Why do printers not like working with REFLEX BLUE so much?

Moreover, "I don't like it" is putting it mildly. Upon receiving an order for the production of packaging with the inclusion of dark blue colors, the printing staff begins to rapidly change all production plans. And at the sight of a dark blue die, they generally lose all the mood for a good working day. Now I will explain in detail why...

There are 14 basic colors in printing: Pantone: Pantone Yellow, Pantone Yellow 012, Pantone Orange 021, Pantone Warm Red, Pantone Red 032, Pantone Rubine Red, Pantone Rhodamine Red, Pantone Purple, Pantone Violet, Pantone Blue 072, Pantone Reflex Blue, Pantone Process Blue, Pantone Green, Pantone Black. They are the ones historically used to create all other Pantone colors. One of the above colors is the same Pantone Reflex Blue that will be discussed in the article. In ordinary language, this color is similar to blue-violet. A very saturated rich color and most likely this is what attracts the attention of designers when creating a packaging layout. But this Pantone owes its bright saturated color to the family of alkaline blue pigments, which include cobalt-containing minerals, and these minerals have a very strong shade and give the corresponding properties of Pantone Reflex Blue. But these minerals, like most other alkaline materials, are very porous (can be compared to a sponge) and are enemies of polygraphists.

When printing using a sheetfed offset press, the printer uses offset ink directly. But the following basic materials are used in printing: metal plates, paint, water and paper. When applying paint on paper, the paper becomes wet, and the paint needs time to dry and there is a risk of its blurring (erasure). The paint needs time to dry. Moreover, lighter paint dries a little faster than dark ones. And here is the time to talk about our Pantone Reflex Blue. The same alkaline composition greatly interferes with the drying process. And drying itself can take quite a long time, and some experts even say that at certain sizes (especially spot coating) the Pantone Reflex Blue coating never dries completely. And rubbing paint can happen at any moment of time.... even on the shelf of a store or pharmacy.

When printing using a sheetfed offset press, the printer uses offset ink directly. But the following basic materials are used in printing: metal plates, paint, water and paper. When applying paint on paper, the paper becomes wet, and the paint needs time to dry and there is a risk of its blurring (erasure). The paint needs time to dry. Moreover, lighter paint dries a little faster than dark ones. And now it's time to talk about our Pantone Reflex Blue. The same alkaline composition greatly interferes with the drying process. And drying itself can take quite a long time, and some experts even say that at certain sizes (especially spot coating) the Pantone Reflex Blue coating never dries completely. And rubbing paint can happen at any moment of time.... even on the shelf of a store or pharmacy.

Many of you are familiar with such a term as pantone fan and even often held it in your hands. But few paid attention to the fact that each pantone is a mixture and consists of several pantones. And, if you look at the percentage ratio of the mixture of pantones, which are signed under the name of each pantone, you can find Pantone Reflex Blue in blue colors. But, surprisingly, it is not present in all rich, bright and saturated colors. Take, for example, Pantone 2747, which is deeper and more saturated than Pantone Reflex Blue, but in which Pantone Reflex Blue itself is completely absent. The color is deeper and dries with less trouble.

Advice to the customer: if you see at the stage of creating the original layout that it is very important for you to use a deep dark blue color, consider covering it with uflak or choose a pantone that will be absent or present, but in a minimal amount of Pantone Reflex Blue. In this way, you will protect yourself from damaged packaging already at the stage of sale. After all, do you remember that this color will never dry?