I dont have the experience of most here but 0/0/0/100 always seemed plenty sufficient on roll printers. Ive only ever needed to make rich black when sending to offset. It seems like a big waste to run so much ink. Billboard keeps getting thrown around here but what signs are anyone actually producing at this low of quality?
I find a build of 0/0/0/100 to result in more of a dark greenish/charcoal color than a nice, deep black meant to provide the highest contrast we intend in our design/layout.
I don't care about a couple dollars spread over $500 worth of ink for four 440ml cartridges which produces thousands of dollars worth of work if it means we're happier with the final outputs and how they match our intended color schemes. I view these primary solid color ink builds the same way I approach mixing paint to get it to cover better. When we print reds or other typically UV affected colors, unless a specific PMS color is specified, we always fortify the colors with a few degrees of the other ink colors to get a more solid, durable color. We're not in the business to redo prematurely fading work and we're located in a extremely high UV affect area. We work on a durability basis versus penny pinching basis, so I drive a lesser car and don't collect other recreational toys than most sign company owners. Bad on me.
Our reputation is for high quality, durable, well built, visually compelling work, not skimping to save a few cents here and there. Our cost of goods numbers are very much in line with our profitability and our revenues grow every single year, so we'll stick with our approach.
We have multiple clients now who previously had bought the sales pitch of our primary competitor who were sold unlaminated wrap prints on cheaper material and after short periods of time are now in the fold with us. We just measured up and are preparing to do the third truck in the last six months from one client that fell for it and now less than a year later, the wrap is failing. The colors are fading and the craftsmanship is lousy. Cuts all over the trucks, misaligned graphics, poor overall installation practices. On the initial quote package for five trucks, we were only a few hundred dollars higher per truck. So now after only a year, they get to redo all five at a higher price or be continue to be visually and financially embarrassed about their initial decision. We have embraced them all with grace, humility and professionalism and assured them of our competency.
When I letter something by hand and the final color is meant to be a deep, rich black, I add a touch of dark blue, dark brown and dark green to my 1Shot Black to fortify it. I firmly believe that these practices improve longevity as well. People on sign painting forums and message boards all sit around and complain about how the products we use aren't as good, as opaque or user friendly as they used to be. When I need white or a light color to cover better, I add a few drops of metallic silver, imitation gold, and black to my white. Its like giving your colors vitamins, speeds up painting time, and adds longevity, which I always thought was a positive trait and goal for how we go about producing our work.
Well, I'm just trying to counter those weaknesses most of us are seeing in the materials we work with.
I also tint my primers, so the finish coat doesn't have to work so hard to cover solidly. This is all simple, common sense stuff that my mentors taught me 40 years ago.
