Glossary of Printing Terms
We know our business is filled with a lot of unique terms, so we have included this glossary to help you interpret what you read or hear. Use this alphabetical list as a reference, but don't hesitate to ask us when you need clarification!
0 - 9
1 to N - The sorting order from the first page to the last, opposite of N to 1. Also known as normal order.
2 in 1 - An imposition where the first and second images are on a single sheet of paper.
2 Repeat -听An imposition that duplicates the image on a single sheet of paper.听Also known as step repeat.
2-Up -听An imposition where two images are on a single page.
4-up -听An imposition where four images are on a single page.
A
Accordion Fold -听A fold where听each parallel fold听is opposite of the last fold, creating an accordion-like effect.
Account String -听A series of numbers that make up a person or departments individual account number for billing, commonly associated with the 美高梅官网.听
A-Frame -听A sign听holder that, when open, forms the听appearance听of a capital听鈥淎鈥�, often used outdoors.听Also听known as a sandwich board sign.
Against the Grain -听Folding or feeding sheets of paper at a right angle听to听the grain of the paper.听Also known as听crossgrain.
Alignment -听The act of aligning two or more pages together, often for two-sided printing.听Also known as听justify.
Artwork -听Digital materials听composing听of an image, artwork, text, or other elements.
B
B/W -听An acronym for Black and White, this is a type of printing that uses only black toner/ink in grayscale.听Also known as black.
Backing Sheet -听A protective sheet on the back of self-adhesive or cling substrates that is peeled off before听mounting.
Backlit Paper -听A substrate used for light or LED casings to illuminate the print from behind.
Bi-fold -听A fold where听a sheet is听folded in half听vertically or horizontally.听Also known as half-fold.
Binding -听The听way a book is held together听such as听staples, coil, comb, glue, tape, and more.
Binding Edge -听The side or edge of a听book听where binding is located.
Black -听A type of printing that uses only black toner/ink in grayscale.听Also known as black and white.
Black and White -听A type of printing that听uses only black toner/ink in grayscale. Acronym: B/W. Also known as black.
Bleed -听Any element听such as color, images, or artwork听that听extends听past听crop marks or听the edge of the page, often requires cutting.
Bleed Marks -Similar to crop marks, a small or thin line in each corner of an image indicating the edge of the听bleed.
Bond -听A paper that is usually high听in听cotton fiber, used听most听often with stationery听and basic prints. Also known as writing paper.
Book -听A set of printed sheets听with听some form of binding such as coil, comb, staples, etc.
Booklet -听A book binding that folds all pages in half听and staples inside the fold, most magazines use this binding.听Also known as a saddle stitch book.
Booklet Envelope -听An听envelope that opens on the long edge.
Branding -听An often strict set of guidelines established by an organization or group to ensure the consistent appearance of digital or physical materials. This can include specific fonts, artwork, marketing materials, and more.
BRE -听An acronym for Business Reply Envelope, a pre-addressed envelope included in mail to allow the receiver to reply to the sender free of charge.
Brightness听-听
In paper, it is how reflective听the light is on the sheet of paper.
Digitally, it is how听white or washed-out听the overall image can be.
Bristol -听A thick paper with a smooth finish.
Brochure -听A print that is folded and often听used for informational or marketing material.听Also known as a听pamphlet or leaflet.
Bulk Mail -听Mail that is prepared in large volumes or quantities as a specific class at a reduced postage cost.
Business Reply Envelope -听A听preaddressed envelope included in mail to allow the receiver to reply to the sender free of charge.听Acronym: BRE.
C
C1S听-听An acronym for Coated 1 Side, the gloss or coating on only one side of paper.
C2S听-听An acronym for Coated 2 Sided, the gloss or coating on both sides of paper.
Caliper听-听Similar to听gsm听and听lb, the听standard unit of measurement for paper听thickness expressed in microns, often seen as 10pt, 12pt, etc.
Canvas Paper听-听A substrate that听is heavyweight with a textured听coated surface that closely replicates a painting canvas.
Carbonless Paper听-听A听thin,听chemically treated paper听that allows the transfer of writing, scratches, or impressions听from one sheet to another, often printed in sets and as 2-part, 3-part, or 4-part.听Also known as NCR.
