Offset Printing Question: Greys...

[evanmarnoch]

So, this is going to be a bit arbitrary. I need to know just how faint a 20% & 10% grey is going to be. I'm printing on a 80lb. Matte Coated paper. Is 10% barely visible? We want it to be really faint, but still readable... but not to the point where you only see it when the light hits it just right. Would it be safer to bump the two greys to 30% and 20%? Maybe 25% and 15%? I don't even know if this is really answerable with that info... my badz.

[evanmarnoch]

Bmpzrz

[Iron Canvas Studios]

at the print shop I work at, the lightest screen we usually go is between 5-8% of a color before the dots become so light you can't even tell what it is. It is for something screened in the background on say... a letterhead or something?

[frank000]

It depends on the printer. I'd say maybe 5% black? That's the value I usually use whenever putting something "white" on a white page.

[evanmarnoch]

Thanks, Mike. It is part of a title... the book is in 3 sections (Called Never Eat With Your Mouth Full) - Never Eat / With Your / Mouth Full are the 3 separate sections and all are in 3 different sizes of booklets. Mouth Full being the smallest will just print "Mouth Full" in straight black. With Your, the middles section will print With Your in black, then Mouth Full in a lighter grey - 20 - 30%. Never Speak will print "Never Speak" in black then "With Your Mouth Full" in 10 - 20%... So that as you take away each booklet, the next is exposed but in a lighter grey. Does that make sense?

[evanmarnoch]

Thanks, Frank. Oh, actually, I just got your package in the mail. It is awesome, thanks so much! Really nice stuff!

[JoshPodolske]

I did that once at 10 percent on a web press and you couldnt see it at all, if i could re do it, i would go to 20 percent. but it might be different if it is sheet fed. if you go to the press check, ask the press operator for his recommendation. or your print rep might know (mine used to be a printer himself)

[Iron Canvas Studios]

Yeah I'd say your best bet would be to ask your printer, couldn't hurt at least.

I did that once at 10 percent on a web press and you couldnt see it at all, if i could re do it, i would go to 20 percent. but it might be different if it is sheet fed. if you go to the press check, ask the press operator for his recommendation. or our print rep might know (mine used to be a printer himself)

You should be able to see 10% on sheet fed, but of course they all vary to some degree.

[evanmarnoch]

Yeah, true. I'll shoot them an email. Thanks guys.

[Iron Canvas Studios]

sorry I wasn't really any help, but hey your new avatar is hilarious! I'm glad somebody used it!