Rich Black
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- autonoma
Is there a huge difference in print between pure black and rich black (say, 63C 52M 51Y 100K)?
The reason I ask is because I'm redesigning a record my band is re-releasing and adding a few new elements to the design. I always like it when there are hidden elements in a design that you might find at a later date, and I've seen designs before where when you hold what you thought was a black page at an angle you see an image or text. I want to do this and was wondering if using a vector graphic printed in rich black over a pure black background would be really obvious or if it might be more subliminal (which is what I'm going for).
Thanks.
- penkz0
damn... i thought it was another racial thread..
- WildPony0
I thought a lot of that 'subliminal' look was just from printing a light UV finish over the black portions. Thats the best way to get that 'hold-to the-light-and-see-something' effect.
- autonoma0
I'm sure it is, but our label isn't really willing to pay for something extra like that.
Tortoise did that with their "Millions Now Living Will Never Die" cover.
- Bluejam0
I'm picturing the scene outta Spinal Tap right now...
"It's blacker than blacker."
- Bluejam0
"It's blacker than black."
oops.
- paulrand0
i think its best to use rich black, (something like 100k 40c 20y 20 m) for any large black area... maybe use regular 100 k in those vector areas you want to differentiate.
- autonoma0
Thanks paulrand. Will do.
I noticed that it's what the basic black in Freehand defaults to (69c 57m 57y 95k).
- unknown0
I remember back at college when printing out my presentation boards... mistakenly on a black background... and when I put a RGB pict on top of a 100 k black in illustrator the RBG pict was much richer. Dunno if that helps, but there was deffo. a difference
- Duane0
autonoma, it will work. not sure how subtle of an effect you are going for, but yes, there will be a visible difference between elements printed in rich black over a 100% black. i've used that as a poor man's varnish before.
- kerus0
i think what you are looknig for would work best with a spot varnish.
rich black definitely pops next to a 100k black. if the registration is off at all thought, the edges of what you are doing in rich black can get pretty soft.
but hey, experiment.
- Duane0
a varnish would probably be best, but if budget prohibits it, play with the colors. overprinting a 100% block of cyan, magenta or yellow on 100% black will produce a cleaner effect and avoid the registration problem kerus mentioned. run indigo tests or get some other type of proof with a weak black density. play.
- autonoma0
I'm playing, I'm playing!
Just got some copies back (got some color copies of a few ideas done). Looks like a rich black background with a 100k vector image looks pretty decent.
The thing is that the vector image in 100k is going to have to be seen through the cd tray, so it shouldn't be TOO subtle. I think this combo works perfectly.
Thanks everyone for your suggestions!