Printing A-Z: A Complete Guide to Common Printing Terminology
At Commerce Press, we know the world of print comes with its own vocabulary — and if you’re not in it every day, it can be overwhelming. Whether you're ordering business cards, signage, packaging, or marketing materials, understanding key printing terms helps you make more informed decisions and get exactly what you need.
That’s why we created this comprehensive A–Z glossary — to simplify the jargon, answer your questions, and help you feel confident every time you start a print project. Bookmark this guide or reach out to us directly if you ever want help navigating the details.
A
A, B & C Series: Standardized paper and envelope sizes used internationally (e.g., A4, A5, A3, etc.).
Acetate: A thin, flexible, transparent plastic sheet often used for overlays or protective covers.
Adhesives: Glues or bonding agents used in printing for labels, stickers, and packaging applications.
Air Drying Ink: Ink that dries naturally through air exposure instead of heat or UV curing.
Alignment: The positioning of text and images to ensure proper layout and consistency in printing.
Aqueous Coating: A water-based protective coating applied to printed materials to add a glossy, matte, or satin finish and enhance durability.
Archival Paper: A high-quality, acid-free paper designed to last for a long time without deteriorating.
Artwork: The final digital file that includes text, images, and design elements ready for printing.
Aspect Ratio: The proportional relationship between width and height in an image or printed piece.
Author's Alterations (AA): Revisions requested by the client after a proof has been produced, often leading to additional costs.
Auto-Trap: A prepress function that helps prevent gaps between adjacent colours in printing.
B
Barcodes: Machine-readable codes printed on labels, packaging, or direct mail for tracking and product identification.
Binding: The method used to secure multiple pages together in a book, brochure, or catalogue. Common types include perfect binding, saddle stitching, and coil binding.
Bitmap: A type of image made up of pixels. Since bitmaps lose quality when resized, vector graphics are recommended for sharper prints.
Black (K) in CMYK: The "K" in CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) represents black ink, which is used for rich, deep blacks in full-colour printing.
Blanket: A rubber sheet in offset printing that transfers ink from a printing plate to the paper.
Bleed: Extra space around the edges of a design to ensure that colours and images extend to the final cut size without leaving white borders.
Blueline Proof: A printed proof used to check layout, positioning, and accuracy before final production.
Board Stock: A thick, sturdy type of paper used for packaging, business cards, and signs. Common thicknesses include 14pt, 18pt, and 24pt.
Booklet Printing: The process of printing and binding multi-page documents such as catalogues, manuals, and event programs.
Bulk: The thickness and density of paper, affecting the feel and sturdiness of printed materials.
C
Caliper: The thickness of paper, measured in thousandths of an inch (mils), affecting durability and texture.
CMYK: Stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black (Key)—the four ink colours used in full-colour printing.
Coating: A protective layer applied to printed materials to enhance durability and finish. Common types include gloss, matte, and satin coatings.
Colour Bars: A test strip printed on waste areas of a press sheet to monitor ink density and print quality.
Colour Separation: The process of dividing an image into CMYK components for accurate colour reproduction in printing.
Colour Sequence: The order in which inks are applied during printing to ensure consistent and accurate colour output.
Creep: The slight shifting of inner pages in a folded and bound booklet, requiring adjustment to maintain proper margins.
Crop Marks: Small lines printed at the corners of a design to indicate where the final trim will be made.
Crossover: An image or text element that extends across two facing pages in a brochure or book, requiring precise alignment during printing.
Custom Die-Cut: A specialized cutting process that creates unique shapes for business cards, packaging, and marketing materials.
D
Debossing: A process that creates an indented design on paper or cardstock by pressing it from the front side.
Deckle Edge: A rough, feathered edge on paper, often used for a handmade or vintage look.
Density: Refers to the darkness or lightness of ink on a printed piece. Higher density means darker ink.
Die Cutting: A technique that cuts custom shapes into printed materials using a steel blade called a die.
Digital Printing: A modern printing method that transfers digital files directly to paper—ideal for short runs and quick turnaround.
Dot Gain: Refers to how printed dots spread or enlarge on paper, affecting image sharpness and colour accuracy.
