Colour & Print Solutions by hubergroup: The colour YELLOW

The Colour Yellow – Graphically, Chemically, and in Perception

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Yellow in the Printing Industry

Yellow is one of the primary colours in the subtractive colour mixing system used in the printing industry and plays a central role in the CMYK colour model. In printing technology, it is crucial for creating vibrant, bright, and eye-catching designs. When combined with other colours such as magenta, cyan, and black, a wide range of shades and tones can be produced. Yellow is frequently used to convey energy, optimism, and vibrancy, making it a popular choice in advertising, packaging, and various aspects of graphic design.

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‍Chemical Aspects of the Colour Yellow

Yellow is one of the primary colours in the visible spectrum, with a wavelength ranging from approximately 570 to 590 nm. These wavelengths are perceived by the yellow photoreceptors (cones) in the human retina, which are particularly sensitive to light in this range.

Well-known yellow pigments in art include cadmium yellow (an inorganic pigment based on cadmium) and chrome yellow (derived from chromium compounds). Another example is Indian Yellow, a historical pigment originally obtained from the urine of cows fed on mango leaves, which resulted in a vibrant yellow colour. In nature, a well-known yellow pigment is xanthophyll, a plant pigment found in leaves, responsible for the yellow coloration in autumn foliage.

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‍Yellow in the Subtractive Colour Mixing System (CMYK)

In the CMYK model, yellow is one of the primary colours, along with cyan and magenta. This model is based on subtractive colour mixing, where colours are created by combining inks or pigments on paper.

• Pure Yellow: In the printing industry, pure yellow is produced using primary yellow pigment, which results in a very bright, warm colour.

• Mixing with Other Colores: Mixing yellow with magenta creates orange tones, while combining it with cyan produces various green and brown shades. Yellow contributes to the brightness and freshness of mixed colours.

Yellow is used in offset printing, flexographic printing, digital printing, and screen printing on various materials, including paper, cardboard, and plastics.

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‍Challenges in Using Yellow in Printing

Despite being a highly noticeable and vibrant colour, achieving precise reproduction in the printing process presents some challenges:

1. Saturation and Opacity: Yellow is a transparent colour, making it difficult to stand out on darker or saturated paper. Sufficient opacity must be achieved to prevent the background from showing through.

2. Colour Accuracy: Due to its brightness, achieving consistent yellow intensity across different printing processes can be challenging. The use of precise colour measurement systems helps maintain consistency. Colour Services | Germany

3. Printing Process and Paper Choice: The choice of paper and ink significantly affects yellow reproduction. On matte paper, colours may appear faded, while glossy paper enhances yellow tones.

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‍Hard Facts About Yellow in Printing

• Yellow pigments used in printing are primarily based on organic azo pigments.

• Yellow pigments cover a spectral range from greenish to reddish hues, expanding the colour gamut in printing but making it difficult to refer to a single "yellow."

• Azo pigments are classified into monoazo and diazo groups:

Monoazo yellows offer good lightfastness but lower solvent resistance.
Diazo yellows have lower lightfastness but better solvent resistance.

• The hubergroup only uses yellow pigments with reliable fastness properties, avoiding inherently unstable yellow pigments.

• Glazing plays a crucial role in colour mixing and overprinting, influencing the final appearance of yellow tones.

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Conclusion:

Yellow is a bright and energetic colour that plays a significant role in nature, art, graphic design, and perception. In art and design, it is used to evoke happiness, optimism, and attention, but it also serves as a warning colour. Psychologically, yellow conveys warmth, freshness, and liveliness, with both positive associations (such as joy and energy) and cautionary ones (such as warnings). Physiologically, yellow has a stimulating effect, promoting creativity and appetite but potentially causing overstimulation when overused.

Yellow is a key colour in the printing industry, particularly in the CMYK model, where it is combined with cyan and magenta to create a broad spectrum of vivid tones. The colour is used in various printing techniques such as offset, flexographic, digital, and screen printing.

However, its precise reproduction in printing remains a challenge due to its transparency and the difficulty in achieving consistent saturation. Advanced printing techniques and high-quality pigments help ensure optimal results.

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Feel free to get in touch with Thomas Polster with any questions you may have:
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­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Thomas Polster
‍Global Key Account Manager & Manager Global Business Development Brand Owner, hubergroup Deutschland GmbH

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The photos shown have been kindly provided by our member Team Creatif, who work for these clients.

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