Cardstock听-听A paper that is thicker than average copy or text weight paper.听Also known as cover stock听and cover weight.
Carriage -
A device within a printer that feeds the paper or material.
A device in some printers that houses the print head.
颁补蝉别听-听A听large box of paper containing multiple reams of paper, often听5 or听10 reams per case.
Catalog Envelope -听An听envelope that opens on the short edge.
Click -听The听count听for听each听cycle of听printing;听a听single-sided print would be one听click.听Also known as an impression.
Cloth -听A substrate used for printing that can be easily folded without听making indents.听Also known as textile or fabric.
CMYK -听The four basic colors听used by听most color printers consisting of: Cyan (C), Magenta (M), Yellow (Y), and Black (K).听
Coated 1 Side -听The gloss or coating on only one side of paper.听Also known as C1S.
Coated 2 Side -听The gloss or coating on both sides of paper.听Also known as C2S.
Coated Paper -听A paper that has a coating on the surface of the sheet which produces a smooth finish, often glossy.
Coil Binding -听A binding that uses a metal or plastic spiral through multiple holes. This allows the pages to听lay听flatter听than other binding methods as well as听spin 360 degrees听around the spine.听Also known as spiral bind.
D
Database -听A听software that houses the听digital grouping of听all听information听pertaining to a specific person, organization, job, etc. to keep it organized and consistent.
Deboss -听To press an image into paper with a die to create an indent, the听opposite of emboss.
Density -听The听amount of darkness within a digital or physical image.
Die -听A devise used to cut, score, stamp, emboss or deboss sheets of paper.
Digital Printing -听Printing without plate systems that produces听the images onto the sheet. All data is听electronically听transfered听to the machine drivers and onto the sheet of paper.
Dirty Copy -听An error that can occur where excess toner or ink is on the paper.
Door Wrap -听A听removable听self-adhesive substrate used to stick to the听entire听surface of a door.
Dots Per Inch
Digitally, the measure of the resolution of an image.
Physically, the measure of dots of ink per inch on a printed sheet of paper.听
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Double-Sided -听Printing on both sides of a single sheet of paper.听Also known as duplex.
DPI -听An听acronym for Dots Per Inch.
Digitally, the measure of the resolution of an image.
Physically, the measure of dots of ink per inch on a printed sheet of paper.听
Drilling -听Creating one or multiple holes through a single sheet or a stack of paper for binding.听Also known as hole punching.
Driver -听The software that allows you to print directly to the printer.听Also known as controller.
Drum -听An electronically charged unit within a printer that adheres the toner听to听the sheet of paper.
Duplex -听Printing on both sides of a single sheet of paper.听Also known听as double-sided.
E
Emboss -听The creation of a听raised,听three-dimensional听design on paper by using ink,听foil, or a die, the听opposite of deboss.
Engineering Bond -听A thin substrate bond used for drafts and engineering designs.
EPS -听An acronym for Encapsulated PostScript, a听file format听that听transfers听digital images or graphics with compatible programs and applications.
Estimate -听A rough pricing calculation for the completion of a print project.听Also known as听a quote听or quotation.
Extent -听The number of pages in a book, magazine, or other printed job.听Also known as page count.
F
Fabric -听A substrate used for printing that can be easily folded without making indents.听Also known as textile听or cloth.
Face Down -听The听orientation听of paper that has the front side of a finished piece facing down.听
Face Up -听The听orientation听of paper that has the front side听of a finished piece facing up.
Fastback -听A binding that uses a thin strip听of synthetic cloth听to听bind the edge of听the book with glue听when heated.听Also known as tape听binding.
Fax -听The scanning of a听sheet of paper听and sending it to a receiver via a phone line.
Fiery Command Workstation -听A software听controller听that allows the setup听and printing of color prints.
File -听Digital听data that composes an entire听image, artwork, text, or听other听elements.
Finish -听The surface quality听or appearance听of a sheet of paper, often听referenced听as matte or gloss.
Finished Size -听The final size of a printed piece听after cutting and/or folding.
Finishing -听Options such as binding, folding,听cutting,听etc.听performed听after听printing is completed.听
Fit to Print -听The act of digitally increasing or decreasing an image鈥檚 size to听proportionately听fit on a sheet of paper.