Dot Matrix: An older type of printer that forms images or text using a grid of tiny dots.
Dots Per Inch (DPI): A measurement of image resolution. Higher DPI means more detail and sharper print quality.
Drawdown: A sample of ink on paper used to show how the final colour will look when printed.
Drill: The process of punching holes in printed materials like for binders or tear-off pads.
Drying Time: The period required for ink to dry on paper, which can affect finishing and delivery times.
Dull Finish: A paper coating that provides low gloss, creating a smooth surface with soft, muted colours.
Dummy: A mock-up of a printed piece made from blank paper used to check size, folding, and layout.
Duotone: A printing effect using two ink colours, typically black and one spot colour, to create rich tonal images.
Duplex Printing: Printing on both sides of a sheet of paper. Commonly used to save paper and reduce bulk.
E
Eco-Friendly Printing: Printing practices that reduce environmental impact, such as soy-based inks, recycled paper, or waterless printing.
Edge Painting: A decorative technique where the edges of a finished stack of cards or pages are painted for a pop of colour.
Edition: The total number of copies printed in one run of a specific publication or artwork.
Eighth Fold: A folding method where paper is folded three times to create eight panels. Commonly used in brochures.
Electronic Proof: A digital file sent to the client for review and approval before the job goes to print.
Embossing: A technique that presses an image into paper or cardstock to create a raised, textured design.
Emulsion: A light-sensitive coating on printing plates or film used in processes like screen printing or offset plate making.
Encapsulated PostScript (EPS): A vector-based file format used for high-resolution graphics and logos. Often used for professionally printed marketing materials like billboards and posters.
End Sheet: Paper that’s glued to the inside cover of a hardcover book, which helps attach the book block to the cover.
Engraved Plate: A custom metal plate used in traditional engraving, often for stationery or luxury print products.
Engraving: A high-end printing process where ink is applied to paper through a recessed plate to create raised lettering.
Envelope Conversion: The process of printing on flat sheets before folding and gluing them into envelopes.
Estimate: A detailed quote outlining the cost, materials, and turnaround time for a specific print job.
Exact Repeat: A reprint order using the same specs, file, and setup as a previous job with no changes.
Expanded Gamut: A colour printing process that uses additional inks beyond CMYK to reproduce more vibrant and accurate colours.
F
Face Trim: The trimming of the front edge of a book or booklet to create a clean, even finish.
Feeder: The part of a printing press that feeds paper into the machine for printing.
File Prep: The process of getting artwork print-ready by checking resolution, colour mode, bleeds, and fonts.
Finish: The final surface texture of paper, such as glossy, matte, satin, or uncoated.
Flexography: A high-speed printing method using flexible rubber plates, often used for packaging and labels.
Flood Coat: A coating, usually varnish or ink, applied over the entire surface of a sheet for effect or protection.
Flush Cut: Trimming pages to be even with the cover and have no overhang or protrusion.
Foam Core: A lightweight board with a foam centre between paper layers used for mounting prints, signage, or displays.
Foil Stamping: A specialty printing process where metallic or pigmented foil is applied using heat and pressure.
Foiling Die: A metal plate or die used in foil stamping to transfer foil to a printed piece.
Folding Dummy: A blank mock-up of a printed piece that shows how it will be folded and assembled.
Font Embedding: Including font data in a print file so that text displays and prints correctly on any system.
Four-Colour Process: A standard method using cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (CMYK) inks to produce full-colour prints.
French Fold: A folding technique where the sheet is folded in half vertically and then again horizontally to create four panels.
Full Bleed: Printing that extends all the way to the edge of the paper, requiring trimming after printing.
G
Gang Run: Combining multiple print jobs on a single press sheet to reduce costs and minimize paper waste.
Gate Fold: A fold where both sides open out from the centre creating a large reveal panel inside.
Gauge: A tool used to measure paper thickness, ink density, or alignment during the printing process.
Ghosting: An unintended faint image or artifact on the printed piece often caused by ink or press issues.
Gilding: The application of metallic foil (often gold or silver) to the edges of a book or card stack for a premium look.
Gloss Finish: A shiny coating on paper that enhances colour vibrancy and makes printed materials look polished and professional.
