I had printed a cover that was supposed to be printed black with white letters. The first printing was fine (Book on left and right). The second printing (center book) by the same printer with the same artwork turned out a few shades lighter. So much lighter that I am refusing the order. The printer claimed that the hues could change and that the only way to assure a rich black would be 3 color process - while I used 1 color - black.

Is that all true?

Its true, that putting down at least one other colour as well will make a rich or 'super' black. many printers just put a cyan tint (shiner) down.
However, if the printer printed it before using just black he should have had no problems printing it again.
Sounds like he's just trying to fob you off

Problem now is - do I accept the books lighter than I really want, or make the printer eat all 3000 copies - since the books are already printed!!! He gave me an especially good price, this is the 3rd printing - and i feel bad about sticking it to him - but I will probably regret it everytime I stuff one of these lighter books in their shipping envelopes.

I realize no one but myself can make this decision.

And I dont really know if I am being especially hard by forcing the issue.

How long ago was the first edition printed by this printer?

Did you specify the cover stock to be the same for both editions? Or did you state that this was to be printed the same density as the previous edition or supply a hard copy to match?

If you showed the second edition alone to someone who did not see the first printing side by side, would they call the color black, or charcoal/gray? (it looks almost brownish in the photo, but I suspect that is the incandescent light the book is photographed under)

The first edition was printed about 2 years ago by the same printer. The printed said we didnt need a proof since he had the original hard cover proof and digitally stored on his his computer.

I wanted everything the same. The cover was supposed to be black, and now the printer is saying that the second printing is black despite my showing him the picture and he comparing the hard copies side by side. "Black is black," he said.

I even see a tinge of purple in the lighter black.

Now I am upset because I really dont want him to lose anything on these books, but I owe it myself and the author to have the cover a BLACK - but wonder if anyone but me would really notice it or care. Despite the fact that the books are a set BOOK I and BOOK II.

So I am in a quandry over it all.

What standards exist for how dark / dense a black should be to be considered "black" in black and white printing? When you do color you save as SWOP v2 for example and expect the 4c press to be calibrated to SWOP 2 standards. But I've never thought about one color jobs and how black black is to be considered black on various coated and uncoated stocks.

Black is NOT always black.......trust me!

I know when I run covers, I ALWAYS try to match the previos printing. Period.
If I can't, someone higher up will make the call at the press.

I would just refuse the order. Send it back and have the printer rip the old gray covers off and print new ones....and give you a hell of a discount on the next printing to keep you as a customer.

I agree with 8 colorguy. Did he offer you the discount or did you ask for one , if he offered one he knows he's wrong and is trying to cut his losses. If you want pice of mind tell him your customer refused them. That would never get past our quality control.