Deluxe vs Full Color Napkin Printing: The One Question That Makes the Choice for You
Deluxe vs full color napkin printing looks like a design decision. You compare logos, colors and finishes.
Then you discover the decision was made earlier. It was made by something that has nothing to do with your artwork.
Most buyers only notice it after the first quote comes back with the wrong option. By then they have already chosen a napkin.
That one question takes five seconds to answer. Once you know it, the rest of the comparison falls into place: minimums, plate fees, reorders and the look on the table.
Here is the question, then the full side-by-side, then three quick cases you can match to your own order.
Which is better, Deluxe or Full Color napkin printing?
Neither is better in general. The napkin color decides first. Full Color is digital CMYK printing and only works on white napkins. Deluxe prints 1 or 2 spot inks with a printing plate, on white or colored napkins. So a black or any other colored napkin means Deluxe. A white napkin means you can choose either.
That is the question: what color is the napkin itself?
If the answer is white, read on. The choice then depends on your design, your quantity and how often you reorder.
What is Full Color napkin printing?
Full Color is Napki’s digital CMYK process. CMYK is the standard four-color print method: cyan, magenta, yellow and black. Mixed together, those four inks reproduce photos, gradients and multi-color logos.
The facts that matter for buyers:
- Minimum order: 20 units.
- Plate fee: none. Digital printing needs no printing plate.
- Napkin color: white only. The CMYK technique needs a white base.
- Papers: 2-ply, 3-ply, Double Point and Airlaid.
Full Color is the natural pick for a couple’s photo, a full-color logo or an illustration. Read more on our Full Color custom napkins page.
What is Deluxe napkin printing?
Deluxe is Napki’s own spot-color system. Each ink is printed with its own metal printing plate, also called a cliché. The result is a single, saturated color with crisp edges.
The facts that matter for buyers:
- Minimum order: 100 units.
- Inks: 1 ink or 2 inks per design.
- Plate fee: $49.09 per ink, paid once per design. So 1 ink is $49.09 and 2 inks are $98.18.
- Napkin color: white or colored.
- Sizes and papers: all of them, including the Kangaroo cutlery-pocket fold.
Metallic gold and silver count as inks too. A gold monogram on a navy napkin is a 1-ink Deluxe design. Our Deluxe custom napkins page has the full range.
Deluxe vs full color napkin printing, side by side
Here is the comparison in one table, using only what Napki publishes.
| Feature | Full Color (digital CMYK) | Deluxe (1 or 2 spot inks) |
|---|---|---|
| Napkin color | White only | White or colored |
| Best for | Photos, gradients, 3+ colors | Logos and text in 1 or 2 colors |
| Minimum order | 20 units | 100 units |
| Printing plate | None | $49.09 per ink, once per design |
| Reorders, same design | No plate in any case | Plate reused at no extra cost |
| Look on the table | Full image, every color | Solid, sharp, saturated color |
Delivery is the same for both. It takes 10 business days from proof approval with FedEx Priority, or about 14 to 16 with Economy, US customs clearance included.
*Not sure yet? Run both options through the price calculator on the Napki home page and compare them in 30 seconds.*
Four questions to choose in under a minute
If your napkin is white, these four questions settle it. Answer them in order.
- Does your design include a photo or a gradient? Yes means Full Color. Spot inks cannot reproduce a photo.
- Does your design use three or more colors? Yes usually means Full Color. Deluxe prints 1 or 2 inks.
- Do you need fewer than 100 napkins? Yes means Full Color, which starts at 20 units.
- Will you reorder the same design several times a year? Yes tilts toward Deluxe. The plate is paid once, and Napki’s printing inks guide notes that Deluxe has a lower unit price at volume.
If you answered no to all four, both work. Then it comes down to the look you want: a full image, or a clean solid mark.
Three cases, three different answers
These examples show how the question plays out. They are illustrations, not client stories.
A wedding with a photo of the couple. 150 white cocktail napkins, 20×20 cm, with a photo and the date. The photo decides it: Full Color. No plate fee, and the minimum of 20 units is far below the order.