Graduated Screen: A printing effect where a colour fades gradually. Also known as a gradient or vignette.
Grain Direction: The alignment of fibres in paper affecting how it folds, tears, and reacts to printing or binding.
Graphics: Visual elements like images, illustrations, or icons used in a print layout to support or enhance the message.
Graphics Interchange Format (GIF): A low-resolution image format mainly used for digital applications as it’s not ideal for high-quality print output.
Greyscale: An image made up of shades of grey that is often used instead of full-colour when colour isn’t necessary.
Gripper Edge: The edge of the paper held by a press to feed sheets through.
Groundwood Paper: An inexpensive paper made from mechanical pulp commonly used in newspapers or flyers.
Gutter: The inner margin of a book or magazine where the pages are bound. This often needs extra space in design.
H
Halftone: A printing technique that simulates continuous tone imagery using dots of varying sizes and spacing.
Hand Bind: The manual assembly of a book or printed piece, often used for short runs or specialty finishes.
Hard Proof: A physical sample used to check colour, layout, and detail before the full job goes to press.
Hardcover: A bookbinding style with rigid covers often wrapped in cloth, leather, or coated paper for durability.
Head Trim: The top edge of a printed book or booklet that’s trimmed for a clean, even finish.
Heat Set: A printing process that uses heat to dry ink quickly in web offset printing.
Hickey: A small spot or imperfection on a printed piece caused by dust or debris during printing.
High Resolution (Hi-Res): Images with a high number of pixels per inch, typically 300+ PPI. Essential for sharp, professional print quality.
Hinge Score: A crease added near the spine of a cover to help it fold cleanly around pages in a bound piece.
Holding Line: A thin line used in design to contain or frame artwork, images, or blocks of colour on a printed piece.
Horizontal Format: A layout that is wider than it is tall used for brochures, catalogues, or presentation books.
Hot Foil Stamping: A finishing process that uses heat, pressure, and a foil roll to imprint metallic or pigmented designs.
House Stock: Paper that a printer regularly keeps in inventory as it’s usually more affordable and faster to source.
Hue: The pure colour element of an image before adjusting for lightness or saturation.
I
ICC Profiles (ICCs): Colour profiles that help ensure colour consistency between screens, printers, and presses.
Image Area: The portion of a sheet where ink will be printed while everything outside remains blank or unprinted.
Image Resolution: The clarity or detail of an image, measured in dots per inch (DPI) or pixels per inch (PPI).
Imposition: The arrangement of pages on a press sheet to ensure they print and fold in the correct order.
Indent: A margin or space inserted at the beginning of a paragraph commonly set during typesetting.
Initial Cap: A large, decorative first letter at the start of a paragraph often used in book or magazine design.
Ink Coverage: The amount of ink laid down on paper, expressed as a percentage. Too much ink can cause smudging or drying issues.
Ink Holdout: How well paper resists absorbing ink affecting how sharp and vibrant the printed image appears.
Ink Trap: A design technique or press setting that ensures overlapping colours print cleanly without gaps or misalignment.
Inkjet Printing: A digital printing method that sprays tiny droplets of ink onto paper. Best used for short runs and variable data.
Inline Finishing: Any finishing step that happens directly on the press during printing such as folding or trimming.
Insert: A separate printed piece placed inside a larger item. Examples include a flyer inside a magazine or a coupon in a mailer.
International Standard Book Number (ISBN): A unique identifier for books used in publishing to track and sell titles.
J
Jet Press: A high-end digital inkjet press known for fast output and high-quality, offset-like results.
Job Definition Format (JDF): A digital format that communicates job specs from design software to printing equipment for smoother automation.
Job Number: A unique ID assigned to a print project for tracking, billing, and communication throughout production.
Job Proof: A sample of a print job provided for client review and approval before going to full production.
Job Ticket: An internal document that outlines all the specs and instructions for a print job from start to finish.
Jog: The process of aligning a stack of printed sheets by tapping or shaking them into a uniform pile.
Jogger: A machine used to shake or tap sheets into alignment before cutting, binding, or packaging.
Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG): A common image file format that compresses photos used for the web, but is not ideal for high-quality printing.
