Determining factors

The theoretical overprint rules are simple:

• Overlapping colors are combined and printed “on top of” each other.
• If there are common inks, the foreground inks win.

But, the devil is in the detail and, in practice, things may become complicated because the following factors determine the way in which overprint is applied:

• Color spaces
• Overprint modes and object types

For those who don’t like to read detailed technical descriptions, even if they are accu­rate, clear and well-illustrated, see also:

• The simple overprint and knockout theory
• Common pitfalls of overprint behavior