2-D barcode (see also OCR)
An electronic means of reading copy or scanning an image and converting it to an electronic equivalent. A unique code read by a camera on our enclosing line to match up to 3 personalised items per pack.
Accordion fold (see also Concertina fold and Z fold)
A term used in binding for two or more parallel folds, which opens and folds like an accordion.
Acrobat
Adobe software is used to create, amend and manage PDFs.
Adobe Creative Suite (CS/CC)
A software suite of graphic design, video editing, and web development applications made by Adobe Systems and include Photoshop, Acrobat, InDesign, Premiere Pro, Illustrator and After Effects.
ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange)
(Pronounced ask-ee.) ASCII is a code for representing English characters as numbers, with each letter assigned a number from 0 to 127. Most computers use ASCII codes to represent text, which makes it possible to transfer data from one computer to another
Backing up
Printing the reverse side of a sheet already printed.
Bezier curve
The description of a character, symbol or graphic by its outline used by drawing programs to define the shapes.
Bitmap
A computer image made up of dots. When this type of image is enlarged the quality will deteriorate and become grainy. JPEG, GIFS and TIFFS are bitmap files.
Bleed
Print on an image or text, which exceeds the trim edge of a page or sheet.
Bond paper
Another term for uncoated paper.
Bulk
The degree of thickness of paper.
C Y M K
Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black (Key), these are the 4-colours used on printing presses and mixed to create the standard colours.
Coated paper
Paper that contains a surface coating to produce a smooth and often shiny finish.
Colour management (ISO12647-2)
Defines a system or process, which ensures colour is consistent and accurate during production.
Concertina fold (see Z fold and Accordian Fold)
A term used in binding for two or more parallel folds, which opens and folds in a zig zag.
Creep
This is the distance the printed matter shifts during the folding and binding.
Cropmarks
See ‘Register marks’.
Computer to Plate (CTP)
This system used to make printing plates directly from our repro department computers.
Continuous stationery
Forms which are produced from reels of paper and then fan folded. Normally used for direct mail or other marketing purpose
CS software / CC software
See Adobe Creative Suite.
Curl
The distortion of a printed sheet, which be caused by an excessive amount of print coverage, certain paper coatings or the drying process.
Densitometer
Used in print to measure and control the density of colour on printed matter, during the printing process.
Density
The degree of darkness (light absorption or opacity) of a photographic image.
Diecutting
The method for cutting special shapes from printed material. It can be done on a flatbed or rotary presses, with the latter usually done in-line (at the same time) with the printing.
Digital Assets Management (DAM)
A secured content management system focused on storing digital assets such as images, photographs and artwork.
Digital colour proof
A colour proof produced from digital data and not directly from the printer press it will be produced from. This an be either coated or uncoated material.
Digital printing
Printing direct from digital files. Used for short print runs or if a high level of personalisation is required.
Dot gain
This is where dots print larger than they should causing darker tones or stronger colours.
Dots per inch (DPI)
Used to measure the resolution of a screen image. The higher the DPI of an image the better the quality and the larger the file size.
Dummy proof
A proof used in advance of production to represent the finished item.
Duplex printing and lasering
Printing (or lasering) on both sides of the paper.
Embedding
Refers to elements and data (such as images and fonts), which are included as part of a computer file in order to maintain or change the elements when used remotely.
Embossing
A process performed after printing to stamp a raised (or depressed) image into the surface of paper. There are different methods including blind, deboss and foil-embossed.
Enclosing
A process performed after all items have been printed and personalised to insert them into the envelope or polywrap.
EPS (Encapsulated PostScript)
It is a computer image designed as line art rather than pixels, which means it can be enlarged and maintain clarity. Files can only be created using design software such as a CS2 suite.
Four (4) colour printing
Reproduction of full-colour photographs or art using CYMK.
Five (5) colour printing
Reproduction of full-colour photographs or art using CYMK and a sealer or a special colour (such as gold), which can not be created from the standard four-colour process.
Flush
Type or images set to align at the left (or right) of a page.
Foil stamping
A metallic finish applied by specialist equipment.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol) site
A standard for the exchange of program and data files across the internet from host to host.