Justification: A typesetting alignment where text is spaced so both left and right edges form a clean vertical line.
K
K-Value: In flexography, this refers to the ink transfer efficiency of an anilox roll used in quality control.
Kerning: The adjustment of space between individual letters for better visual balance and readability.
Key Colour: The main colour in a design used to set the tone or mood. Often referenced during colour proofing.
Keyline: A guide or outline used in design to indicate where artwork, cuts, or folds will occur.
Kiss Cut: A light cut through just the top layer of a sticker or label sheet making it easy to peel off.
Knife Die: A custom-shaped metal blade used for die-cutting printed pieces into unique shapes or outlines.
Knockout: When one element of a design is removed to allow another to print cleanly underneath or through it.
Kraft Paper: A durable, brown paper stock made from recycled fibres. Commonly used for eco-friendly or rustic packaging.
L
Label Stock: Specialty paper or synthetic material with adhesive backing used to produce stickers, decals, or product labels.
Lamination: A thin plastic film applied to a printed piece for durability and a glossy or matte finish.
Laser Cutting: A precise method of cutting or engraving materials using a focused laser beam ideal for custom shapes.
Layout: The arrangement of text, images, and design elements on a printed page or spread.
Leading: The vertical space between lines of text that affects readability and layout flow.
Letterpress: A traditional relief printing method where inked plates press into paper for a deep, tactile impression.
Line Art: Images made of solid lines without shading often used for logos, illustrations, or simple graphics.
Line Screen: The number of halftone dots per inch used in printing where higher numbers produce finer image detail.
Lines Per Inch (LPI): A measurement of halftone resolution in printing where higher LPI means finer detail and smoother gradients.
Lithography: A popular offset printing method where ink and water repel each other on a flat printing plate.
Live Area: The safe zone within a design where all critical content should stay to avoid being trimmed off.
Logo Lockup: A specific arrangement of a logo with tagline or other branding elements that should stay together in print.
Loose Proof: An untrimmed print sample used to check colour, layout, and design before final production.
M
Machine Direction: The direction in which paper is fed into a printing press, influencing its texture, grain, and folding behaviour.
Margins: The blank space around the edges of a page that provides a clean border and ensures text or images aren’t cut off.
Masking: Covering parts of an image or design to prevent ink from being printed in specific areas during the printing process.
Matte Finish: A non-reflective, smooth finish for paper or ink that provides a soft, sophisticated look and feel.
Mesh Count: A measure of the number of threads per inch in a screen for screen printing, affecting ink flow and print detail.
Metallic Ink: Ink that contains metal flakes to create a shiny, reflective finish, often used for special effects or luxury print products.
Micro-Perforation: Tiny perforations made in paper to allow for easy, clean tearing commonly used in tear-off forms or coupons.
Mockup: A full-size, often non-functional prototype or sample of a design used to visualize how the final product will look.
Moire Pattern: An undesirable, wavy or striped pattern that can occur when halftone screens overlap incorrectly during printing.
Monochrome: An image or design made using just one colour, typically in varying shades, tints, or tones of that colour.
Mounting: The process of attaching printed materials like posters or photos to a rigid backing such as foam core or board.
Multicolour Printing: Any printing process using more than one ink colour to produce a finished product.
Multiple-up: Arranging several identical designs or items on a single sheet of paper for efficient printing and cutting.
N
N-up: A method of arranging multiple copies of the same print job on a single sheet to optimize paper use and reduce costs.
Nailhead: A type of small, circular mark that can appear in printed materials when ink isn't properly dried or set.
Nameplate: The printed part of a publication such as a newspaper or magazine that includes the title, date, and issue number.
Nap: The texture of paper or fabric that has a slight raised surface often felt in fine papers or certain fabric stocks.
Natural Finish: A paper finish that has not been coated or heavily processed, giving it a more textured, natural feel.
Negatives: A photographic or digital image used in traditional film-based printing in which light areas appear dark and dark areas appear light.
Network Printer: A printer that is connected to a network, allowing multiple users to send print jobs from different devices.
No Carbon Required (NCR): A type of paper used for carbonless forms where writing on the top sheet automatically creates a copy on the underlying sheets.