Flat Size -听The size of an image after printing and trimming, but before folding.听
Fleet -听The grouping of multiple printing machines.
Floor Cling -听A textured self-adhesive substrate听capable of withstanding foot traffic.听Also known as a floor sticker
Floor Sticker -听A textured self-adhesive听substrate capable of withstanding foot traffic.听Also known as a floor cling.
Flyer -听A printed sheet used for advertisement or information.听Also known as a handbill听or听hotcard.
Foam Board -听A sturdy or听rigid board with a foam core, often used for easel signs.
Foil -听A thin metal sheet applied to paper to give text or images a metallic finish, often gold or silver.
Foil Stamping -听The process that applies foil to a printed image.
Font -听The digital assortment of letters, numbers, punctuation, etc. of a given size or design.
Format -听The style, size, margins, printing requirements, etc. of a digital or physical image.
G
Gang-Up -听An imposition where two images听or pages听are听placed together听on a single sheet.
Gap -听The blank space or margin between the printed images听and/or听the binding.听Also known as a gutter.
Gate Fold -听A fold where the听outer panels fold inward toward听the center of the middle panel, creating the appearance of a gate.
Gator Board -听A听sturdier听version of foam board that听requires lamination听for mounted images.
Ghosting -听A fault where a printed image appears lighter than the previous page and may continue听through the set.听
Gloss -听The shiny coating on a sheet of paper,听ink, or laminate, opposite of matte.
Grain -听The line or direction听of听fibers within a sheet of paper.
Graphic -听A visual element that supplements the text,听making听the layout clearer and more interesting.听Also known as an image.
Grayscale -听Tones of gray ranging from white to black.
Grommets -听A thin ring of various sizes used to reinforce holes and prevent wear and tear, often metal in material and used to hang posters or banners.
Grouping -听Combining sheets in a set based on the page number rather than in sequential order.听Also known as uncollated.
GSM -听An acronym for Grams per Square Meter, similar to听lb.听This is听a听standard unit of measurement听for paper weight, or thickness, often seen as 75gsm, 216gsm, etc.
Guillotine -听A cutter that has a sharp blade that drops down to cut paper.
Gutter -听The blank space or margin between the printed images and/or the binding.听Also known as a gap.
H
Half-Fold -听A fold where a sheet is folded in half either vertically or horizontally. Also known as bi-fold.
Handbill -听A听printed sheet used for advertisement or information.听Also known as a flyer听or听hotcard.
Hard Copy -听A physical printed image used for duplicating
Hobby Knife -听A blade mounted onto a pen-like aluminum body used for precision trimming by hand.听Also known as a utility knife, precision knife, and x-acto听knife.
Hole Punching -听Creating one or multiple holes through a single sheet or a stack of paper听for听binding.听Also known as drilling.
Horizontal -听A document layout where the width is greater than the height, opposite of portrait. Also known as landscape.
Hotcard -听A听printed sheet used for advertisement or information. Also known as a flyer or handbill.
House Sheet -听The听stock of paper听regularly kept听in the听print shop.
I
ID Badge -听A small printed card with听a person鈥檚 name, information, or听picture designated by an organization or business.听Also known as a pocket card.
Image -听A visual element that supplements the text, making the layout clearer and more interesting.听Also known as a graphic.听
Image Area -听The section of a digital or physical sheet that houses the image or artwork.听
Image Shift听 -听The shifting of an image听on a sheet of paper, can occur during digital printing.听
Imposition听-听The positioning of pages听before or after听printing, folding, and cutting so all pages appear in proper sequential order.听听
Impression - The count for each cycle of printing;听a single-sided print would be one听impression.听Also known as a click.
Index Paper听-听A lightweight cardboard paper that can be听easily听written on.听
Indicia听 -听The image or text pre-printed on mailing听pieces听in place of the stamp.听
In-House -听Any activity or service that is completed within the organization rather than by an outside provider.听
Ink Cartridge -听A device within a printer that houses the ink used for printing.听
Insert -听A printed or blank听sheet听placed听inside听another printed piece听such as a packet, magazine,听or book.听听
Interrupt -听To stop or pause a print job in process.听
Invoice -听An itemized bill听for a听completed print request.听
J
Jam -听An issue that occurs when paper听or other materials get stuck,听lodged, or break听and cannot be passed through the machine.
