Glossary

60%c, 50%m, 50%y, 100%k also called Super Black.

The sticky substance applied to the back of labels to adhere them to various surfaces. Adhesives can vary in strength, permanence, and suitability for different applications.

Artboard Artboard

A coated board stock in between matt and gloss finish.

Ascender Ascender

The part of a lowercase letter that extends above the x-height, such as the upward stroke in "b" or "h."

Aspect Ratio Aspect Ratio

The proportional relationship between the width and height of an image or design. Maintaining the aspect ratio ensures that the image is not distorted when resized.

Banner Banner

A large, printed display typically made of vinyl or fabric material used for advertising or promotional purposes. Banners are commonly used for indoor and outdoor signage.

Baseline Baseline

The imaginary line on which the base of each character in a line of text rests.

Binding Binding

The process of fastening printed sheets together to form a book or other multi-page document. Common binding methods include saddle stitching, perfect binding, wire-o binding, and spiral binding.

Bitmap Bitmap

An image format that consists of a grid of individual pixels, where each pixel represents a specific color or shade. Bitmap images are resolution-dependent and can appear pixelated when enlarged.

Blanket Blanket

A rubber-covered cylinder in an offset printing press that receives the ink from the printing plate and transfers it onto the paper. The blanket helps ensure even ink distribution and protects the paper from direct contact with the plate.

Bleed Bleed

A printing term that refers to the area of a printed document that extends beyond the finished size, allowing for trimming. It ensures that the ink extends all the way to the edge of the paper.

Bond Bond

Laser stock

Branding Branding

The process of creating and maintaining a consistent and recognizable identity for a product, company, or organization. Branding involves designing logos, selecting colours, creating visual guidelines, and establishing brand voice and values.

Choke Choke

A technique used to slightly decrease the size of the background colour or image to prevent misregistration issues when printing on top of it with another colour or element.

CMYK CMYK

Stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (black). It is the standard colour model used in printing, where different combinations of these colours are used to create a full range of colours.

Coated Paper Coated Paper

Paper that has been treated with a coating to enhance print quality and achieve a smooth and glossy finish. The coating helps prevent ink absorption, resulting in sharper images and vibrant colours.

Collate Collate

The process of arranging printed sheets or pages in a specific order. For example, if you have a multiple-page document that needs to be collated, it means arranging the pages in the correct sequence.

Colour Management Colour Management

The process of controlling and maintaining consistent colour accuracy throughout the prepress and printing workflow. Colour management involves calibrating devices, creating colour profiles, and ensuring proper colour conversions.

Colour Separation Colour Separation

The process of dividing a full-colour image or design into separate colour channels (usually CMYK) for printing. Colour separation creates individual plates or screens for each colour, enabling accurate reproduction of colours during the printing process.

Crop Marks Crop Marks

Thin lines or tick marks placed at the corners of a printed piece to indicate where it should be trimmed. Crop marks help guide the trimming process and ensure accurate cutting.

CTP CTP

Computer to Plate – Plate processing technology

Data Merge Data Merge

The process of combining a layout or design template with variable data from a database or spreadsheet. Data merge enables the creation of customized, data-driven designs for items such as personalized letters, envelopes, or event tickets.

Descender Descender

The part of a lowercase letter that extends below the baseline, such as the downward stroke in "g" or "p."

Die Cutting Die Cutting

A process that uses a sharp, custom-shaped die to cut unique shapes or designs out of printed materials. It allows for the creation of intricate and custom-shaped products like business cards, packaging, and promotional items.

Digital Printing Digital Printing

A printing method that involves directly transferring digital files onto paper or other printing substrates without the need for traditional printing plates. Digital printing is suitable for short print runs, variable data printing, and quick turnaround times.

Dot Gain Dot Gain

The phenomenon that occurs when ink dots printed on paper spread slightly, resulting in larger dots and overall darker printed images. Dot gain is influenced by factors such as paper type, ink density, and printing press characteristics.