Noise: Unwanted random variations in an image or print often caused by interference or low-quality input.
Non-Impact Printing: Printing methods like inkjet and laser printing where no pressure is applied to the paper unlike traditional methods such as letterpress.
O
Offset Printing: A popular printing method where the image is first transferred to a plate and then onto a rubber blanket before being printed on paper.
On-Demand Printing: A digital printing process that allows the printing of small quantities of items as needed to reduce waste and storage costs.
Opacity: The measure of how much light passes through paper. Higher opacity means less transparency and better print quality.
Open Text: Text that is not constrained to a box or specific area, often used in flexible layouts or designs.
Optical Brighteners: Chemical agents added to paper to make it appear whiter and brighter for enhanced print colour.
Originals: The source materials such as artwork or files used to create print jobs, whether physical or digital.
Outsourcing: Contracting parts of the printing process like binding or finishing to external companies to streamline production.
Overprint: When one ink layer is printed over another for special effects or to create a richer colour.
Overrun: The excess number of printed copies produced beyond the ordered quantity, often resulting from press adjustments.
Oversize: Any print job or material that exceeds the standard size for printing. Often requires special presses or custom handling.
P
Pagination: The numbering of pages in a document to ensure they are in the correct order for printing and binding.
Pantone Colours: A range of pre-mixed inks used to achieve consistent, vibrant colours across different print projects.
Pantone Matching System (PMS): A standardized colour matching system used in printing to ensure colour consistency across different printers and materials.
Perforation: Tiny holes or slits made in paper to allow it to be torn easily. Used in coupons or tickets.
Pixel: The smallest unit of a digital image made up of a grid of colours commonly used to measure image resolution for printing.
Platemaking: The process of creating the printing plates used in offset printing where images or designs are transferred onto the plate material.
Post-Press: The finishing stages of printing including binding, cutting, folding, and other processes to complete a printed product.
Prepress: The preparation stage before printing, which includes designing, proofing, and making sure files are ready for the press.
Press Check: A review process where the client examines the first printed sheets on the press to approve colour and quality before the full run is printed.
Print Density: The amount of ink applied during printing affecting how dark or light the printed result appears.
Print Run: The total quantity of a specific print job produced at once. Typically refers to the number of copies made during a press run.
Printer’s Marks: Symbols like crop marks, colour bars, and registration marks included in a file to ensure accurate printing and trimming.
Printer’s Spread: A printing technique where pages are printed in a specific order to ensure they are positioned correctly when folded.
Production Time: The amount of time it takes to complete a print job from start to finish including setup, printing, and post-press processes.
Proof: A sample print run provided for review that allows clients to check the layout, colour, and overall design before final production.
Q
Quality Control (QC): The process of inspecting and ensuring that printed materials meet specific standards for colour, clarity, and overall consistency.
QuarkXPress: A popular desktop publishing software used for layout design in the printing and publishing industries.
Quick Print: A fast, often digital, printing service for producing small quantities of materials quickly and efficiently.
Quick Set: A term used to describe inks or press settings that dry or set rapidly to help speed up the printing process.
Quire: A term for a set of 24 or sometimes 25 sheets of paper often used when discussing paper quantities for bookbinding.
Quotient: The result of dividing one number by another to determine measurements or output ratios in print production.
Quoting: The process of providing a client with a price estimate for a printing job based on specs like quantity, materials, and complexity.
R
Raster Image Processor (RIP): A software or hardware tool that converts digital files into printable raster images to help prepare files for output on a press.
Ream: A standard quantity of paper such as 500 sheets used to measure paper stock for printing.
Rebating: A post-press process where printed sheets are trimmed or adjusted to correct issues with alignment or colour.
Recycled Paper: Eco-friendly paper made from post-consumer waste material.
Register Marks: Marks placed on a printed sheet that help ensure the correct alignment of colours or other elements during the printing process.
Registration: The alignment of different colours or layers in the printing process to ensure they line up correctly for crisp, clear images.
Relief Printing: A printmaking technique where the image to be printed is raised above the surface of the printing plate such as in letterpress printing.
Reprint: A process of producing additional copies of an already printed work usually after the initial print run has been completed.
