| Term |
Definition |
| 4C Printing |
Printing process using 4 ink colors (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) to print full color |
| AAs |
Author Alterations: Any change made by the customer to previously provided artwork or specs |
| Acid-free Paper |
Neutral pH (7) paper; used for fine art prints, limited edition printing and archiving |
| Adobe® Creative Cloud |
Subscription-based access to the Creative Suite, including InDesign®, Photoshop®, Illustrator® and more |
| Antique Finish |
Uncoated paper stock with a natural, rough appearance |
| Aqueous Coating |
A water-based protective coating |
| B2B |
Business-to-Business: Goods and services marketed to businesses |
| B2C |
Business-to-Consumer: Goods and services marketed to consumers |
| Back Up |
The direction of artwork for two-sided printing |
| Bind |
Any method of securing and joining together paper sheets |
| Bindery |
Production-based department whose expertise is finishing printed pieces |
| Bitmap |
Pixels on a grid to create an image, resolution dependent |
| Blanket |
A rubber-coated pad used to transfer images from the cylinder to the printing surface |
| Bleed |
Printing that extends beyond the edge of the sheet before printing |
| Bleedthrough |
Imperfection caused by heavy ink coverage that shows through the other side of a printed sheet; also called showthrough |
| Blind Deboss |
Stamping any image or text into paper surface to produce a depressed effect, without the use of ink |
| Blind Emboss |
Stamping any image or text into paper wrong-side to produce a raised impression, without the use of ink |
| Blind Package |
Ship directly from second-party vendor without identifying the second-party |
| Blister Pack |
Preformed plastic forms for small goods, sealed with paper board or aluminum backing |
| Brand |
Symbols, words and ideas used to define a business strategy, often used to market |
| Brightness |
Light reflecting property of paper when measured under a specially calibrated blue light |
| Buckslip |
Loose slip of paper placed into another publication; also called an insert |
| Burst Perfect Bind |
The process of gluing complete signatures into a notched spine |
| C1S |
Coated One Side: Paper that has coating on just one side of the sheet |
| C2S |
Coated Two Sides: Paper that has coating on both sides of the sheet |
| Caliper |
Measurement of the thickness of paper stock |
| Camera-Ready |
A general term for a document that is ready for print |
| Carton |
Cardboard box used for shipping |
| Case Bind |
Binding signatures into a hard-case cover; also called hard cover |
| Chipboard |
Paperboard made from recycled paper |
| CMYK |
Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black: the four colors in four-color process printing |
| Coated Paper |
Compounds coated on paper that improves upon its quality; common coatings include gloss and matte |
| Collating |
To assemble pages in a predetermined order |
| Color Balance |
Adjustment of process colors to create accurate color simulation |
| Color Cast |
Imperfection caused by ink and/or color on text and/or images |
| Color Control Bar |
Squares of color printed in the trim area used to evaluate color quality; also called color bars |
| Color Correct |
Adjustment of CMYK levels to achieve desired color accuracy; also called balance |
| Color Correct Proof |
Simulation of a printed piece's color and/or impo |
| Color Curves |
Broad color changes made to CMYK levels to output correct printed color |
| Comb Binding |
Bindery method using plastic spines with teeth set into rectangular punched holes |
| Copy |
Text; also called body copy |
| Cover |
Outside pages of a publication |
| Cover Paper |
Sturdier, thicker paper stock; often used for book cover application |
| Cover Wrap |
The front and back covers plus the spine of a perfect-bound book |
| Coverage |
Extent to which ink covers the printed surface |
| Creep |
Location adjustment of inner pages in a saddle-stitched signature due to the extension (or creep) past the outer pages |
| Crop Marks |
Small lines outside of the trim area that provide cutting directions |
| Crossover |
Images or text that continues over a gutter |
| CS |
Adobe Creative Suite: A series of programs used for web, print and media design |