Dot Gain Compensation Dot Gain Compensation

Adjustments made in the prepress or printing process to compensate for the inherent dot gain that occurs when the ink spreads slightly during the printing process. Dot gain compensation ensures accurate reproduction of image details and colours.

DPI DPI

Dots Per Inch. It is a measure of printing resolution, indicating the number of dots that can be printed per inch. Higher DPI results in finer detail and sharper images.

Dry Ink Dry Ink

A type of toner or ink used in digital printing that does not require additional drying time after being applied to the substrate. Dry ink allows for faster turnaround times and immediate handling of printed materials.

Dye Sublimation Dye Sublimation

A printing process that uses heat to transfer dye onto various materials, such as fabric or coated substrates. Dye sublimation printing results in vibrant, durable, and long-lasting prints, especially for textiles and apparel.

Embedded Fonts Embedded Fonts

Fonts that are embedded while creating PDF.

Embellishment Embellishment

Decorative enhancements or finishes applied to printed materials to enhance their visual appeal. Examples include foiling (adding metallic or reflective accents), spot UV coating, or specialty coatings like soft-touch or textured finishes.

Embossing Embossing

A technique used to create a raised, three-dimensional effect on a printed surface by pressing the paper from behind. It adds texture and enhances the visual appeal of a design.

Facestock Facestock

The front-facing material of a label, which carries the printed design and text. Facestock materials can include paper, film, vinyl, or other substrates.

File Preparation File Preparation

The process of preparing digital files for print production. This includes tasks such as checking file formats, resolution, colour spaces, and ensuring proper image and text placement.

Finish Finish

Refers to the surface texture or coating applied to printed materials. Common finishes include glossy, matt, satin, and varnish, each offering different visual and tactile effects.

Finishing Finishing

All processes that follow the sheets being printed.

Flatbed Printer Flatbed Printer

A type of wide format printer that utilizes a flat printing surface instead of rolls of media. Flatbed printers can print on rigid materials.

Flexographic Printing Flexographic Printing

A printing process commonly used for label printing, utilising flexible rubber or polymer plates to transfer ink onto the label material. Flexographic printing is known for its high-speed production and cost-effectiveness.

Flysheet Flysheet

A blank sheet of paper placed at the beginning and end of a print run in an offset printing press. The flysheet helps protect the printed sheets from potential damage during the start-up and shutdown of the press.

Foil Stamping Foil Stamping

A process that uses heat and pressure to apply metallic or coloured foils onto printed materials. Foil stamping adds a luxurious and eye-catching effect.

Fountain Roller Fountain Roller

A roller in the inking unit of an offset printing press that transfers ink from the ink fountain to the distribution rollers. The fountain roller helps maintain a consistent ink flow and distribution.

Fountain Solution Fountain Solution

A mixture of water and chemicals used in offset printing to dampen the non-image area of the printing plate. The fountain solution helps maintain the balance between ink and water on the plate, preventing unwanted ink from transferring to non-image areas.

FSC FSC

Part recycled / part forest plantation paper.

Gamut Gamut

The range of colours that a device can reproduce. Gamut is influenced by factors such as the colour space, inks or toners used, and the printing technology employed.

Ghosting Ghosting

Faint or unwanted images that appear on a printed piece due to residual toner or ink on the printing equipment or when printing over an area that was not properly cleaned.

Gloss Gloss

Shiny looking stock.

Graphic Design Graphic Design

The creative process of visually communicating ideas and messages through the use of typography, images, colours, and layout. Graphic designers use various software and design principles to create visually appealing and effective designs.

Grayscale Grayscale

A range of grey shades between black and white. It is commonly used for black and white images or when colour is not necessary.

Grid System Grid System

A framework or structure used in graphic design to organize and align elements on a page. Grid systems provide consistency, structure, and aid in maintaining visual harmony across a design.

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