Spot ink is a process decision, not a color one
A spot color is not mixed from the four process inks; it is a pre-mixed ink loaded onto one more unit of the press. So the real question is not whether the color looks good. It is whether the added plates and washups, and the risk of a second pass when units run out, are worth paying for.
What the checks are based on
The checklist gathers the conditions that decide the question on the press floor. When ink count exceeds the units available, the passes needed are ink count divided by units, rounded up. Added cost is the number of spot inks multiplied by the plate and washup rates you enter. Current as of October 2026.
Limits and disclaimer
Spot color numbers and their CMYK equivalents are not provided, because that data is proprietary and licensed. No cost benchmarks are offered either, and the tool does not rule on whether a process match would do instead. Settle color from a genuine guide book and a press proof.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Spot color numbers and their published equivalents are proprietary licensed material, so none are built in. Pick color from a genuine guide book and confirm it on a press proof.
It depends on plate price, washup charge and run length, so there is no fixed figure. Enter the rates your printer quoted and the tool returns the added cost and the cost per copy.
Often yes, if the area is small and the tolerance is loose. Over large flats the screen shows and color drifts with press conditions. This tool does not rule on which way is right.