Ganging-up
Grouping different printed items on to a sheet to make efficient use of the paper and size of the press.
Greyscale
Relates to a colour setting in imagery and photography. A greyscale image contains only shades of grey and no colour.
GSM (Grams per Square Meters)
How the weight of paper is measured.
Gusset
The capacity section of a pocketed folder or envelope.
Gutter
The blank space or inner margin from the printing area to the binding or where facing pages met.
Halftone image
A halftone image is made up of a series of dots rather than a continuous tone. These dots can be different sizes, different colors, and sometimes even different shapes. This type of image is used in newspaper and some magazines.
Hard proof
A physical copy of a proof on paper or other substrate, as opposed to a ‘soft proof’ such as a PDF.
Heidelberg
A brand of print machinery.
Hue
The main attribute of a colour, which distinguishes it from other colours.
Imagesetter
A generic term for a high-resolution output device that can transfer electronic text and graphics directly to plates.
Imposition
The positioning of pages to ensure after printing, folding, cutting and binding they appear in the correct order.
Ink-jet printing
A plateless printing system that produces images directly onto paper from digital data using streams of different inks.
JPEG (the Joint Photographic Experts Group)
Default image type on most digital cameras. It was formed to create a standard for colour and grey scale image compression. As it made up of dots, quality can be compromised when enlarged.
Justify text
To uniformly line up the space of text between left and right margins.
Kerning text
Taking away space between characters to close up the gaps between them.
Keyline
Outline drawing of finished artwork to indicate the exact space, position and size as well as a type of boarder.
Kiss-cut
A die-cut produced in finishing, which does not cut entirely through the substrate. Commonly used for peel off stickers.
Knockout
A shape or object printed by eliminating all background colours.
LAB (L*AB)
LAB is a colour management reference, much like CYMK and RGB. It is a model based on human vision and defines a specific colour by managing it’s colour space. LAB is measured using a ‘Spectrophotometer’.
Laser Printing
The process of applying variable data to pre printed stationery
Leading
The distance between two lines of text measured in points.
Lithographic print
See ‘Offset sheet printing’.
Loose leaf
A method of binding which allows the insertion and removal of pages.
Make-ready
All the processes needed to prepare a printing press for printing.
Middletones
The tones, which range between highlights and shadows of a photograph.
Moiré
Occurs when screen angles are wrong resulting in grid patterns in photographs.
Mottle
The spotty or uneven appearance of print in solid areas.
OCR (Optical Character Recognition)
An electronic means of reading copy or scanning an image and converting it to an electronic equivalent. A unique code read by a camera on our enclosing line to match up to 3 personalised items per pack.
Offset printing
Offset printing is a technique of printing where the images on metal plates are transferred to rubber blankets or rollers and then to the substrate. The subtrate, usually paper, does not come into direct contact with the metal plates.
Offset sheet printing
Individual sheets of paper are fed into the machine. The pages are then trimmed or finished inline as part of the same process or taken offline and finished using the relevant machine. Popular for small to medium sized print runs.
Offset web printing
Similar to ‘Offset sheet printing’ but uses rolls of paper rather than sheets. Set-up is more expensive than the sheet equivalent but as it is a faster printing process, it is more cost effective when producing larger print runs.
Pagination
The layout of pages.
Pantone colours (Pantone Matching System – PMS)
Charts which capture 700+ colours. Colour patches of blended inks are used to identify and define special colours across a range of different papers.
PDF (Portable Document File)
A universal electronic file format, which can be viewed on most computers or devices, regardless of the software used to create them.
Perfect binding
A bookbinding method in which pages are grouped together and glued rather than stitched, the sections are then held to together by a solid spine (ie a paperback book).
Perfecting press
A printing press, which prints on both sides of the sheet in one pass through the press. All our presses perfect.
Picking
Paper lifting during the print process resulting in an uneven finish. Usually caused by ink sticking to the cylinder rolls and/or poor quality of the paper.
Polybagging
Enclosing prnted items into plain or preprinted polythene bags, either semi automatically by machine or by hand.