Job List -听The data log showing what has been printed.
Job Number -听A unique code dedicated to a specific print request. Used to keep track or retrieve data during the printing process.
Job Ticket -听A digital or听physical page that outlines听information needed for a print request.
Jog -听To vibrate or shake a stack of听sheets听so they are tightly aligned in a neat stack.
JPEG -听An acronym for Joint听Photographic Experts Group, a听file format often used for photos, images,听and artwork听that compresses into a smaller file size, often degrading the quality.听This听format is听used听most听for image files.
Justify -听The act of aligning two or more pages together, often for two-sided printing.听Also known as alignment.
K
Kerning -听The narrowing or lengthening of space between letters and characters of a font.
Kraft Paper -听A听sturdy听brown paper used for packaging prints.
L
Label -听A self-adhesive material covered by a backing sheet.听Also known as pressure-sensitive听and crack-n-peel.
Laminate -听A thin plastic sheet听applied to paper to make it more rigid, durable, and waterproof. Laminate can come听in both gloss and matte finishes听as well as various thicknesses.听Also known as lamination.
Landscape -听A document layout where the width is greater than the height, opposite of portrait.听Also known as horizontal.
Large Format -听The printing of any material that is larger than a digital or offset printer,听typically听larger than 12鈥漻18鈥�.听Also known as wide format.
Layout -听A rendition that shows the placement of images, text, and artwork.听
Lb -听Similar to GSM, a听unit of measurement for听the weight听of 500 sheets of paper, indicating the weight or thickness of a sheet of paper,听often seen as 20#, 80#, etc. or as 20lb, 80lb, etc.听Also known as pound.
Leaflet -听A print that is folded and often used for informational or marketing material.听Also known as a brochure or pamphlet.
Ledger Paper -听A strong durable paper with good erasing quality, used often with record keeping.
LEF -听An听acronym听for Long Edge First, when paper is placed in a print tray, the longest edge of the sheet is first and听pulled into the printer听by听that edge.
Left Bind -听The most common layout position that uses the left edge of a page as the spine, opposite of right bind.
Legal Paper -听A size of paper that measures 8.5鈥漻14鈥�.
Letter Paper -听A size of paper that measures 8.5鈥漻11鈥�.
Linen -听A paper used to emulate the look and texture of cloth but not the functionality.
Loading Accessory -听An item听used听to assist in the loading process for thinner substrates such as cloth.
Long Edge First -听When paper is placed in a print tray, the longest edge of the sheet is first and pulled into the printer by that edge.听Acronym: LEF.
M
M Weight -听The actual weight of 1,000 sheets of any given size of paper or stock.
Magnetic -听A paper or substrate that has a special back for clinging听to听metal.
Matte -听A finish on paper or images that is dull听in appearance,听opposite of gloss.
Mixed Media -听An option within a print driver that allows pages to be produced differently than the others without the need听for stopping, options include color, B/W, stock, etc.听Also known as page setting.
Mounted -听The adhering听of听a substrate to a听surface听such as foam board,听corrugated, gator board,听glass,听and more.
Mounting Adhesive -听A sticky sheet that adheres to the back of a substrate to allow听for a laminated, glossy board.
N
N to 1 -听The sorting order from the last page to the first, opposite of 1 to N.听Also known as reverse order.
NCR -听A thin chemically treated paper, that allows the transfer of writing, scratches, or impressions from one sheet to another, often printed in sets and as 2-part, 3-part, or 4-part.听Also known as carbonless.
Newsletter -听A short informational periodical presenting specialized information to a specific audience.
Normal Order -听The sorting order from the first page to the last, opposite of N to 1.听Also known as 1 to n.
Notecard -听A small printed card with text, images, artwork, etc.
O
Offset -听The process during printing that shifts one set of a completed print from the previous in order to keep them separated without the need听for听a slip sheet.
Offset听Printing -听The printing process that uses听ink from a printing plate to transfer the image onto a听rubber听blanket听and听then听onto听the听paper. This method is more common with听larger听quantities听and can be more cost effective.听Also known as offset lithography.
Opacity -听The property of paper that defines听the transparency of听the sheet. The higher the opacity,听or opaqueness,听the less you can see听what鈥檚 printed on听the second side.
