09 July

Print Management

One of the benefits of ADS being 10 years old and our key team members having over 50 years of combined experience in design and print management resulting in an enormous bank of knowledge on all manner of design rules, guidelines and print related requirements. However a lot of this information can be at best described as “gobbledygook” to our clients, so not only do we try to explain all of the intricacies during our briefing and subsequent meetings so our clients fully understand the process and expected final result but we have detailed below a glossary of many of the regular words, meanings and phrases utilised within our industry.

A

A4 PAPER:
ISO paper size 210 x 297 mm. Used for letterheads, invoices.

Accordion fold:
The paper is folded two or more times in a parallel direction. Each fold reverses the direction, similar to the bellows of an accordion. Also called a “Z” fold. Often used for items printed on one side only. Do not use an accordion fold when the item is to be inserted into an envelope by machine.

Artwork:
All original copy, including type, photos and illustrations, intended for printing.

B

Bleed:
Printing that extends to the edge of a sheet or page after trimming.

Body text:
The main text of work not including the headlines.

C

CMYK:
Abbreviation for cyan, magenta, yellow and key (black), the four process colours.

Cover:
Thick paper that protects a publication and advertises its title. Parts of covers are often described as follows: Cover 1=outside front; Cover 2=inside front; Cover 3=inside back, Cover 4=outside back.

Crop Marks:
Lines near the edges of an image indicating portions to be reproduced. Also called cut marks and tic marks.

Cutting Die:
Usually a custom ordered item to trim specific and unusual sized printing projects.

D

Die:
Device for cutting, scoring, stamping, embossing and debossing.

Die Cut:
To cut irregular shapes in paper or paperboard using a die.

DPI:
Considered as “dots per square inch,” a measure of output resolution in relationship to printers, imagesetters and monitors.

Dummy:
Simulation of the final product. Also called mockup.

E

Emboss:
To press an image into paper so it lies above the surface. Also called cameo and tool.

EPS:
Encapsulated Post Script, a known file format usually used to transfer post script information from one program to another.

F

Film Laminate:
Thin sheet of plastic bonded to a printed product for protection or increased gloss.

Foil Stamp:
Method of printing that releases foil from its backing when stamped with the heated die. Also called block print, hot foil stamp and stamp.

Four-colour Process Printing:
Technique of printing that uses black, magenta, cyan and yellow to simulate full-colour images. Also called colour process printing, full colour printing and process printing.

G

Grammage:
Basis weight of paper in grams per square meter (gsm). The unit of measurement for paper weight.

I

Inside:
Refers to the pages between the cover of a publication. When counting the pages, be sure to include the pages that are not numbered or are blank. Count each side of the sheet as one page.

L

Laminate:
A thin transparent plastic sheet (coating) applied to usually a thick stock (covers, post cards, etc.) providing protection against liquid and heavy use, and usually accents existing colour, providing a glossy (or lens) effect.

Leading:
Amount of space between lines of type.

Letterpress:
Method of printing from raised surfaces, either metal type or plates whose surfaces have been etched away from image areas. Also called block printing.

M

Matte Finish:
Flat (not glossy) finish on photographic paper or coated printing paper.

Metallic Paper:
Paper coated with a thin film of plastic or a pigment whose colour and gloss simulate metal.

O

Offset Printing:
A printing technique that transfers ink from a plate to a blanket to paper instead of directly from the plate to paper.

P

Perfect Bind:
To bind sheets that have been ground at the spine and are held to the cover by glue. This is also called adhesive bind, cut-back bind, glue bind, paper bind, patent bind, perfecting bind, soft bind and soft cover.

Pixel:
Short for picture element, a dot made by a computer, scanner or other digital device.

PMS:
Pantone Matching System.

Process Colour:
The colours used for four-colour process printing: yellow, magenta, cyan and black.

Proof:
Test sheet made to reveal errors or flaws, predict results on press and record how a printing job is intended to appear when finished.

R

Resolution:
Sharpness of an image on film, paper, computer screen, disc, tape or other medium.

S

Saddle Stitch:
To bind by stapling sheets together where they fold at the spine, as compared to side stitch. Also called pamphlet stitch, saddle wire and stitch bind.

Spot Colour or Varnish:
One ink or varnish applied to portions of a sheet, as compared to flood or painted sheet.

T

Tint:
Screening or adding white to a solid colour for results of lightening that specific colour.

U

UV Coating:
Liquid applied to a printed sheet, then bonded and cured with ultraviolet light.

V

Varnish:
Liquid applied as a coating for protection and appearance.

W

Watermark:
Translucent logo overlapping photographic content or layouts created during the design process.

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