Prepress & Color Control Queries, ZQA

Banding: Spot Colors and Color Depth Issues

Besides software management, how do low color depth and the use of Spot Colors increase the risk of Banding?

Low file color depth (e.g., less than 8-bit) is a primary contributor to Banding, as there is insufficient data to display a smooth Gradient, causing abrupt color shifts. Also, attempting to simulate gradients using a limited number of Spot Colors significantly increases the risk of Banding.

In these situations, Color Control in printing is difficult to maintain. To reduce Banding risk in Spot Colors, the gradient should be divided into smaller areas with separate color patches, or, if possible, more process colors should be used. These steps ensure the stepped phenomenon does not occur in limited color spectrums.

Aligned with: Adobe / FTA / G7