (CMYK) document, you should make sure all of your colors are made up of process inks. For example, one hue of green can be made by combining 100% cyan and 100% yellow, and that hue can be changed by reducing the amount of yellow or cyan, or adding small amounts of magenta or black.

What if I want to create a solid black area?

When you want an area of solid black within a document, 100% black (K) will not result in a solid, saturated black. You should use rich black, which is made by mixing other colors of ink with black ink to produce a much darker, deeper black on press than can be achieved by using black ink alone. To create rich black on pieces printed by XcelPrinting, your CMYK calibration values must be 50% Cyan (C), 40% Magenta (M), 40% Yellow (Y), and 100% Black (K).

What if my artwork is 4/1?

XcelPrinting offers 4/4 (color front, color back), 4/1 (color front, black and white back) and 4/0 (color front and blank back). For 4/1 layouts, the artwork file for the backside should have a CMYK calibration of C:0%, M:0%, Y:0%, and K: 10%-100% depending on the gray you desire. Please note that K:10% is a lighter gray while K:100% is the darkest gray that is not rich black.

Before submitting your artwork files, you may want to review our file preparation guidelines at: http://www.xcelprinting.com/helpcenter/

Does lighting impact the color quality?

Yes. Lighting is important since it will affect how your artwork is perceived in terms of brightness, contrast and color. Ambient lighting, while viewing a digital image file on screen, needs to be considered. A bright room tends to yield darker than expected files, especially when printed. A dark room does the opposite. As a result, we recommend that a room be darker rather than lighter, but also consistent from morning through night.