Orientation -听The position听of a page, sheet, or artwork, commonly referred to as portrait or landscape.
Outsourced -听Any activity or service that is completed by an outside organization rather than done within the organization. Often due to听the听rarity听of听the request or outside the capabilities听of the organization.
Overprinting -听Printing over an area that has already been printed.
P
Packet -听Similar to听a book,听a set of printed sheets that听is听stapled in the corner.
Padding -听The process听of binding听pages together听on one side with glue, often used for tear pads.
Page Count -听The number of pages in a book, magazine, or other printed job.听Also known as extent.
Page Information -听Information printed in the margin indicating the file name, date, time, and other information at the time of saving or printing.
Page Setting-听An option within a print driver that allows pages to be produced differently than the others without the need for stopping, options include color, B/W, stock, etc.听Also known as mixed media.
Pages Per Minute -听The听speed听measurement of how many test pages a printer can produce in one minute.听Acronym: PPM.
Pagination -听
The number of individual pages in a multi-page document.
The听act of printing numbers on the page or sheet on a separate machine.
Pamphlet -听A print that is folded and often used for informational or marketing material.听Also known as听a brochure or leaflet.
Pantone庐听 -听A color system based听on听over a thousand ink听colors,听unlike CMYK听this uses inks that have been mixed prior to printing.听Also known as Pantone庐 matching system.
Pantone庐 186 -听A specific color on the pantone scale composing听of:听0% cyan, 100% magenta, 81% yellow, and 4% black.听This color is the specific red used by the 美高梅官网.听Also known as PMS 186.
Pantone庐 Matching System -听A color system based听on听over a thousand ink听colors,听unlike CMYK听this uses inks that have been mixed prior to printing.听Acronym: PMS.听Also known as Pantone庐.
Paper Posters -听A paper substrate with听a soft gloss coating.
Paper Weight -听The听thickness of听paper, material, or substrate.听Also known as stock weight and weight.
Parchment -听A paper that emulates animal skin, often used for awards that require听hand writing.
Parent Sheet -听A sheet of paper that is larger than the finished cut stock of the same material.
PDF -听An acronym for Portable Document File, a听universal and preferred file format that maintains the format, font, artwork, size, etc. regardless of听what computer it is viewed on.
Perf Marks -听The dotted line on a听document that听indicates where听to perforate.
Perfect Bind -听A听binding that applies听glue to the spine of a book and wraps the cover around the front,听back, and听spine听of the book听to create听a paperback book听once trimmed.
Perforate -听The process of making听micro holes in a straight line to make it easier to tear.听
Perforated Window Vinyl -听A substrate that has tiny holes and can be mounted onto windows;听the printed image is solid听and opaque when viewed from the outside but transparent from the inside.听
Pixel -听Short for听picture element, a听resolvable point of an听image,听the basic unit of digital imaging.
Plate -听A flat or听cylindrical surface that bears the听preproduction image or copy for printing. Used in offset printing.
Plus-Cover -听A cover of a finished听print听that听has听different material听or stock than听the interior pages.
PMS -听An acronym for Pantone庐 Matching System, a color system based听on听over a thousand ink听colors, unlike CMYK听this uses inks that have been mixed prior to printing.听Also known as Pantone庐.
PMS 186 -听A specific color on the pantone scale composing听of:听0% cyan, 100% magenta, 81% yellow, and 4% black. This color is the specific red used by the 美高梅官网.听Also known as Pantone庐 186.
PNG -听An acronym听for Portable Network Graphics, a听file format often used for photos and artwork that does not听compresses听an image.听This format is used more for image files.
Pocket Card -听A听small printed听card with a person鈥檚 name, information, or picture designated by an organization or business.听Also known as an ID badge.
Polyester Display Film -听A polyester substrate with a low-glare satin finish and听water resistant听coating, used for roll-up banners.听Also known as roll-up film.
Portrait -听A document layout where the height is greater than the width, opposite of landscape.听Also known as vertical.
Postcard -听A听small printed听card with a picture on one side and听a place to write on the other,听can also be a single-sided image, and designed to be mailed without the need for an envelope.
