Understanding 5 Colour and CMYK Printing

CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black (Key) - the four inks used to create full-colour images through a layering process.

Instead of printing solid, pre-mixed colours, CMYK works by blending tiny dots of these four inks to reproduce a full spectrum of shades. It’s the same principle used in magazine printing or photographic reproduction.

What Is 5 Colour (Spot Colour) Printing?

5 Colour printing, often called spot colour screen printing uses individual, pre-mixed inks for each colour in a design. These inks are usually matched to Pantone references, ensuring total accuracy and consistency across print runs.

For example, if your design includes four solid colours plus a white base layer, that’s a five-colour print. Each colour has its own screen, and each layer is printed one at a time.
Why Choose 5 Colour Printing:

• Perfect colour consistency. Pantone matching guarantees the same hue every time.
• Vibrant, solid designs. Spot colours pop on fabric, making them great for logos and brand artwork.
• Excellent durability. Thicker ink layers mean long-lasting prints.
• Precise registration. Great for designs with clear edges and bold shapes.

What Is CMYK Printing?

CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black (Key) - the four inks used to create full-colour images through a layering process.

Instead of printing solid, pre-mixed colours, CMYK works by blending tiny dots of these four inks to reproduce a full spectrum of shades. It’s the same principle used in magazine printing or photographic reproduction.

Why Choose CMYK Printing:

• Best for detailed or photographic artwork - Perfect for gradients, portraits, and complex graphics.
• Soft, smooth colour transitions - Ideal for multi-tonal designs that can’t be achieved with spot colours.
• Cost-effective for full-colour prints - Uses only four inks, regardless of how many colours appear in the image.

CMYK is a little trickier to master in screen printing because fabrics absorb ink differently to paper but when done right, the results are stunning.

5 Colour vs CMYK: Which Should You Use?

Choosing between the two depends on your design goals.

• Go with 5 Colour Printing if your artwork relies on solid brand colours, sharp lines, or bold graphics. It’s unbeatable for precision and consistency.
• Choose CMYK Printing if your design includes gradients, photos, or multi-tone artwork. It captures complexity and realism beautifully.

5 Colour and CMYK printing are two sides of the same creative coin. Spot colour offers precision and power, while CMYK delivers depth and realism.

Whether you’re printing vibrant merch, bold branding or full-colour artwork, understanding how each process works helps you make smarter design choices and ensures the final product looks exactly how you imagined.

The Vektor Difference

At Vektor, print speed isn’t just about machinery — it’s about process. We’ve fine-tuned every stage of production to keep projects moving quickly and efficiently. Our setup includes:

• Automated carousel presses for consistent, high-speed printing
• Experienced printers monitoring every run for quality control
• Streamlined drying and packing processes
• Flexible scheduling for urgent or large-scale orders

This ensures that your custom printed clothing in the UK arrives on time, on budget, and up to our high standards.