Spot color applies a premixed ink to the page. This color is usually identified by a color system such as the PANTONE MATCHING SYSTEM. Spot color is useful for documents that require only a few colors, such as newsletters, brochures and stationery. Spot color is also used to match specific colors very closely.

CMYK printing is best for printing complex images, such as photographs. If there are more than three colors in the image with different gradients, then CMYK is the best option. Spot color printing is ideal when printing vector graphics. For example, company logos using three colors or fewer.

Spot color, selective color, or semi black and white processing is a technique that converts a color photo to black and white with a selected area retaining its original coloring. This strongly draws the viewer's attention. When some areas of the image are desaturated, the colored elements become the primary focus.

Spot colors are solid colors created using a specific premixed ink, usually based on Pantone Matching System (PMS) colors. Pantone colors are standardized, and each one is assigned an individual number and name, which designers and printers in different locations can use to easily identify the same exact color.