Colours are one of the main elements of packaging. In this article we explain some important details that cannot be overlooked by those who do the graphic design of packaging.
Indice
The recommended software for creating the graphic layout of packaging is Adobe Illustrator.
Best to use four-colour process
Setting effective packaging colours is important for the final effect of the packaging. The basis is the choice of the correct colour system. The packaging will be printed by Packstyle's machines using the CMYK colour method: the four-colour process. That is, each colour will be reproduced through the combination of four inks: cyan, magenta, yellow and black.
What does this mean for the graphic designer who creates the layout? In Illustrator you have to set the document colour method to CMYK colour and use the Colour panel with CMYK values.
Example of the correct composition of a blue in CMYK.
Colour composition
Creating a colour in CMYK
To create a new colour swatch in Illustrator, click on the Create Swatch item in the Swatches panel menu. The New Swatch window appears: make sure that the Colour Type is set to Four-colour and the Colour Method to CMYK, and enter the percentage values for each colour.
To create a good colour, avoid percentages with decimals and very low values between 5 and 10%. If you compose a colour with percentages below 10%, the colour will be very light in print.
A colour with these values C 43.54% M 0.02% Y 12.44% K 0% should be corrected by removing the decimals and bringing the values to more significant percentages, like this: C 45% M 0% Y 15% K 0%.
What happens if I enter a colour in RGB?
The colour will be automatically converted to CMYK but may not give the result you expect!
The RGB colour method can in fact reproduce a much wider spectrum than four-colour process. When converting from RGB to CMYK, colours may be duller and less brilliant.
It is best to make the conversion to four-colour process before sending the file to avoid unexpected results in print.
Double-click on the colour sample to be changed in the Swatches panel and under Colour Method change the setting from RBG to CMYK. If necessary, correct the percentage values by applying the measures explained above.
What happens if I enter a Pantone colour?
Pantone colour must also be converted to four-colour process! This is exactly what the Pantone Process colour library is for.
Creating stable colours
To achieve effective colours, the colour composition must be simple: the less inks used, the purer the colour. A stable colour with few inks will also be less susceptible to variations in perception caused by light or the material on which it is printed. In addition, stable colours combined with each other create contrasts that make the graphics of the packaging stand out and attract attention.
It is very important to look at the packaging in supermarkets: taking a cue from beautiful packaging, observing the colours used or the size of the graphic elements is a good starting point.
Create an intense background colour
What is rich colour and when is it used?
A colour composed of high percentages of all inks is called a rich colour, in the literal sense of "rich in ink". Rich colours are used for deep-colour backgrounds but must be designed carefully as too high a percentage of ink may create a problem in printing performance. A colour so composed C 100% M 70% Y 80% K 80% will not be much different from a black!
If you are in doubt about the colour composition, you can rely on Packstyle's graphic consultancy service.
What is rich black and when is it used?
Similarly, rich black is a black composed of all four inks and is used to create a full, intense background colour. A colour with only 100% black ink in print would produce the effect of a washed-out dark grey.
This is a correct example of a rich black: C 30% M 30% Y 30% K 100%.
However, it is important never to use this colour for text!
Example of the CMYK composition of a rich black used on a solid background.
Make the most of the material
Packstyle can print on many materials: from paper, to aluminium, to plastic, and each of these materials can have different finishes, more or less glossy.
The final effect of the printed colour is greatly influenced by the material itself and its finish. A colour with identical CMYK values will be metallic if printed directly on aluminium, shiny if printed on plastic with a glossy finish and opaque if printed on paper. Observing the different rendering that colours have depending on the material is fundamental to designing good packaging.
For example, an organic product line goes well with soft colours and recyclable paper packaging, where the material and texture of the paper itself emphasise the brand philosophy.
This is exactly what the Packstyle sample book is for! You will be able to see the different effect of each printed material and choose the most suitable one for your product.
If you are in doubt about the graphic appearance of your packaging, ask for a sample book: Packstyle can print orders starting from just 50 pieces.
And follow our webinars!
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