What does (4 over 1) or (4 over 4) mean?

(4 over 1) or (4 over 4) in printing refers to the number of colors used in a printing process, as well as the number of printing plates used to produce the final printed product.

In printing, the number of colors used is often expressed as “over” the number of printing plates. For example, a print job that is described as “4 over 1” means that it uses four colors (typically cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, also known as CMYK), and requires one printing plate for each color. This type of printing is often called four-color process printing, and is used to produce a wide range of colors by mixing the four basic colors in various combinations.

A print job that is described as “4 over 4” means that it uses four colors, and requires four printing plates, one for each color. This type of printing is often used for printing projects that require precise color matching, or for printing projects that use special effects, such as foil stamping or spot UV printing.

In general, the more colors used in a printing process, and the more printing plates required, the more complex and expensive the printing process will be. By understanding the number of colors and printing plates used in a print job, you can get a better idea of the complexity and cost of the printing process, and make informed decisions about your printing needs.