While for most print jobs CMYK is enough, some jobs are better suited to using a ‘spot color’. Spot colors are printed using a single, pre-mixed ink color, rather than a combination of the four basic colors in CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, and key) printing.
This makes spot color ink printing ideal for consistency, particularly on those important elements like logos.
It also allows for printers to use inks that cannot be made using the traditional CMYK process, such as fluorescent colors or metallic tones.
When picking a spot color, be sure to decide whether you want to use the coated or uncoated versions, and consider what kind of paper you are having your work finished on.
Make sure you know exactly what you are looking at by sourcing a color chart from a company like Pantone. If you are using spot color information from a third party, make sure you use the right number to ensure that the printer uses the right type of ink for your print job.