| Cure |
Time allowed for inks and coatings to dry to ensure adhesion |
| Cyan |
Cyan puts the C in CMYK |
| Deboss |
Stamping any image or text into paper surface to produce a depressed effect |
| Die |
Tool used to cut, score, stamp, emboss or deboss |
| Die Cut |
The process of using a shaped tool to make cut-outs |
| Digital Printing |
Large-scale laser or inkjet printers used for on-demand, short run printing |
| Direct Mail |
Bulk postal mail marketing campaigns |
| DPI |
Dots Per Inch: Printing term for the quantification of dot density in an image |
| Drill |
Cut any size hole(s) into printed matter |
| Dry Trap |
Printing over dry, cured ink |
| Dull Stock |
Flat-finish paper coating, also called matte or satin |
| Dummy |
Mock-up of a finished piece |
| Emboss |
Stamping any image or text into paper's wrong-side to produce a raised impression using heat and/or pressure |
| End Sheet |
Paper mounted inside case-bound books that is used to attach inside pages |
| EPS |
Encapsulated Post Script: A file format for images that will be placed in another document for printing |
| Estimate |
Rough price calculation of a job and its specific details; also called a bid or quote |
| Face |
Side of a bound piece that is opposite the spine |
| Feeding Unit |
Printing press part that moves paper sheets into the press |
| Felt Finish |
Paper stock with a woven pattern |
| Finish |
Description of a paper's surface |
| Finished Size |
W"xH" dimension of a piece after all production |
| Flat |
Imposition proof used for print production |
| Flat Size |
W"xH" dimension of a piece after trimming, but before folding |
| Flood |
Covering a printed sheet entirely with ink and/or coatings |
| Foil Emboss |
Combination of foil stamping and embossing |
| Foil Stamp |
Application of metallic film-backed foil with a heated die-cut |
| Folder |
Finishing equipment used to create folds |
| Folio |
Page number |
| Font |
A series of uniquely designed characters including numbers, letters and symbols |
| FPO |
For Position Only: Designation indicating a proof or placeholder content |
| French Fold |
Half-fold vertically followed by a horizontal half fold |
| FSC |
Forest Stewardship Council: A non-profit organization that promotes responsible management of forests |
| FTP |
File Transfer Protocol: Network used to transfer documents |
| Fugitive Glue |
Low-tack, removable adhesive; also called booger glue |
| Fulfillment |
Processing and delivering orders from a warehouse to a customer |
| G7® |
Color calibration certification for printers |
| Gang Run |
Printing two or more pieces on the same press sheet |
| Ghosting |
Imperfection caused by heavy-coverage ink and/or coatings transferring where it should not be |
| GIF |
Graphics Interchange Format: A file format for online use only |
| Gilding |
Gold-leaf on the edges of printed material |
| Gloss Finish |
Shiny coating applied to a press sheet |
| Gloss Stock |
Shiny-finish paper coating |
| Glyph |
A symbolic character, for example Æ, ©, ∑, ï |
| Gray Scale |
An image with color information that has been converted to gray |
| Gripper Edge |
Side of the paper that first feeds through a sheetfed press |
| Gutter |
The binding edge, or center, of a printed piece |
| Hairline |
Thin lines (less than .25 pt or .003") that do not print well |
| Hickey |
An imperfection on a printed piece |
| HSB |
Hue, Saturation, Balance: Color space for graphics and illustrations |
| Imposition |
The arrangement of pages for proper collation; also called impo |
| Imprint |
To print again on a previously printed sheet |
| Inserts |
Loose slip of paper placed into another publication; also called a buck slip |
| ISBN |
International Standard Book Number: A unique number assigned to publications |
| Job Number |
A unique number assigned to each project for internal tracking |
| Job Ticket |
An order for a printed piece, includes all details and instructions |
| Jog |
Straighten paper sheets by tapping on a flat surface |
| JPEG |
Joint Photographic Experts Group: A universal file format for images |
| K |
Abbreviation for black in CMYK |
| Kerning |
Adjustment of space between characters |
| Kiss Die Cut |
A shaped cut that does not completely remove the cut-out |
| Knockout |
