Is Color Variation Normal?

Have you ever had a batch of business cards or flyers printed with multiple colors only to notice that there are slight variations in the colors through the batch? This is called color variation and while it may look a bit unusual, these minor color shifts are a normal part of the printing process. You may notice some cards in your stack have slightly darker or lighter tones, though this isn't usually noticeable unless you compare cards side by side. Don't be alarmed at those minor variations, you haven't gotten a faulty print run.



Some people will separate the few cards that have color shifts and use them in mail-outs or other applications, while others hardly notice the difference and simply use the whole stack as normal. It's really up to you, but the color variations shouldn't be so drastic that you can't use your business cards with confidence. If there is an actual error in the color of your cards, get in touch with your customer service rep at Vistaprint.com right away, but a slight pigmentation change is par for the course.