Pound -听Similar to听GSM, a unit of measurement for the weight of 500 sheets of paper, indicating the weight or thickness of a sheet of paper, often seen as 20#, 80#, etc. or as 20lb, 80lb, etc.听Also known as听lb.
PPI -听
An acronym for Pages Per Inch, the听amount听of pages in a book per inch.
An听acronym for Pixels Per Inch,听similar to听DPI, this measures the听amount听of听pixels in a digital image听per inch.
PPM -听An acronym for听Pages听Per Minute, the speed measurement of how many test pages a printer can produce in one minute.
Precision Knife -听A blade mounted onto a pen-like aluminum body used for precision trimming by hand.听Also known as a utility knife, x-acto听knife, and hobby knife.
Presort -听The process in which mail is prepared听and听sorted to the finest extent required by the standards for the price claimed.
Press -听A production machine used for digital听and听offset printing.听Also known as a copier, printer, production unit, digital press,听and听offset press.
Pressure-Sensitive -听A self-adhesive material covered by a backing sheet.听Also known as a label听and crack-n-peel.
Print Quality -听The physical appearance of a printed piece.
Print Shop Pro -听An online site used for ordering, tracking, and quoting print requests.
Printer Spreads -听A formatting where two pages听are听placed side by side in an alternating order. The last page听is听next to the first page on a single sheet of paper听and alternating for the other side. Used听most听for booklets, when a page is wrapped around the middle of a sheet.
Printhead -听The component of a printer that applies the image to the paper or substrate.
Process Color -听The mixing of inks during the printing process to create the desired color, with the four standard colors CMYK.
Proof -听A digital or physical representation of a completed product.听
Digitally, it displays the artwork and appearance听of a file.听
Physically, it听shows how the image will look when听printed on the听specific paper. Physical proofs can differ from the digital versions听in听appearance.
Pull-Up Banner -听A free-standing, retractable banner that can be rolled into a compartment for easy storage and transportation.听Also known as a retractable banner, roll-up banner, and stand-up banner.
Q
Quality Check -听The act of checking a printed piece to ensure it meets all requirements and standards.
Quote -听A rough pricing calculation for the completion of a print听project.听Also known as an estimate听or quotation.
R
Rack Card -听A printed card used for advertising or informational purposes, often long and thin听in size听such as听4.25鈥漻11鈥�.
Raster Image -听Images compiled using pixels containing unique colors or tonal information, they are dependent on resolution.
Reader Spreads -听A formatting where two pages are placed side by side in sequential order but, leaving the first and last page separated on a single sheet. This formatting is designed for reading rather than printing.
Ream -听A packaged set of blank sheets of paper, often in听sets听of 500 or 250.
Registration -听The act of aligning two or more pages together exactly, often for two-sided printing.听Also known as alignment.
Registration Marks -听The lines or crosses on a sheet of paper听used听to ensure two or more pages are aligned.
Relay Unit -听A section of a printer that听decurls听the printed sheet.
Resolution -听Measured in DPI or Dots Per Inch, the greater the听DPI听the better the image quality, standard is 300dpi.
Retractable Banner -听A free standing, retractable banner that can be rolled up into a compartment for easy storage and transportation.听Also known as a pull-up banner,听roll-up banner, and stand-up banner.
Reverse Order -听The sorting order from the last page to the first, opposite of 1 to N.听Also known as n to 1.
RGB -听The three primary colors听used in digital听and some printing听devices:听Red (R), Green (G), and Blue (B).
Right Bind -听A layout position that uses the right edge of a page as the spine, opposite of left听bind.
Ring听Binding -听A binding that uses a circular metal ring to attach pages through a punched hole听or holes, often 3 ring binders听or flip cards.
RIP -听An acronym for Raster Image Processor, a听combination of hardware and software that听sends听the image to the printing device.
RIP Queue -听The听software听used听to organize and setup wide format print听files.
Roll-Up Banner -听A free-standing, retractable banner that can be rolled into a compartment for easy storage and transportation.听Also known as a retractable banner, pull-up banner, and stand-up banner.
Roll-Up Film -听A polyester substrate with a low-glare satin finish and听water resistant听coating, used for roll-up banners.听Also known as polyester display film.
Rotation -听The pivoting of听an image around a central point听changing听the听orientation.
Rush -听An order request that is听less听than a standard three business day turnaround, often resulting in a surcharge.
