Researching information for the content of my ISSUU- based online publication and OUGD201 module brief outcome, my design for print handbook. In researching the differences between spot colours and process colours I hope to translate this fluently into my work with a full and accurate written text, as well as writing about the necessities to print spot colours in a professional print environment due to their specialty.
http://www.pantone.com/pages/pantone/Pantone.aspx?pg=19890&ca=1
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Spot Colors Colors created without screens or dots, such as those found in the PANTONE MATCHING SYSTEM®, are referred to in the industry as spot or solid colors. From a palette of 14 basic colors, each of the spot colors in the PANTONE MATCHING System is mixed according to its own unique ink mixing formula developed by Pantone. You probably mixed yellow and blue paint to get green in your youth. Creating a PANTONE Spot color is similar in concept, but with the added need for precision.
Each color in the System has a unique name or number followed by either a C, U or M. The letter suffix refers to the paper stock on which it is printed: C for Coated paper, U for Uncoated paper and M for Matte paper. Also created without screens, PANTONE metallic and pastel colors are considered part of the PANTONE MATCHING SYSTEM. Due to the gamut of the 14 basic colors, some spot colors will be cleaner and brighter than if they were created in the four-color process described below. Spot colors are commonly used in corporate logos and identity programs, and in one, two or three-color jobs. Process Colors This method of achieving color in printing is referred to as CMYK, four–color process, 4/c process or even just process. To reproduce a color image, a file is separated into four different colors: Cyan (C), Magenta (M), Yellow (Y) and Black (K).  A color image is separated into CMYK. When printed on paper, the original image is recreated. During separation, screen tints comprised of small dots are applied at different angles to each of the four colors. The screened separations are then transferred to four different printing plates, one for each color, and run on a printing press with one color overprinting the next. The composite image fools the naked eye with the illusion of continuous tone.
Converting spot colors to process colors.
Often times, a spot PANTONE MATCHING SYSTEM Color is requested when creating a four–color process piece. To save money, the spot color should be evaluated to see how it will look if printed in CMYK. While some colors can be simulated well, there are many that look quite different. As the quality of the resulting color conversion is very subjective, the designer can make decisions using the PANTONE® COLOR BRIDGE™ guide.
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Spot
colours are most often specified in Europe and North America using the Pantone
system. Swatch books like the one shown here are used to select colours,
and the
'ingredients' for that colour of ink are shown underneath.
As
the name suggests, Hexachrome printing uses six colours of ink, rather than
the basic four colours used in process (CMYK) printing.
Hexachrome uses purer cyan, magenta, yellow and black inks, supplemented
with Pantone Hexachrome Orange and Pantone Hexachrome Green to
give a dramatically increased range of colours, as shown in the diagram
to the right. 
MetalFX® works
on the basis that CMYK (see above) inks are transparent – so when printed
on top of specially modified silver ink (MFX Base Silver), it will allow
the
silver
to show
through the CMYK, and thus create the illusion of unlimited metallic colours.
The MFX Base Silver has special qualities that allow
the CMYK inks to adhere to it. 