Resolution: The detail an image holds typically measured in dots per inch (DPI) or pixels per inch (PPI). Higher resolution means better quality.
Roll Fed: A type of printing press that uses a continuous roll of paper instead of individual sheets for high-volume jobs like newspapers.
Rotary Press: A type of printing press where paper is fed continuously around a rotating cylinder for large-volume printing like newspapers or magazines.
Rubber-Based Ink: Inks used primarily in offset printing that dry by oxidation to form a durable and flexible print on various surfaces.
Run Length: The total number of copies or items printed during one press run usually for a single job or batch.
S
Saddle Stitching: A binding method where folded sheets of paper are stapled along the spine. Common for booklets, brochures, and magazines.
Saturation: The intensity of a colour where higher saturation means a colour is more vibrant and lower saturation results in a more muted appearance.
Scanner: A device used to convert physical images or documents into digital formats that can be printed.
Scoring: The process of making a crease in paper to help it fold neatly, often used in card stock or heavy paper.
Screen Printing: A printing process where ink is pushed through a mesh screen to create an image on a substrate. Often used for apparel, posters, and signage.
Sheetfed Press: A type of printing press that uses individual sheets of paper rather than rolls for printing.Typically for high-quality or short-run jobs.
Shingling: A process in which printed sheets are stacked so that each sheet is slightly offset from the one beneath it to ensure the ink dries correctly and efficiently.
Shrink Wrap: A plastic film that is shrunk around a product with heat, often used for packaging or bundling multiple printed items.
Side Stitching: A binding method where staples or stitches are applied along the edge of a booklet or magazine to secure the pages together.
Silkscreen: Screen printing when applied to textiles or fabrics.
Slip Sheet: A thin sheet of paper inserted between printed sheets to prevent damage such as ink smudging or offsetting.
Slug: Extra space added around the outside of a design to ensure that no important elements get cut off when the piece is trimmed.
Soft Proof: A digital version of a print proof viewed on a screen to check colour and design before printing a physical version.
Spectrophotometer: A device used to measure colour accuracy and consistency ensuring that colours print as intended across different jobs and presses.
Spine: The edge of a bound book or booklet where the pages are glued or stitched together.
Spot Colour: A premixed ink used to produce specific colours that cannot be achieved by mixing process colours (CMYK). Often used for logos or brand colours.
Substrate: The material being printed on such as paper, cardboard, plastic, or fabric that affects the print quality and feel of the final product.
T
Tabloid: A paper size that is typically 11" x 17" commonly used for larger format newsletters or publications.
Tack: The stickiness or ability of ink to adhere to surfaces to prevent smudging or transfer during the printing process.
Tactile Printing: Printing that creates textures or raised surfaces on paper. Often used for braille or creating a special feel for luxury products.
Text Weight: A category of paper weight used for documents like brochures, flyers, and letterheads that is lighter than cover stock but thicker than standard copy paper.
Thermography: A printing technique that involves applying a special powder to wet ink and then heating it to create a raised, glossy finish. Often used for business cards or invitations.
Thick Stock: A type of paper or card stock that is heavy and rigid. Often used for items like business cards or high-end brochures.
Tiling: The process of breaking a large image into smaller segments to fit onto multiple pages that are later assembled to form the complete image.
Tint: A shade of a colour that is created by adding white. Typically used in design to create softer, lighter versions of primary colours.
Toner: Powdered ink used in laser printers and copiers that is fused onto paper to create the printed image.
Trapping: A process where colours are slightly overlapped in printing to prevent gaps between them due to misregistration.
Tricolour Printing: A form of colour printing that uses only three colours (usually cyan, magenta, and yellow) to reproduce a full spectrum of colours in the print.
Trim: The final cutting process where excess paper around the printed design is removed to create the intended size and shape of the printed product.
Turnaround Time: The total time it takes to complete a print job from receiving the file to delivering the final product.
Typeface: A complete set of characters in a particular style of lettering such as Arial or Times New Roman used in typography and printing.
U
Ultraviolet Ink: Ink that dries when exposed to ultraviolet light allowing for faster drying times and the ability to print on non-porous surfaces like plastic.
