This is a really cool video. It speaks to the reason we developed Spark+. If you haven’t seen our booklet comparing Spark+ to more conventional color you’re missing a big wow!
In any case, everyone in print knows that our eyes and brain can reconcile more color shades than are typically printed. Tonal Compression is a reality. Cameras reduce color shades to manageable data points. Monitors reconcile color differently than cameras and presses are different from both.
What is Spark+
Spark+ gives you back some of what you’ve been missing. Click the link and have a look. You’ll like it.
If you want one of our books let us know. We’ll get one off to you right away.
Now, let’s get technical….in case you were wondering.
What is Extended Gamut?
Here’s a great way to break it down:
Extended gamut printing—sometimes called expanded gamut or EG printing—is like unlocking a secret color vault. Traditional four-color (CMYK) printing has served us well for over a century, but it does have limitations. Some colors, especially vibrant oranges, greens, and purples, are tough to hit without mixing spot colors. Extended gamut solves that by adding extra inks—typically orange, green, and violet (OGV)—to widen the range of reproducible colors.
Think of it like upgrading from a basic crayon box to the deluxe edition—you suddenly have access to richer, more precise colors without the need for custom-mixed spot inks. It’s a game-changer for brands that rely on consistent, high-impact color across multiple print runs.
Why use EG Printing:
- Wider Color Range: The expanded color gamut allows for more accurate and vibrant reproduction of colors, especially those found in the Pantone color system.
- Improved Color Accuracy: 7-color printing can achieve cleaner, brighter, and more saturated colors, leading to a more consistent and precise color representation.
- Cost-Effective: By using a fixed set of 7 colors, printers can avoid the need to mix custom inks or wash up between jobs, potentially saving time and money.
- Ideal for Certain Applications: EG is particularly well-suited for applications where vibrant, rich colors are crucial, such as luxury beauty and cosmetics packaging.
Design in Pantone, Print in CMYK
Sabine Lenz from PaperSpecs often talks about how designers dream in Pantone but print in CMYK. Extended gamut helps bridge that gap, bringing more Pantone-like vibrancy into a CMYK workflow without the cost of custom spot colors.
The result? More precise branding, smoother transitions, and an eye-popping print experience.
And THANKS for this Quick Tip Sabine of PaperSpecs.com! To watch Sabine’s video on her site, click here.
Pop of color resources:
- Pantone Shop Extended Gamut Color Guide
- Our Library of Free Resources for Marketers, our TOPOs Book for textures in print, and our Spark+ to help you pop some color!