S
Saddle Stitch -听A book binding that folds all pages in half and staples inside the fold, most magazines use this binding.听Also known as a booklet.
Safety Paper -听听A paper听that shows signs of听watermarks, fibers, or听erased content, used to prevent tampering and fraud and often seen in legal documents.听Also known as security paper.
Sandwich Board -听A sign holder that, when open, forms the appearance of a capital 鈥淎鈥�, often used outdoors. Also known as an A-Frame.
Scale -听To digitally increase or decrease the size of an image.
Scan -听The use of a machine to make a digital image from the physical one.
Scoring -听Indenting paper in a straight line to听make folding easier听and reduce cracking.听Also known as creasing.
Security Paper -听A paper that shows signs of watermarks, fibers, or erased content, used to prevent tampering and fraud and often seen in legal documents.听Also known as safety paper.
SEF -听An听acronym for Short Edge First, when paper is placed in a print tray, the shortest edge of the sheet is first and pulled into the printer听by听that edge.
Self-Adhesive -听A听substrate that has a sticky听back听when the听backing sheet听is removed. This is听used to adhere听graphics听to boards, walls, floors, glass and other surfaces and can be removable听or听permanent and comes in white or clear.
Self-Cover -听A cover of a finished print that is the same material or stock as the interior pages.
Short Edge First -听When paper is placed in a print tray, the shortest edge of the sheet is first and pulled into the printer by that edge.听Acronym: SEF.
Show-Through -听When opacity is low, text on the second side听or sheet听shows through to the front, often occurs with thin paper.
Shrink Wrap -听A type of packaging that uses听a clear听plastic to wrap a product and shrink with heat to tightly fit on the product.
Single-Sided -听Printing on only one side of a sheet of paper.
Slip Sheet -听A blank piece of paper used to separate one听set of work from another, often used in larger runs with multiple pages.
Slug -听The amount of area or gutter outside听the听print area such as the artwork or crop听mark.
Sort -听The gathering or sorting of materials, blank sheets, or printed pages in a specific order.听听Also known as collate.
Spine -听
The edge of a printed set where pages听are听turned or flipped.
The听element of a book that connects the book together such as a coil or comb.
Spiral Bind - A听binding that uses a metal or plastic spiral through multiple holes. This allows the pages to lay听flatter听than other binding methods as well as spin 360 degrees around the spine.听Also known as coil bind.
Spot Color -听Used in offset printing, any color generated by an ink either pure or mixed and听is printed using a single run.
Square Folding -听A fold that squares off the spine of a saddle-stitch allowing it to lay flatter.
Stand-Up Banner -听A free-standing, retractable banner that can be rolled into a compartment for easy storage and transportation.听Also known as a retractable banner, roll-up banner, and pull-up banner.
Staple -听A thin metal pin that attaches听multiple pages together either in a corner,听or side听of a听printed set.
Static Cling -听A removable substrate that听adheres听to a glass surface with static.听This can be easily removed and comes in white or clear.听Also known as a window cling.
Step Repeat -听An imposition听that听duplicates the image on a single sheet of paper.听Also known as 2听repeat.
Stock -听The听paper, material, or substrate听used for printing.
Stock Weight -听The thickness of paper, material, or substrate.听Also known as paper weight and weight.
Straight Edge -听A long piece of metal engineered to allow cutting in a straight line.
Stroke -听A line created on an image of various thickness.
Substrate -听Any material听that听can be printed on such as paper, self-adhesive, vinyl, and more.
Synthetic Paper -听Any听non-wood or non-cloth based听paper, often plastic based.
T
Tabloid Paper -听A size of paper that measures 11鈥漻17鈥�.
Tabs -听A听thicker听paper stock with extended labels for writing or printing, used with books for听section听separation.
Take-Up Reel -听A mechanism found on large printers designed to spool a substrate as it prints.
Tape Binding -听A binding that uses a thin strip of synthetic cloth to bind the edge of the book with glue, when heated.听Also known as fastback.
Template -听A pre-designed layout used to digitally听design or听set up artwork to ensure consistency听and听appearance.
Tent Card -听A printed product that displays information on one side and听folds听in the middle to allow it to stand on its own,听often used for seating charts.