Uncoated Paper: Paper that has not been coated with a finish, offering a more natural texture. Often used for high-quality, matte-style printing.
Underexposure: Refers to the insufficient exposure of plates or film which can lead to poor image quality or inaccurate reproduction.
Underprint: A layer of ink printed under the main image or text used to provide a background or to enhance colour vibrancy.
Unregistered: A printing error where colours, images, or designs do not line up properly resulting in misalignment or blurry edges.
Uptake: The process by which ink is absorbed into paper affecting the final colour and texture of the printed material.
Uptick: A slight increase in the ink volume or print quality in specific areas of a printed piece often addressed during quality control.
User-Defined Colours: Colours that are customized or created by the user for a specific print job rather than using standard Pantone or CMYK values.
UV Coating: A special coating that is cured using ultraviolet light to create a glossy, durable finish on printed materials like business cards and brochures.
V
Value: The lightness or darkness of a colour in colour theory used to achieve the right colour depth in print.
Varnish: A clear coating applied to printed materials for a glossy or matte finish to enhance the colour and durability of the final product.
Vector: A type of digital image that uses mathematical paths rather than pixels, making it scalable to any size without losing quality. Ideal for logos and illustrations.
Vellum: A smooth, translucent paper stock often used for invitations, high-end stationery, and other premium printing projects.
Vent: A small hole or opening in printed materials such as labels or product packaging to allow air or gas to escape.
Vertical Press: A printing press where the paper moves in a vertical direction during the printing process. Used for specialized or high-speed printing operations.
Viewpoint: The angle or perspective from which a design or printed piece is intended to be viewed like in certain fold-out or multi-panel prints.
Vignette: A design element that fades from solid to transparent to create a soft, subtle edge in photography or illustrations.
Vinyl: A type of plastic material that is durable and water-resistant often used in large-format printing for signs, banners, and decals.
Visual Weight: The perceived heaviness of an element in a design influenced by its size, colour, and position in the layout. Essential for a balanced, effective design.
W
Watermark: A design or pattern embedded into paper during manufacturing for security or authenticity that is visible when held up to light.
Web Press: A type of printing press that uses a roll of paper instead of individual sheets. Often used for high-speed, high-volume printing, like magazines or newspapers.
Weight: The thickness or heaviness of paper often measured in pounds (lbs) or grams per square meter (GSM) affecting both feel and durability.
White Balance: The adjustment of colours in a digital image to make sure that white objects in the image appear white in print without colour casts.
Wide-Format Printing: A type of printing that produces large prints typically for posters, banners, and signage often on materials like vinyl or fabric.
Wiro Binding: A type of binding where pages are secured with a wire coil. Used for calendars, notebooks, and other spiral-bound products.
Woodfree Paper: A high-quality paper that is made without wood pulp, used for premium printing products because of its smoothness and durability.
Work and Turn: A printing technique where the same plate is used for two sides of a sheet and the paper is flipped to print the reverse side, reducing setup time and costs.
Wraparound: A design or print that covers the entire surface of a product like a label or packaging that wraps around a container.
Wrapping Paper: A decorative paper used for wrapping gifts commonly printed with patterns, colours, or designs for various occasions.
X
X-Height: The height of the lowercase letters excluding ascenders and descenders. Used to measure the size of text in typography.
X-Offset: A term that refers to the horizontal adjustment of a print image used when adjusting the alignment of colours during the printing process.
Xerography: A dry photocopying process used in laser printers and copiers that uses electrostatic charges to transfer toner onto paper.
Y
Yarn: A long, continuous strand of fibre used in textiles and sometimes applied in specialized printing for fabric-based products.
Yield: The amount of printed material that can be produced from a given quantity of paper or ink.
Z
Z-fold: A type of fold where paper is folded in a "Z" shape, allowing for printed materials like brochures or pamphlets to open like an accordion.
Zero-Set: A term used in digital printing referring to the automatic alignment or positioning of the print job to ensure accuracy, often in relation to printers with adjustable heads or settings.
Zinc Plate: A type of lightweight and corrosion-resistant printing plate made from zinc used in traditional printing methods like etching or lithography.
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