Black SettingsUpdated 2 months ago

Black can appear differently depending on how it's set up and what material it's printed on. To ensure depth, coverage and consistency in your design, it’s important to use the right black values — especially for large areas or solid fills.

Looking to match a Pantone black or specific shade?
Pantone printing is available for select projects. Reach out for a quote if you need precise colour matching. CMYK black is still the best choice for fast or low-quantity orders.

Recommended CMYK value for rich black:

C20 / M20 / Y20 / K100

This formula produces a deep, consistent black that’s ideal for background fills and larger shapes.

Material guidance for printing black:

1. For designs with large black areas, we recommend choosing White or Kraft board

2. To achieve a premium, crisp black finish — especially when paired with white design elements — White board is the best choice. It delivers clean contrast and strong ink coverage for polished, high-impact results

3. Coated White is not suitable for heavy black backgrounds — this material doesn’t absorb ink well and can appear patchy or inconsistent

4. Small black text or icons can still be printed on any material, but for solid black coverage, use uncoated stocks only

Avoid using 100% K only for large fills — it can appear flat or washed out. Always use rich black unless advised otherwise.

Not sure which material to choose for your black design? Send it through — we’ll recommend the best match.