Will gray colors print as intended?

Shades of solid gray are one of the most challenging colors to reproduce. This is the case no matter what the printed product is, including text-heavy booklets and image-heavy direct mailers. Here are some of the common issues we run into with gray and tips for designing with gray.

Banding

Large areas of solid gray can run into issues with banding (unintended lines of a lighter or darker shade that run throughout the color). This issue is affected by the paper stock and coating and may be more or less noticeable depending on which stock you choose. To reduce the likelihood of banding, try not to use large solid areas of gray or gray backgrounds. Consider adding a texture to make any potential banding less noticeable.

Warm or Cool Color Shifts

When using gray, choose a shade made only from black ink. Grays made from a combination of cyan, magenta, and yellow ink can easily lean warm or cold instead of the intended neutral gray.

What does Greenerprinter do to help with gray colored designs?

At Greenerprinter, we calibrate our machines every morning so that our color is as accurate as possible. We can also do color matching to a printed piece or a specific hex color. This means that if you provide us with a previously printed packaging sleeve, business card, or other printed product, we can match the specific shade of gray on it. Alternatively, you can order a color swatch proof and we'll send you a sheet with multiple color options for you to pick from. Please let us know if you have any concerns and we will work together to find a solution.