CMYK vs. PMS vs. Digital Printing for Custom Boxes

Packaging design has an effect on product recognition and perception of a brand. The printing method (such as CMYK or PMS) will determine print quality of artwork, cost per unit, and flexibility in producing custom boxes. CMYK uses four primary colors to achieve various shades of ink whereas PMS is based upon standard Pantone colors designed specifically for exact colors.

The use of digital printing directly transfers the artwork from your digital file onto the packaging via computer software with no need for metal plates. When selecting between CMYK, PMS, or Digital Printing for the packaging, you should consider your design needs, colors required, order quantity, budget, and material type.

By understanding the above mentioned factors it can help companies identify the box printing methods to meet their needs.

What Is CMYK Printing for Custom Boxes?

The CMYK color model stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black. The four inks combine in different amounts to produce pictures, transitions, illustration, and multiple-colored artwork. The CMYK method is perfect to print your packaging design with many colors. This method works well for printing full-color customized boxes and detailed marketing graphics.

There is however one catch to using CMYK printing for packaging. CMYK printing does not produce all colors perfectly. Depending on the type of display or printer used to view your colors, the colors printed may look slightly different than they do on-screen.

In addition to the differences in displaying colors and printers reproducing colors, there are other factors as well which affect the outcome. Paper quality, paper coatings and even setting up the printer can cause packaging color printing variations.

Having a printed sample before producing larger runs allows businesses to see how custom printed cardboard boxes will look like.

What Is PMS Printing?

Pantone Matching System (PMS) is an identification system of colors used by designers and printers with unique numbers to represent specific colors. When you have a company that has a special logo or signature brand color that has been defined as part of your brand identity.

For simple designs which are limited to one or two specific colors, PMS will work well for you. However, it is not automatically better than CMYK. The main advantage of PMS printing for boxes over CMYK is that PMS provides standardized spot-colors versus attempting to produce extensive photographic details.

The end product could still vary depending on what type of material you use, the finish, and how your order was produced. Therefore, when deciding between PMS and CMYK, consider whether having exact brand-color matches or a full range of available colors are important to your design goals.

Final is always dependent on material, finish, and production conditions. When comparing CMYK vs PMS printing, you should know whether you want an exact color match or a full range of colors.

What Is Digital Printing for Custom Boxes?

The ability to print directly from your computer using digital files eliminates the need for printing plates that are associated with digital printing. By eliminating printing plates, it allows you to set up quicker and make quicker changes in your design between each job. Read our complete guide on digital printing for packaging and graphics to learn more.

You use this type of printing when you have low volume orders, prototypes, samples, product launches, and market testing. A small business could produce a small quantity of boxes, get feedback from customers and then change their artwork before producing larger quantities.

Digital printing can also support multiple designs, localized artwork, and variable information, depending on the equipment and supplier. Depending upon your printer, ink system, paper, and colors, the quality of results may vary greatly.

Therefore, do not compare total costs of digital vs offset printing by simply stating which method prints faster or produces higher-quality color.

CMYK vs. PMS vs. Digital Printing: Key Differences

Which Printing Method Is Best for Custom Boxes?

The best printing process for your custom packaging boxes will depend upon what you want to achieve with your design and how it will be manufactured. If you have photographs, gradients, detailed graphics, or several colors in a single piece of packaging, choose CMYK.

When the packaging design focuses on using a specific brand color (usually as part of a logo) for an overall look, then choose PMS. Use Digital Printing for all prototype, small run, sample, multiple version designs or test product prints.

Businesses that are looking to create new seasonal products may find it advantageous to print a number of different artwork versions without the cost of traditional plate setups.

CMYK vs. PMS vs. Digital Printing: Cost Considerations

The cost of printing is affected by many factors, from quantity and box layout to materials used and color coverage. Digital printing is often most cost-effective for low-to-medium quantities as this technology does not require a physical plate for printing.

For higher quantities, there are typically cheaper alternatives that will depend upon your specific project. The costs associated with PMS jobs will also vary based on how many different spot colors you need to match and what is required for each job’s initial set-up.

CMYK pricing varies greatly based upon the specifics of the production run and the requested finishes.

How To Choose the Right Printing Method

Have a look at some of the following considerations to determine which custom packaging printing method you will select.

• Quantity: Consider the quantity of the packaging you want either small or large.
• Graphic Design: Pick CMYK or digital if you have designs that include detailed artwork.
• Brand Colors: Choose PMS if you want to use specific colors in your custom packaging design.
• Prototype Runs: As prototypes can be easily printed digitally, consider this as an option.
• Materials: Make sure the material of the boxes you purchase is compatible with the material you choose to print on.
• Budget: Get price quotes from several companies that include both setup costs and finishing costs to compare.
• Consistency: When possible, discuss your company’s color standards and obtain approval on any prints created by your printing supplier prior to finalizing a run.

Final Thoughts

Custom box printing methods such as CMYK, PMS and digital printing have their own benefits in producing branded packaging boxes. CMYK best suits complex designs that are produced using many colors while PMS allows for standardizing colors of brands to be used.

Digital printing has the benefit of being flexible enough to produce small orders, prototypes, and different versions of products. Determine which method will best fit your needs by discussing your specific artwork, quantity you need, budget constraints, materials, and production needs.

Once a decision is made discuss this with your printer and obtain a sample proof if there are concerns regarding the use of specific colors or how it will look as a finished product. Taking time to consider what method is best to use for your custom box printing can help ensure that it meets both your branding needs and functional needs. Request a quote today to discuss your custom packaging requirements and find the right printing solution for your brand.