In the multi-color printing, in the process of monochromatic printing as a unit, and sequentially overprinting and restoring originals in a certain order, the sequence of ink overprinting is called color sequential. In four-color printing, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black can be arranged in 24 different color orders.

1. Arrange the color sequence according to the content and characteristics of the original. Printing is a means of designing layouts and texts, and the emotional components of various colors are different. Therefore, the arrangement of color sequence must first consider the content and characteristics of the manuscript. The editor has often chosen the tone of the layout color when designing the graphic layout. This tone represents the overall feeling of the overall tone and becomes the dominant color when printing. In terms of color, the warm tone is based on red, orange, and yellow; the cool tone is based on green and blue. Due to the hiding power of the ink, generally the first printing of warm tone is black and blue, and the latter is magenta and yellow. After the cold tone, the first printing is magenta, and the latter is cyan. Different color sequences, color cast effects are also different, so the screen color atmosphere needs to strengthen the color, can be placed in the last color printing.

2. Arrange the color sequence by ink transparency. Good ink with good transparency. After the two colors are overprinted, the color light of the ink layer below can pass through the ink layer above to achieve better subtractive color mixing and display the correct new color. If the yellow ink used is clear yellow, the order of the four inks' transparency is: yellow> magenta> cyan> black. In general, inks with poor transparency are printed first, and inks with good transparency are printed.

3. Arrange the color order from the advantage of overprinting. Due to the defects such as paper deformation and stretching, the main colors of the printing products with higher printing requirements can be arranged in the adjacent two color groups for printing. Such as two-color machine, can be arranged in the same unit to complete a print, to avoid the paper due to paper storage and other issues caused by stretching. A large area of ​​the field can be arranged for post-printing to avoid problems such as scumming during the handover of the paper. In addition, the monochromatic machine superimposes the second color after the first color is dry, and the multicolor machine is a wet and wet process, so the ink viscosity and the amount of ink should be controlled. That is, the arrangement of a large-viscosity ink for printing first and a low-viscosity ink for printing afterwards is crucial. Otherwise, the disadvantage of reverse printing may be caused.

4. Consider the nature of the paper to arrange the color sequence. Poor quality paper, considering its whiteness, low smoothness, fiber loose, poor ink absorption, easy to lose powder off hair, you can print yellow ink first, to make up for the paper above defects. When printing at night, because the visibility of the human eye is reduced, weak color inks with low lightness should not be arranged in the first color. The order of the brightness of the ink is: white <yellow <green <green <red <blue <purple.

5. Consider process factors such as plate making. When printing, the difference between the angles of the lines of the adjacent two color groups is at least 30°, which is beneficial to preventing the defects such as color shift and moire.

6. Consider the color sequence arrangement based on cost. Cheap black and blue ink are printed first, high-priced magenta and yellow ink are printed.

In general, large-area scenery dominates the picture (cool tone is the keynote), with black, magenta, blue, and yellow as the sequence. Black prints are arranged first, and blacks are used to draw outlines to facilitate overprinting of other colors. The clear yellow final print can be used to adjust the brightness of the screen to create a glossy, vibrant color. The character-oriented picture (warm tone) uses black, cyan, magenta, and yellow sequences. The ink with poor transparency is printed first and will not cover other colors. After the magenta and yellow prints, the characters' faces are ruddy, with rich colors and vivid effects.