(by 12 people)
What the heck is REFLEX BLUE?
Have you ever heard of reflex blue? Would you have recognized this color before reading this lens? Were you aware of difficulties in printing when building a color that uses reflex blue? Why does reflex blue tend to shift in color?
Cast your vote ...
This is Reflex Blue !
Reflex Blue is a Pantone Spot Color
What is a spot color?
Reflex Blue, as a Pantone spot color, is used to build other Pantone colors that call for such a blue color.
In offset printing, a spot color is any color generated by an ink (pure or mixed) that is printed using a single run.
The widely-spread offset printing process is composed of four spot colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key (black) commonly referred to as CMYK. More advanced processes involve the use of six spot colors (hexachromatic process), which add Orange and Green to the process (termed CMYKOG). The two additional spot colors are added to compensate for the inefficient reproduction of faint tints using CMYK colors only. However, offset technicians around the world use the term spot color to mean any color generated by a non-standard offset ink; such as metallic, fluorescent, spot varnish, or custom hand-mixed inks.
When making a multi-color print with a spot color process, every spot color needs its own lithographic film. All the areas of the same spot color are printed using the same film, hence, using the same lithographic plate. The dot gain, hence the screen angle and line frequency, of a spot color vary according to its intended purpose. Spot lamination and UV coatings are sometimes referred to as 'spot colors', as they share the characteristics of requiring a separate lithographic film and print run.
Who or what is Pantone?
The Pantone FAQs ...
Pantone Inc. is a corporation headquartered in Carlstadt, New Jersey, USA.Horyn, Cathy. [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/20/fashion/20COLOR.html "Pantone's Color of the Year Is... "], The New York Times, December 20, 2007. Acecssed September 8, 2008. "Nonetheless, Pantone's choice of blue iris, or No. 18-3943, got some news media attention last week, which seemed to be partly the objective of the company, which is based in Carlstadt, N.J." The company is best known for its Pantone Matching System (PMS), a proprietary color space
used in a variety of industries, primarily printing, though sometimes in the manufacture of colored paint, fabric and plastics.
On 23 August 2007, X-Rite Inc, a supplier of color measurement instruments and software, announced it had reached an agreement to purchase Pantone Inc for $180 million. The deal was completed in October 2007.Pantone US$180m Acquisition Completion For X-Rite: News from X-Rite
Pantone Color Formula Guides
Me and my Pantone color guide are inseparable ...
Reflex Blue is a SLOW drying ink ...
Sometimes even moving one or two colors away from PMS 286, e.g. in your PMS book will make a positive difference. Note that your PMS book will usually show the proportions of various inks used in a particular PMS color.
Also, expect your job to take an extra day to dry if you use Reflex blue. This time isn't always needed, depending on the humidity, but it's better to be safe. --www.printingindustry.com.
A Comparison of Reflex Blue with other Blues
My experience working with Reflex Blue
For the past 8 years, I've worked for two companies which manufacture and supply pressroom products to the printing industry. I've designed layouts for marketing collateral and have worked with a company logo that called for several parts of ...Reflex Blue :: Pantone 286
That color, according to my Pantone formula guide calls for 12 parts of Pantone Reflex Blue to 4 parts of Pantone Pro. Blue. I can honestly say that out of 4 pieces of colateral that were printed at different times that no 2 ever completely matched with regards to the blue!
I asked an expert about Reflex Blue
... I didn't have to go too far to get an answer!
Just recently my hubby and I were talking about Reflex Blue. For some reason, he kept telling me that Reflex Blue was a lighter blue ... that was probably the only matter that we disagreed on. You see, he too KNEW that Reflex Blue can be a tricky spot color to work with ... he agreed that yes there can be a 'color shift' with this blue.
According to him, there is a chemical component in the dye that makes up the color that interacts with other chemicals in the printing / coating process. Aqueous coatings can cause a color shift.
Reflex Blue photos
The morning sky from my apartment block, an unbelievable wash of jet contrails, ...
Each print in the series is strictly limited to 50 unit. Advance pre-order avail...
A morning at the printer's, the posters came out great :)
The buzz on Reflex Blue ...
It seems Reflex Blue is more than just a color!
- The Reflex Blue Show with Nate Voss and Donovan Beery, Episode 19 ...
- (we have never entered, BTW.) Also joining us is special guest Steve RDQlus Gordon. Download The Reflex Blue Show with Nate Voss and Donovan Beery, Episode 19 (22 meg) or click here to subscribe directly from the iTunes Music Store.
- The Reflex Blue Show with Nate Voss and Donovan Beery, Episode 18 ...
- ... which does not fare well under our steely gaze. Download The Reflex Blue Show with Nate Voss and Donovan Beery, Episode 18 (35 meg) or click here to subscribe directly from the iTunes Music Store. Classic Book Recommendations ...
- The Reflex Blue Show with Nate Voss and Donovan Beery, Episode 17 ...
- Download The Reflex Blue Show with Nate Voss and Donovan Beery, Episode 17 (27 meg) or click here to subscribe directly from the iTunes Music Store.
- Kadavy on the Reflex Blue Show, Episode 15
- I not-so-recently sat down with Nate Voss and Donovan Beery of 36point.com's Reflex Blue Show to talk about networking for designers - hopefully, without being a webcock - and to take my first sip of Mountain Dew in over a decade. ...
The CMYK / RGB values for Reflex Blue
Reflex Blue Art Prints
Michael Banks
Masao Ota
Cosmos Mauve on Reflex Blue by Masao Ota
15.8 in. x 19.6 in.
He has had numerous exhibitions in Tokyo including Artworks in Fallen Leaves in 1990, Inherence in 1992, and Selfish Body in 1994. He has received several awards for his work in Japan.
Gerbera Magenta on Reflex Blue by Masao Ota
15.8 in. x 19.6 in.
Marguerite Pure White on Reflex Blue Art Print Poster by Masao Ota
15.75 " x 19.7"
Marguerite Pure White on Reflex Blue Art Print Poster By Masao Ota, 15.75 " x 19.7 "
Amazon Price: (as of 10/11/2008)
List Price:
Orchid, Pure White On Reflex Blue, Fine Art Print by Michael Banks
15.75" x 19.75"
Orchid, Pure White on Reflex Blue Botanical Art Poster Print by Michael Banks, 16x20
Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 10/11/2008)
Reflex Blue Art Prints from Posters and Prints at Pascom LLC
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
Reflex Blue Interesting Items!
Reflex Blue Duffel Bag !
Reflex Blue Paint Kit from TCPGlobal-AutoBodyDepot
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byReflex Blue Sunglasses from POCKETOOLS CUTLERY
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byReflex Blue UFO Radiator
UFO RADIATOR SHROUD REFLEX BLUE YAM #YA02898089 YA02898089
Amazon Price: $38.95 (as of 10/11/2008)
Drop me a line ...
Were you familiar with reflex blue, the color, and any difficulties with printing? Are you a fan of this color? What I want to know is this ... if it is difficult to achieve a true reflex blue color and/or it takes a while to dry, why are there so many logos using reflex blue???
Creative Commons License
Do Squidoo, But Don't Plagiarize ...
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
Plagiarism is the unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one's own original work ... it is just NOT cool so don't do it!