Polywrapping
Enclosing prnted items into plain or preprinted polythene wrapping by machine
Postage indicia
Printed payment details on an envelope. Each postage provider (Royal Mail, UK Mail, TNT) has their own indicia.
Press proof
A proof made directly from a printing press, in advance of the print run.
Process color
See CMYK.
PURL (Personalised URL)
This is a unique and personalised web address created for marketing purposes.
QR (Quick Response) code
2-D barcode, which is read by a smartphone.
R G B (Red, Green and Blue)
RGB is a colour separation method used for computer monitors and colour video output systems. RGB images need to be converted to CMYK before they can be used for printing (lithographic etc).
Ram-bundled
A method of packaging together printed matter. It involves strapping and compressing material to ensure it is suitable for any relevant finishing or fulfillment machines.
Register marks
Cross-hair lines or marks on film, plates, and paper that are used as a guide throughout the printing and finishing process.
Resolution
Refers to the number of dots per inch (DPI) in a computer image. The higher the resolution the sharper, more defined and detailed an image will be. The file size of the image will increase accordingly. A resolution for an image to be viewed on a standard computer and website is 72dpi, where it will need to be at least 300dpi for high quality print (and lower for newspaper print).
Reversed-out text
Type displayed as white on a black or colour background.
RIP (Raster Image Processor) files
The term for using a specific software and device to generate, prepare and outputs files to the preferred method of printing.
Saddle-stitch
Method of binding, where sections of pages are secured together with wire staples.
Score
A crease in printed material, to make folding easier.
Sealing
The application of sealant to a printed surface, which provides additional protection against marking. Different types of sealant are available such as matt and gloss, therefore, they do impact on the overall presentation.
Set-off spray
Dry spray of finely powered starch used on printing presses to prevent wet ink transferring and helps separate printed sheets, to enhance drying.
Show-through
The print on one side of a sheet, which can be seen on the other side of the sheet.
Simplex printing and lasering
Printing (or lasering) on only one side of the paper.
Soft proof
An electronic proof, generated by digital files.
Special colour
See ‘Spot colour’.
Spectrophotometer
An instrument used to assist in successful colour management, uses ‘LAB’ colours to provide an accurate definition. Unlike the ‘Densitometer’, it does not provide information on how to control colour consistency during a print run
Spine glued
Printed sections are held together with a thin film of glue running down the spine of each page. Can be produced in-line on some web presses.
Spiral Binding
Printed pages are bound with a spiral wire.
Spot colour
A spot colour is a unique colour which will have its own ink and printing plate and is not made using CMYK process. Not applicable in ‘Digital print’.
Spot varnish
During printing (or can be after) varnish is added to emphasis or highlight selective areas.
Substrate
Any material on which printing is done.
Suppressions
Suppression may sound constrictive, but it’s actually a very valuable direct marketing tool as it can save you money. Suppression is when you squash undesirable or wasteful names from your mailing list, such as people who are deceased, those who have move dor changed address or people who signed up for the Mailing Preference Service (MPS) do-not-mail list.
TIFF (Tagged Image File Format)
Similar to a ‘JPEG’, although it does not lose any quality when it is compressed, therefore, is preferred format to a ‘JPEG’ in the print industry. Typically a TIFF file would be larger file size than a JPEG.
Trap
To reduce the misalignment of colours on a printing press by ensuring colours slightly overlap.
Trim marks
See ‘Register marks’.
-Up
2-up, 3-up refers to ‘imposition‘ of printed items on a sheet to ensure optimum printed coverage.
UV varnish
A liquid laminate, which is created with ultraviolet light. Typically used to emphasis or highlight a printed section.
Vector graphics
Made up of pixels, which can be resized, stretched, or enlarged indefinitely with absolutely no loss of quality. Vector graphics are created in a drawing program such as Adobe Illustrator.
Work and turn
To print one side of a sheet of paper then turn the sheet over and using the same gripper edge to print the second side.
Wet colour proof
See ‘Press proof’.
Wire-stitch
See ‘Saddle-stitch’.
Z-fold (see Accordion fold and Concertina Fold)
A term used in binding for two or more parallel folds, which opens and folds in a zig zag.
