Spotvärien

Spotvärien, also known as spot colors, are pre-mixed inks that are applied separately from process colors in printing. Unlike process colors (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black or CMYK) which are blended together to create a wide spectrum of colors, spot colors are custom-mixed to achieve a specific, exact hue. This is particularly useful when a particular shade is critical for branding, such as a company's logo color, or when trying to reproduce colors that are difficult or impossible to achieve with CMYK alone, like metallic or fluorescent inks.

The use of spot colors requires a separate printing plate for each color used in the design. This means that if a design uses three spot colors, it will need three separate plates and passes through the printing press three times. While this can increase printing costs and complexity, it ensures color accuracy and consistency. Graphic designers specify spot colors using standardized systems like the Pantone Matching System (PMS). When preparing a file for print, designers will indicate which Pantone color is to be used, and the printer will then mix that exact ink formulation. This method is common in high-quality printing, packaging, and situations where precise color reproduction is paramount.