Printing around an image or type's shape that will allow the substrate to show and form the image; also called reverse |
| Laminate |
Transparent plastic sheets that are applied via heat/pressure/adhesive to protect printed matter |
| Landing Page |
Front page of a website used for online marketing |
| Lay Flat Bind |
Method of perfecting binding that allows a book to completely lie flat when open |
| Leading |
Adjustment of space between lines of type |
| Letterfold |
Two folds that create 3 equally sized panels |
| Letterpress |
Printing method of relief printing with raised metal type using a printing press |
| Live Area |
Printable area on a document for any copy or image that should not be cut off; usually .1875" from the trim |
| Lo-Res Flat |
A printed proof indicating layout and specs, not to be used for color accuracy |
| Loupe |
Magnifying glass used to examine printed matter |
| Mail Permit |
Certified paid permission to mail |
| Make Ready |
The process of preparing a press to print |
| Margin |
Space surrounding the content of a page |
| Matte Finish |
Flat coating applied to a press sheet |
| Matte Stock |
Flat-finish paper coating, also called dull or satin |
| Metallic Ink |
Special ink with small metallic particles or pigments that create a metal-like shine |
| Microfold |
Multiple folds to make a printed piece small or any fold made to a small printed piece; finished size as small as 2"x2" |
| Mill |
Factory that produces paper |
| Misting |
Imperfection caused by small ink blots being thrown off of printing rollers |
| Native Files |
Any editable, working file from a software program |
| NCOA |
National Change of Address: US Postal Service's registry of people who have moved and/or changed address |
| Offset Paper |
Uncoated, light-weight paper |
| Offset Printing |
Printing method in which ink transfer from a plate to a blanket to the paper |
| Opacity |
Ink that does not allow visibility of the paper or printed backside of a sheet |
| Over Run |
Copies printed in excess of print order; industry standard is 10% |
| Overprint |
1. Printing ink over previously printed ink; 2. An effect in design software that will be removed during preflight |
| Overprint Varnish |
Printing spot varnish over previously printed ink |
| Pagination |
Numbering of pages |
| Panel |
One side of one section of a folded piece; also called a page |
| Pantone |
A system for matching printing color standards; also called PMS |
| Paper Weight |
Term for describing paper density |
| PCW |
Post-Consumer Waste: Amount of recycled content in paper stock |
| PDF |
Portable Document Format: A universal file format viewable on most platforms; recommended for high resolution printing |
| PDF Proof |
Digital simulation of a printed piece |
| Perfect Bind |
The process of gluing pages into a spine |
| Perforating |
Straight dotted cut lines created on press to allow easier tear-off |
| Pica |
Basic unit of measurement in typography; 6 picas/inch |
| Pixel |
Smallest controllable dot composing a digital image |
| Plate |
Thin metal sheet used to reproduce artwork |
| Platemaker |
Equipment used to produce printing plates |
| PMS |
Pantone Matching System: A system for matching printing color standards |
| Post Bind |
Binding method using screw and posts insert into a drilled hole |
| Pound |
Term for describing paper density, for example 80 lb.; also called weight |
| PPI |
Pixels Per Inch: Design term for the quantification of dot density in an image |
| Preflight |
The process of in-depth reviewing of files before printing |
| Prepress |
Department responsible for preflighting, imposition, proofing and platemaking |
| Preprint |
Printed sheets that will later be used for imprinting |
| Press Check |
Examination of press proof by client to check for print quality |
| Press Proof |
Test print run on a press |
| Proof |
A visual simulation or test print of a print project; available as a PDF, lo-res flat or color correct |
| PURL |
Persistent Uniform Resource Locate: personalized web pages created for each individual recipient |
| QR Code |
Quick Response Code: Mobile bar codes embedded with information |
| Rasterized |
A resolution-based graphic or image; cannot be re-sized without affecting the resolution |
| RGB |
Red Green Blue: the three colors in digital output for screens and monitors |
