1-color printing; desaturate or duotone?

[jimbrady]

If my printer does business cards full color front (4/1) and one color back (1/1) will a monochrome image work (on the 1/1)? Does it have to be duotone? I'm fuzzy on the difference as regards printing w/one ink color.

No, I can't call him on this--just answer me g)

[rgG]

A one color image is called a halftone. A duotone is a two color image. If your back print color is black, it will just be a black and white image. If you use a different color than black on the back then your picture will be like a black and white picture except in blue, or red or whatever your one color is.

HTH.

[Jimmypoo]

So to clarify just a bit further.... one color on the back for text is fine. If you have art that isn't line art (or needs to be a photo) - you'll have to "half-tone" it (turn it into comic strip-like dots) in order to use black ink and still render the picture.

Basically like black and white news paper photos. The size of the dot is what provides the illusion of gray, and it varies throughout the image.

[jimbrady]

Thanks both