The term overprint is the process of printing one thing over another. So when one ink is printed on top of another one, either accidentally or on purpose to create a particular effect, this would be considered overprinting.
As previously mentioned above, overprinting can be utilised to produce special effects such as additional colours and silhouettes. However problems can occur when this happens unintentionally. For example when a colour and pure black touch. Pure black is made made using only the K plate. If you are unfamiliar with the plate colours and the CMYK colour model, check out our blog post on the topic. It is recommended to use a richer black, which uses all four colour plates, when overprinting is a concern. Most design software will allow you to set the overprint settings.
About the Author: keir
Related posts
15 printing terms every designer needs to know – Part 1
The first part in our 'When Mick mentions saddle stitching what does he mean?' article. You'll find some information on ...
Paper types
There are various types of printer paper available, but not all of them are created for the same purpose. With ...
The Basics Of Print – Part 1
One of the most important assets you can have as a designer doing print work, whether you are new or ...
Print Basics – Part 2
The second part of our Print Basics article. It covers Resolutions, Bleed, Fonts and much more.
Popular Print Terms
We’ve put together a short list of popular print terms used on a regular basis by digital and lithographic printers. ...
Designing for Print – Setting Up Crops and Bleed
A design destined for print requires setting up to certain specifications to ensure that the work is printed correctly by ...
Using & Converting Spot Colours in Illustrator
Sometimes a client will request you use a Pantone spot colour in their artwork. This can cause problems when setting ...
Converting colours in supplied artwork
How to avoid problems with spot colours cropping up in print documents.
7 Beginner Mistakes to Avoid When Designing for Print
Designing for print can be a minefield for beginners. There’s so many easy mistakes to make that can have a ...
Why Is Print Media Important?
When it comes to promoting products and services, businesses can peruse a number of different avenues for a successful outcome. ...
15 printing terms every designer needs to know – Part 2
The second part of 'When Mick mentions saddle stitching what does he mean?'. Contains lots of terminology useful for everyone ...
Why your Business Needs Quality Stationery
Stationery is one of the most underestimated products a business can have. Often overlooked by startups or businesses in a ...
Print Trends For 2019
The print industry defies the naysayers every year and continues to thrive with new innovations and is undoubtedly still going ...
Large Format
Large format refers to anything that has to be printed using a specialty printer, commonly larger than 16 by 20 ...
About Image Resolution
The higher resolution, the sharper the image will be. A resolution of 300 dpi (dots per inch) is recommended for ...
The Ultimate Guide to Designing with Black
Whether you're a graduate designer learning the tricks of the trade, a web designer delving into print or an accomplished ...
Pantone Color
Pantone is known as the worldwide standard of color. The company has been around since 1963 and has a universal ...
General & Magazine Print Terms
General Print Terms Against the Grain: Folding at right angles to the grain direction of the paper being used, as ...
Why Choose Lamination Printing
Here at Print Mule, we know how valuable a humble products like leaflets, menus and business cards can be – ...
What Does Your Business Card Say About You?
In a meeting with a new client or potential business partner, what is the one thing you are most likely ...
4 Top Tips For Maintaining Your Printer
Just like any other piece of equipment, your printer needs love and attention to stay properly maintained. We have outlined ...