A cocktail bar with a black napkin. The bar wants its logo in gold on black napkins. The napkin color decides it: Deluxe, 1 ink. Metallic gold counts as one ink, so the plate fee is $49.09. The bar pays it once, then reorders with the same plate at no extra cost.
A restaurant with a two-color logo on white. The logo is a red mark and a gray wordmark. White napkins allow both systems. If the restaurant reorders every quarter, Deluxe 2 inks makes sense: plate fee $98.18 once, then reused. If it is a one-off event run of 80 napkins, Full Color fits, because Deluxe starts at 100.
What should you send with your artwork?
Send whatever you have. A vector logo file is ideal, but a clear image works as a starting point. Napki’s design team prepares the final artwork at no extra cost.
Add three details to the message: the napkin color, the size and the quantity. Those three answers tell the team which print method fits before the first mock-up. They also avoid a quote for a method your napkin cannot take, such as Full Color on a colored napkin.
If the design has a fixed brand color, say so. The mock-up is where you check it, and you have up to 2 rounds of revisions to get it right.
What about the printing plate on reorders?
The plate is the main cost difference people ask about. Here is how it works at Napki.
A plate is made for each ink of a Deluxe design. You pay for it on the first order. On later orders with the same design and the same print size, Napki reuses the plate, even months later. You pay no new plate.
A new plate is needed only when the design changes or the print size changes. That includes a new color, a new logo or a new date on the napkin.
For a business with a fixed logo, the plate is a one-time cost. For a wedding, it is paid once and never reused, which is one reason couples often pick Full Color.
What both options share
Some things do not change with the print method. They are part of every Napki order.
- Free design. Napki’s team prepares the artwork and a digital mock-up within 24 hours.
- Up to 2 rounds of revisions, included.
- Reprint guarantee. If the printed napkins do not match the approved mock-up, Napki reprints them free of charge.
- Made in Spain. Napki prints in its own facilities in Mislata, Valencia, and has made napkins since 1986.
- Same shipping. FedEx to the 48 contiguous states, per box, in the smallest box your order fits in.
Orders ship DAP. Napki adds no tax to the invoice, because the order is an export from Spain. US import duties, the Merchandise Processing Fee and any state or local taxes are paid by the buyer on arrival.
Frequently asked questions
Can Full Color print on a colored napkin?
No. Full Color is digital CMYK and needs a white napkin. For a logo on a colored napkin, choose Deluxe with 1 or 2 inks.
Is Deluxe more expensive than Full Color?
It depends on quantity and reorders. Deluxe adds a one-time plate fee of $49.09 per ink. Napki notes that Deluxe has a lower unit price at volume, and the plate is reused on repeat orders.
What is the minimum order for each?
20 units for Full Color and 100 units for Deluxe.
Can I print gold or silver?
Yes, with Deluxe. Metallic gold and silver are printed as inks, so each one counts as 1 ink with its own plate.
Do I pay the plate again when I reorder?
No, as long as the design and print size stay the same. A new design or a new print size needs a new plate.
Can I see real printed napkins before I decide?
Yes. The free physical sample pack has 5 napkins with real prints in 3 paper finishes. The sample is free; you pay its FedEx shipping as one small box, Economy $138.00 or Priority $184.00.
Does the print method change the delivery time?
No. Both take 10 business days from proof approval with FedEx Priority, or about 14 to 16 with Economy, US customs clearance included.
Answer the napkin color question, then let Napki do the rest
You now have the question that picks the method. Check your napkin color first, then your design and your quantity.
If you still cannot decide, send your logo and tell Napki the napkin color you want. The team prepares a free digital mock-up within 24 hours, with up to 2 rounds of changes. Full Color orders start at 20 units and Deluxe at 100.
Compare both prices on the Napki home page, browse all custom paper napkins, or request the free sample to see real prints in your hands. You can also reach the team on WhatsApp at +34 650 50 43 39.