Text听Weight -听A paper that is thinner and more lightweight than cover paper.
Textile -听A substrate used for printing that can be easily folded without making indents.听Also known as cloth or fabric.
TIFF -听An acronym听for Tagged Image File Format, a听file format that is neutral and compatible with all applications.听This format is used more for image files.
Toner -听A听powder that is adhered to a sheet of paper with听a听drum听to produce a digital image on a sheet of paper, similar to ink.
Top Bind -听A layout position that uses the top edge of a page as the spine, commonly used with landscaped books when flipping pages from top to bottom.
Trademark -听An exclusive right granted by law for a word, name, symbol or design, similar to a copyright.听Also seen as the symbol 鈩�.
Transparent -听Low to zero opacity,听see-through
Tri-Fold -听A fold that has three panels and two folds. The right panel folds inward to the left, covering the middle panel. The left panel folds inward to the right, covering the back of the right panel, often used for informational or marketing material such as a brochure.
Trim Marks -听Similar to bleed marks, a small or thin line in each corner of an image indicating where to cut.听Also known as a cut mark, cut line, or crop mark.
Trim Path -听Cutting in a specific outlined shape or design path rather than a straight line. Also known as a cut contour and cut path.
Trim Size -听The final size of a printed sheet after it has been cut.
Trimming -听Slicing a sheet of paper or a stack of pages with a sharp听blade听to achieve a desired size or appearance.听Also known as cutting.
Typo -听Short for typographical error, a听spelling mistake on a digital or physical piece.
U
Uncoated Paper -听Paper that does not have a coating on the surface of the sheet which would听have听produced听a smooth听or glossy听finish.听
Uncollated -听Combining sheets in a set based on the page number rather than in sequential order.听Also known as grouping.
Utility Knife -听A blade mounted onto a pen-like aluminum body used for precision trimming by hand.听Also known as a x-acto听knife, precision knife, and hobby knife.
UV Coating -听A shiny and durable听high gloss coating that听is applied to print material, produced as liquid and cured or dried with ultraviolet light.
V
Variable Data -听A form of printing where elements such as text, graphics, artwork, etc.听are pulled from a database and听changed听from one sheet to another without stopping the print process, often used for personalized letters, mailers, envelopes, and more.听Acronym: VD.
Vector File -听An image that is made up of lines and/or shapes rather than pixels,听can be made infinitely larger or smaller without reduction in quality.听
Vellum -听A paper that has a rough finish.
Velo听Bind -听A binding that punches holes in a book and attaches a thin flat piece of plastic along the front and back of a book.
Vertical -听A document layout where the height is greater than the width, opposite of landscape.听Also known as portrait.
Vinyl -听A听property of听certain听substrates听that听is听heavier, durable, water resistant, and scratch resistant when compared to听paper听or bond听substrates.
Vinyl Banner -听A substrate that is听heavy听and听durable while still flexible,听used with or without grommets for indoor or outdoor banners and posters.
W
Wall Cling -听Removable self-adhesive that does not damage walls upon removal.
Watermark -听A transparent text or image that is听embossed or printed on an image which is听visible听when held to the light.
Weight -听The thickness of paper, material, or substrate.听Also known as paper weight and stock weight.
Wide Format -听The printing of any material that is larger than a digital or offset printer, typically larger than 12鈥漻18鈥�.听Also known as large format.
Window Cling -听A removable substrate that adheres to a glass surface with static. This can be easily removed and comes in white or clear.听听Also known as a static cling.
With the Grain -听Folding or feeding sheets of paper parallel to the grain of the paper.听
Wove -听A smooth paper with a gentle patterned finish.
Writing Paper -听A paper that is usually high in cotton fiber, used more often with stationery and basic prints.听Also known as bond.
X
X-Acto听Knife -听A blade mounted onto a pen-like aluminum body used for precision trimming听by hand.听Also known as a utility knife, precision knife, and hobby knife.
Y
Yard Sign -听An image听printed听on self-adhesive and mounted on a听corrugated听board, attached to the ground with a metal 鈥淗鈥� stake.听
Z
Z-Fold -听A fold that has three panels and two folds opposite of one another creating a 鈥淶鈥� shape.
Zip -听One or more compressed files听in听a smaller archive to take up less space for storage or file transfers.听