| Register Marks |
Crosshairs used to align overlapping colors |
| Registration |
Lining up various plates to create a composite printed image |
| Reprint |
An exact re-run of a previously printed piece |
| Resolution |
Definition and sharpness of any image; defined as low (under 150) or high (over 300) |
| Retail-Ready |
Ability to be sold directly to a consumer |
| Rich Black |
Mixture of 3 or more CMYK colors to create a solid black color when printed |
| Roll Fold |
Four or more panels folded inward over one another, as if to roll the piece up |
| Saddle Stitch |
Bindery method using staples along the spine |
| Sans Serif |
A font style without serifs |
| Satin Finish |
Flat-finish paper coating, also called matte or dull |
| Score |
Crease created for ease of folding |
| Self-Cover |
Printed project created with one paper stock throughout |
| Self-Mailer |
Any printed piece capable of being mailed without the need of an envelope |
| Serif |
A font style with small flourish lines accenting the ends of letters |
| Sheetfed Press |
Any printing press that prints on individual sheets of paper |
| Shrink-Wrap |
Heat-sealed protective plastic film |
| Signature |
Printed sheet that will be folded and trimmed to become part of a publication; must be divisible by 4; also called sig |
| Skid |
A pallet used for shipment |
| Skin Pack |
Goods placed on a paper board backer and heat-sealed with thin, clear plastic |
| Slip Sheets |
Blank paper inserted between printed pieces |
| Soy-based Inks |
Vegetable oil-based dyed liquid ink, instead of petroleum-based |
| Specifications |
Written description of all print details including paper, ink, coating, finished size, bindery, mail and shipping |
| Spine |
Binding edge |
| Spiral Bind |
Bindery method using looped wire or plastic inserted into drilled holes |
| Spot Color |
1) A single color printed in addition to 4C process; 2) Ink applied to precision areas |
| Spot Varnish |
Varnish applied to precision areas |
| Spray Powder |
A medium used to separate printed sheets; allows air to naturally dry the printing ink |
| Spread |
Two pages that face each other across the gutter |
| Step and Repeat |
Creating multiple repeating patterns on a page or impo using one image |
| Stock |
Refers to any type of paper |
| Substrate |
Material that is printed on |
| Tab |
Clear seals used to close print pieces for mail; also called a wafer seal |
| TIFF |
Tagged Image File Format: Used solely for pixel-based images |
| Tip On |
Inserting and/or adhering a loose sheet to another printed piece |
| Trap |
Prepress method for accounting for misregistration by overlapping page elements |
| Trim Size |
W"xH" finished size after printing and cutting |
| Uncoated Paper |
Paper stock that has no additives covering the surface |
| Up |
The number of images printed per sheet; expressed as 3 up, 4 up, etc. |
| UV Coating |
A liquid protective coating that is cured using ultraviolet light |
| UV Ink |
CMYK or spot ink printed and then cured using ultraviolet light |
| Value |
Darkness or lightness of a color |
| Varnish |
An oil-based protective coating |
| Vector |
A graphic where size is independent from its resolution, can be infinitely scaled |
| Vellum Finish |
Paper stock with a slightly rough finish; highly absorbent |
| Vellum Paper |
Paper stock that is thin and translucent; non-absorbent |
| VOC |
Volatile Organic Compounds: Gas emission from petroleum-based liquids |
| Wafer Seal |
Clear tabs used to close print pieces for mail; also called a tab |
| Watermark |
A translucent, but visible mark that appears in paper stock; usually only visible when held up to a light source |
| Web Press |
Printing method in which ink is printed directly onto a roll of paper |
| Wet Trap |
Printing over wet, uncured ink |
| Window |
A die-cut hole in a printed piece or envelope |
| Wire-Binding |
Bindery method using metal wire double loops inserted into drilled holes |
| Wireframe |
A website's basic layout used for design |
| Wove |
Paper stock with a fine texture |
| Wrong Reading |
A backwards, reverse image |
| Z Fold |
Alternating left and right folds; also called zig fold |
| ZIP File |
Compressing a document or folder to reduce its size for transmission |
